With pre-season training set to begin this coming Monday, Vancouver Whitecaps’ busy week of acquisitions continued today, but this time it was with the coaching staff.
The Whitecaps have two new assistant coaches to aid and assist Martin Rennie and Paul Ritchie, and there’s some more Celtic flair in amongst them, with Welshman Carl Robinson and American Jake DeClute join the Caps coaching team.
Robinson is a familiar figure to many in MLS. The former Toronto FC and New York Red Bulls midfielder earns his first coaching gig after a five year playing career in Major League Soccer, during which time he made 87 League appearances and scored 4 goals.
Focussing on obtaining his coaching licences, Robinson only made two appearances for New York last season, but is bringing a wealth of experience to the Caps backroom team.
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In a 17 year professional career, the 35 year old has seen time with nine English sides, including stints in the Premier League with Portsmouth and Sunderland. After 176 appearances and 11 goals in all competitions, Robinson made the move to North America, joining TFC for their inaugural season and remaining there for three years.
At times it seemed like he was a bit of a polarizing figure there. Some fans praised his workrate and leadership qualities, others were frustrated by his lack of goals and attacking flair. As a defensive midfielder, that’s not the qualities you’re looking for in that role, and that’s a position that’s needing a lot of work with the Caps right now.
He won the TFC ‘Player of the Year’ award in 2007 and 2008, so he was clearly doing something to please the majority during his time there.
Robinson has played against the Whitecaps before, for TFC in the Voyageurs Cup, and many will remember abusing him loudly at Swangard. How times change!
His top level experience will be invaluable to Rennie, Ritchie and the Caps. Apart from bringing that MLS experience, which only Tommy Soehn has within the Whitecaps backroom staff at the moment (and the least said about him the better), he is a former Welsh international, who played 52 games for his country, and also earned caps at Under 21 and B level.
Robinson is currently working towards his UEFA Coaching Licence and there’s been rumours swirling around for a few months now that we was going to be heading towards Vancouver in some form of coaching capacity.
Now that he’s here, the Welshman is excited by his new challenge:
<i>”I am thrilled about this new opportunity to continue my career in the sport I love. I have known for a long time that once I was done playing, I would transition to a coaching role, and have been actively working toward my licences.
Whitecaps FC are an excellent club with a great tradition and fantastic supporters. I am excited to start my coaching career with Martin Rennie and the rest of the staff in Vancouver.”</i>
And we’re delighted to have you here Carl, but Robinson is not the only newbie amongst the Caps backroom team today. He is being joined by the more experienced Jake DeClute, who joins the Club not only as assistant coach, but also as Scouting Coordinator.
Like many of the Whitecaps recent additions, DeClute is a man who has worked with Martin Rennie before. He has been Rennie’s assistant at all of his three previous teams (Cascade Surge, Cleveland City Stars and Carolina Railhawks), so it is no real surprise to see the American joining him now in Vancouver.
DeClute also has a strong collegiate background, both as a player and a coach. He won a National Championship as a player with Illinois’ Wheaton College and has spent five years as Head Coach with Gordon College in Massachusetts, where he helped build a highly respected program.
He currently holds a UEFA ‘B’ Licence and is working toward his ‘A” Licence.
With his coaching staff now complete, Martin Rennie is happy with his new look team and is looking forward to the season ahead:
<i>”Carl and Jake are great additions to the club, as both bring a unique skill set that will complement our current staff.
Carl has played the game at the highest levels and has a strong understanding of Major League Soccer.
Meanwhile, Jake has risen through the North American soccer coaching ranks, while also bringing coaching experience from his time in Scotland, and has also shown a keen eye for talent.”</i>
DeClute’s Gordon College are known as the “Fighting Scots”. Whitecaps fans are hoping that our own two fighting Scots will bring some much sought after success to Vancouver, ably assisted by a Welshman and a Yank.
Let the pre-season begin.
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