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Whitecaps fire head coach Robinson

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The Vancouver Whitecaps have parted ways with head coach Carl Robinson, the team announced Tuesday. The team also let go of assistant coach Martyn Pert and goalkeeper coach Stewart Kerr.

Craig Dalrymple, current Whitecaps Academy director, will take over as interim head coach for the remainder of the year. Vancouver currently sits in 8th place in the West with 40 points.

“We have a lot of respect and appreciation for Carl and his team, and are thankful for the contributions they have made to this club,” said Whitecaps president Bob Lenarduzzi. “A lot of thought and consideration has gone into this decision, which was made with the best interests of the club moving forward.”

Robinson took over as Whitecaps manager ahead of the 2014 MLS season. In his nearly five years as head coach, the Whitecaps amassed a 64-59-42 record.

The Whitecaps best year under Robinson came in 2015, when Vancouver finished 2nd in the West with 53 points and made it to the Western Conference semifinals before losing 2-0 on aggregate to the Portland Timbers.

Despite the Whitecaps making the playoffs in three of Robinson’s four full seasons in charge, Vancouver never really threatened as one of the top teams in the West. The team struggled defensively throughout the years, earning a net goal differential of -4 during Robinson’s tenure.

“With five games left, we remain focused on our opportunity to make the playoffs,” said Lenarduzzi. “As we look to 2019 and beyond, we are committed to being a championship contender and a global search for a coach to lead this vision will start today.”

The Whitecaps next face the Los Angeles Galaxy at the StubHub Center on Saturday.

Comments

  1. Just had a funny thought. When Martin Rennie was fired, he coached my daughter’s team for a couple months (probably because his daughter was on her team). Maybe Robo will be her next coach.

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    • i’m hoping greg vanney in toronto will be promoted to gm of reno 1868 (toronto’s usl affiliate club) and thus hire a new head coach. if also make a few player personnel changes as well, could really “wipe the slate clean” and get a “fresh start” in toronto. i’d keep giovinco and build my new team around him. he’s a keeper imo.

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  2. Sad day. Along with Mike Petke, Robinson was a true pioneer of the “boarding school bully” fashion look amongst MLS managers. He will be missed.

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  3. This is shocking to me. Not so much they let him go, but the timing. They still have an outside chance at the playoffs.
    In my opinion the caps have been rather boring under Robson. I figured that without winning at least one playoff series he would not be retained. But now? (Full disclosure, I’m an STH. Since pre MLS)

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  4. Must have a replacement in mind ? Whitecap fans deserve better and hope they get it right with the new guy.
    Robinson’s team were never difficult to play against as long as you didn’t buy into matching their unnecessary physical play and allow them to long ball counter.

    Reply

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