Whitecaps end Robinson’s tenure as head coach after 5 seasons
Firing billed as shifting focus to next season despite playoff potential
The Vancouver Whitecaps say they are not giving up on this season despite firing their head coach with five games to go.
Team president Bob Lenarduzzi said Tuesday that the decision to dismiss Carl Robinson and his assistants now instead of at season’s end gives the Major League Soccer club time prepare for next year.
“What we want to try to do is ensure that we give ourselves the best chance possible for a playoff spot, and then beyond that, we want to get a head start on next year,” Lenarduzzi said. “The fact we can do that now and start to look at what we are looking for in that head coach, I think is beneficial in the long haul.”
The Whitecaps, who are eighth in the MLS Western Conference with 40 points from an 11-11-7 record, sit four points back of the Seattle Sounders for the sixth and final playoff spot.
Vancouver plays the seventh-place L.A. Galaxy in a crucial away match Saturday.
Craig Dalrymple, technical director for the Whitecaps FC Academy, will serve as acting coach for the rest of the season.
“I’m excited about the opportunity the club has given me and thankful that they trust me,” Dalrymple said.
Robinson, a former Welsh international, had an MLS record of 64-59-42 and guided the Whitecaps to three playoff appearances, including two Western Conference semifinals. Vancouver also won the 2015 Canadian Championship and advanced to the semifinal of the 2016-17 CONCACAF Champions League.
Also fired were assistant coach Martyn Pert and goalkeeper coach Stewart Kerr.
Robinson spent the last five years as Vancouver’s head coach after two years as an assistant. He was amiable, often frank when dealing with the media, but could have a sharp tongue.
Robinson had two years remaining on his contract, but there was speculation that he wouldn’t be back next year.