Vancouver FC

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Vancouver FC
Vancouver FC logo.png
Full nameVancouver Football Club
Nickname(s)Eagles
Short nameVanFC, VFC
FoundedNovember 2, 2022;17 months ago (2022-11-02)
Stadium Willoughby Community Park, Langley, British Columbia
Capacity6,560
OwnerSixFive Sports and Entertainment
President Rob Friend
Coach Afshin Ghotbi
League Canadian Premier League
2023 Regular season, 7th
Playoffs, did not qualify
Website Club website
Soccerball current event.svg Current season

Vancouver Football Club, commonly known as Vancouver FC, is a Canadian professional soccer club competes in the Canadian Premier League, the top tier of the Canadian soccer league system. [1] The club is based in Langley, British Columbia and plays their home matches at the Willoughby Community Park stadium.

Contents

History

On November 10, 2021, the Canadian Premier League announced that it had awarded an expansion club in Vancouver to SixFive Sports and Entertainment LP. [2] More details were announced on April 13, 2022, when the CPL and SixFive announced that the new club would play in Langley, British Columbia, at Willoughby Community Park, adjacent to the Langley Events Centre. [3]

On November 2, 2022, the club held its official launch event where it announced its name; revealed its branding; and presented Afshin Ghotbi as the club's first head coach. [4] The CPL announced that the club would begin league play for the 2023 season. [5]

In March 2023, Eugene Martínez was called up to the Belize national team for 2022–23 CONCACAF Nations League B matches against Guatemala and the Dominican Republic. In the process he became the first Vancouver FC player to be called for international duty as a member of the club. [6]

Vancouver FC played its first league match on April 15, 2023, away to provincial rivals Pacific FC. The match ended in a 1–0 victory for Pacific with Manny Aparicio becoming the first-ever goalscorer against Vancouver. [7] On matchday two, Vancouver defeated York United FC 2–1 for the club's inaugural victory. Shaan Hundal scored the first-ever goal for the club, while Gael Sandoval scored the eventual game-winner. [8] [9]

The club faced Cavalry FC in its first home match at the newly-constructed Willoughby Community Park stadium in front of a sell-out crowd of over 6,500 fans on May 7, 2023. [10] Despite playing a man-down for over an hour after a red card was shown to Rocco Romeo, the club managed a 1–1 draw. First-ever Vancouver FC scorer Shaan Hundal scored the equalizing goal which was also the first home goal in club history. [11]

Crest and colours

The primary crest is circular and features the name of the club and year of establishment in the outer ring. In the centre is a stylized eagle in the shape of the letter V. The club colours are black, grey, and red (branded as charcoal black, silver, warm red, dark grey, and cinder). [12]

PeriodKit manufacturerShirt partner
2023–present Macron [13] CIBC, Carlsberg [14]

Stadium

Vancouver FC play in a new stadium at Langley's Willoughby Community Park. [4] It has a capacity of 6,560 seats in its initial configuration, with potential for further expansion. The construction operations began in February 2023 and involved the usage of modular prefabricated elements. [15]

Players and staff

Roster

As of April 12, 2024 [16]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.Pos.NationPlayer
1 GK Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  CAN Callum Irving (captain)
2 DF Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  CAN Kadin Chung
3 DF Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  CAN Rocco Romeo
5 DF Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  CAN Matteo Campagna
6 MF Flag of Peru (state).svg  PER Vasco Fry
7 MF Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  CAN Ben Fisk
8 MF Flag of Brazil.svg  BRA Renan Garcia
9 FW Flag of Mexico.svg  MEX Alejandro Díaz (on loan from Sogndal)
10 MF Flag of Lebanon.svg  LBN Gabriel Bitar
11 FW Flag of Haiti.svg  HAI Mikaël Cantave
12 DF Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  CAN Tyler Crawford
13 DF Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  CAN David Norman Jr.
16 MF Flag of England.svg  ENG Elliot Simmons
17 MF Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  CAN Zach Verhoven
No.Pos.NationPlayer
18 FW Flag of New Zealand.svg  NZL Moses Dyer
19 FW Flag of Mexico.svg  MEX José Navarro
20 DF Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  CAN Anthony White
21 MF Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  CAN Kembo Kibato
23 DF Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  CAN Paris Gee
24 DF Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  CAN Elage Bah
25 DF Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  CAN James Cameron
26 MF Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  CAN T.J. Tahid
27 MF Flag of Ireland.svg  IRL Grady McDonnell
28 GK Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  CAN Niko Giantsopoulos
29 MF Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  CAN Thomas Powell
40 MF Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  CAN Joey Buchanan
44 FW Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  CAN Sebastian Dzikowski

Staff

As of February 21, 2024 [17] [18] [19]
Executive
President Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Rob Friend
Coaching staff
Head coach Flag of Iran.svg Flag of the United States.svg Afshin Ghotbi
Assistant coach Flag of Brazil.svg Marco Ferreira
Assistant coach Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Azad Palani
Video Analyst Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Dominic Rajna
Goalkeeping coach Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Mark Village
Equipment manager Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Cortlin Tonn
Manager of football operations Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Jeevin Kang

Head coaches

As of October 6, 2023
CoachNationTenureRecord
GWDLWin %
Afshin Ghotbi Flag of Iran.svg IranNovember 2, 2022 – present298516027.59

Club captains

YearsNameNation
2023–present Callum Irving [20] Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada

Records

Year-by-year

SeasonLeaguePlayoffs CC Continental Average
attendance		Top goalscorer(s)
Div LeaguePldWDLGFGAGDPtsPPGPos.NameGoals
2023 1 CPL 2885152850-22291.047thDNQ R1 Ineligible2,790 Flag of Lebanon.svg Gabriel Bitar
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Shaan Hundal 		6

All-time top scorers

As of October 6, 2023 [21] [22] [ full citation needed ]
#NameNationCareer at clubGoals
CPLCupInt'lTotal
1 Gabriel Bitar Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon 2023–present6006
Shaan Hundal Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 20236006
3 Mikaël Cantave Flag of Haiti.svg  Haiti 2023–present4004
4 Taryck Tahid Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 2023–present3003
5 Alejandro Díaz Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico 2023–present2002
6 James Cameron Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 2023–present1001
Vasco Fry Flag of Peru.svg  Peru 2023–present1001
Renan Garcia Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil 2023–present1001
Ameer Kinani Flag of Iraq.svg  Iraq 20231001
Min-jae Kwak Flag of South Korea.svg  Republic of Korea 20231001
Gael Sandoval Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico 20231001

Note: Bold indicates active player

All-time top assists

As of October 6, 2023 [21] [22] [ full citation needed ]
#NameNationCareer at clubAssists
CPLCupInt'lTotal
1 Gabriel Bitar Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon 2023–present4004
2 Gael Sandoval Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico 20233003
3 Mikaël Cantave Flag of Haiti.svg  Haiti 2023–present2002
Min-jae Kwak Flag of South Korea.svg  Republic of Korea 20232002
5 Kadin Chung Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 2023–present1001
Renan Garcia Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil 2023–present1001
Vasco Fry Flag of Peru.svg  Peru 2023–present1001
Shaan Hundal Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 20231001
Ameer Kinani Flag of Iraq.svg  Iraq 2023–present1001
Elliot Simmons Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 2023–present1001
Anthony White Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 2023–present1001

Note: Bold indicates active player

All-time most appearances

As of October 6, 2023 [21] [22] [ full citation needed ]
#NameNationCareer at clubGames played
CPLCupInt'lTotal
1 Shaan Hundal Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 2023281029
2 Callum Irving Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 2023–present271028
3 Min-jae Kwak Flag of South Korea.svg  Republic of Korea 2023261027
4 Rocco Romeo Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 2023–present251026
Ibrahim Bakare Flag of England.svg  England 2023251026
Gabriel Bitar Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon 2023–present251026
Elliot Simmons Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 2023–present251026
8 Tyler Crawford Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 2023–present230023
9 Ameer Kinani Flag of Iraq.svg  Iraq 2023201021
10 Anthony White Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 2023–present200020
Taryck Tahid Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 2023–present200020

Note: Bold indicates active player

Awards

Canadian Premier League Awards

YearNameAwardStatus
2023 James Cameron Best Canadian U-21 PlayerNominated

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References

  1. ↑ Jacques, John (November 3, 2022). "Langley Launched: Introducing Vancouver FC". Northern Tribune. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  2. ↑ O'Connor-Clarke, Charlie (November 10, 2021). "Canadian Premier League awards expansion club in Vancouver to SixFive Sports & Entertainment". Canadian Premier League . Retrieved November 2, 2022.
  3. ↑ O'Connor-Clarke, Charlie (April 13, 2022). "SixFive Sports reveals Langley, BC location for Vancouver 2023 CPL team". Canadian Premier League . Retrieved November 2, 2022.
  4. 1 2 "New Langley-based pro soccer team will be called Vancouver FC". Langley Advance Times. November 2, 2022. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
  5. ↑ Tierney, Mitchell (November 2, 2022). "'This market is ready for something different': Vancouver FC owner Rob Friend on the vision behind the CPL's newest club". Canadian Premier League .
  6. ↑ Jacques, John. "Club History: Vancouver FC's 'Pele' Martinez Called Up For Belize". Northern Tribune. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  7. ↑ Wallace, Kelly. "Pacific FC beats new rivals Vancouver FC – photo gallery". Total Soccer News. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  8. ↑ "CPL new boys Vancouver FC score first goal and secure first win in club history". Canadian Soccer Daily. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  9. ↑ O'Connor Clarke, Charlie (April 22, 2023). "HIGHLIGHTS: York United vs. Vancouver FC | April 22, 2023". OneSoccer. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  10. ↑ Jacques, John. "Making History: Vancouver FC Sells Out Tonight's Home Opener". Northern Tribune. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  11. ↑ Saelhof, Todd. "Cavalry can't find way to win against 10-man Vancouver FC". Calgary Sun. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  12. ↑ "Canadian Premier League unveils newest franchise Vancouver FC". CBC. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  13. ↑ Jacques, John (March 26, 2023). "Revealed: Vancouver FC Inaugural Kits". Northern Tribune. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  14. ↑ "Vancouver FC unveils kits for inaugural season". Canadian Premier League. March 27, 2023. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  15. ↑ Davidson, Neil (February 9, 2023). "Vancouver FC offers a look at its new modular Canadian Premier League stadium home". Toronto Star. The Canadian Press. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
  16. ↑ "Vancouver FC Roster". Vancouver FC. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  17. ↑ O'Connor-Clarke, Charlie (November 2, 2022). "'It's a way of life': Vancouver FC coach Afshin Ghotbi reflects on passion, unifying power of soccer". Canadian Premier League. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  18. ↑ Jacques, John (January 4, 2023). "Vancouver FC Staff Taking Shape". The Northern Tribune. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  19. ↑ "Vancouver FC add two assistant coaches ahead of 2024 season". Canadian Premier League. February 21, 2024. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
  20. ↑ "Historic weekend ahead as Vancouver FC host inaugural home opener on Sunday". Canadian Premier League. April 26, 2019. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
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