Jan 18, 2015
Whitecaps sign Robinson to new multi-year deal
The Vancouver Whitecaps have signed head coach Carl Robinson to a new multi-year deal. Robinson guided the team to a franchise record 50 points (12-14-8) and a playoff berth in his first season as boss and has been rewarded with a new deal. His previous one only took him through the end of 2015.
The Vancouver Whitecaps have signed head coach Carl Robinson to a new multi-year deal.
Robinson guided the team to a franchise record 50 points (12-14-8) and a playoff berth in his first season as boss and has been rewarded with a new deal. His previous one only took him through the end of 2015.
The new contract is a tremendous achievement for the 38-year-old who, after one year on the job, has proven to the organization he is the man to lead them going forward.
Speaking to TSN to break the news, Robinson admitted he is pleased to be with a team that shares his plans for the long-term.
"I stressed from Day One that I wanted to move this club forward in a certain way with playing young players and building a foundation for the club," he said. "After one year, I think we were pretty successful, but it’s only the beginning, but obviously their vision of the club matches my vision, so we’re happy to tie things up."
For the Whitecaps the agreement brings them some much-needed consistency at a position in which they have struggled to find continuity since joining Major League Soccer.
Asked about his vision for the team's personnel moving forward, Robinson said there are still moves to be made.
"I'm not done," he told TSN when asked about making additions. "You can never have enough good players. I don't mind making tough decisions if I've got a lot of good players."
The Welshman, who was an assistant in Vancouver under previous coach Martin Rennie, was only hired in December 2013 following a long, thorough process by the club.
“When he applied for the job and we sat down with him, we were impressed with his thoughts on how he could incorporate the experience he’s had as a player and as coach in MLS and his experience as international with the Welsh team into the job,” President Bob Lenarduzzi said at the time. “In the end, Carl quickly emerged as a top candidate and we felt strongly that he was the right choice.”
A year on, the club no longer feels strongly he was the right choice. They know.
"In just one year, Carl and his staff have done an exceptional job in establishing a foundation, bringing in quality players and people, and taking this team to the next level," Lenarduzzi said Sunday. "They are all highly respected not only within our club, but also around the league and the soccer world. We are confident that their eye for talent, dedication and hard work will continue to yield positive results."
Robinson impressed the Whitecaps in all aspects of his job in year one. While achieving unprecedented success at the club, Robinson also gave many youngsters opportunities to shine in the first team, something that was very important to the Whitecaps front office who made it a priority to lock him up this offseason.
Talks were already in the works prior to the last month of the season with Robinson sitting down with the club in September to discuss the framework of a deal that has now been completed.
Robinson guided the Whitecaps through a year of transition in 2014 while still allowing the club to be competitive. After Camilo left, other big names followed in Kenny Miller and Jay DeMerit but throughout it all Robinson and his staff recruited well and signed the likes of Pedro Morales, Matias Laba and Kendall Waston to be the spine of the team for now and the future.
In an interview with Marc Weber of the Province in October, minority owner Jeff Mallett was very complimentary of the head coach, saying: “I think Carl has overachieved.”
He added: “The one thing we knew with Carl was his character, and I think that’s still the best attribute about him. Who he is and how he handles himself, whether it’s with media or owners or anyone, has brought what we’d hoped for: that clear, consistent communicator. He’s practical and he’s also very passionate about what he does.”
Robinson guided the team to four wins and a draw in their last five matches to make the playoffs for just the second time, including a standout performance at Seattle when the club won 1-0 in their 32nd league match of the season.
That victory got many fans in Vancouver wondering when the club would extend Robinson to prevent his head being turned to the English leagues with its 92 managerial jobs and where he played professionally for 11 seasons.
Robinson’s name was publicly mentioned when his former side, New York Red Bulls, saw their head coach job briefly become available earlier this month and with his reputation growing worldwide clubs in England have also been monitoring his current situation very closely.
The Whitecaps have now given him plenty of reasons to not look elsewhere.
Robinson expressed his joy in committing to a city he's come to call home.
"When I moved to Canada in 2007 we made a big commitment - me and my family - and we were very happy there," he told TSN. "Fast forward seven years and we're still very happy."
"I was willing to commit, as my coaches were, because we think we've got something special on our hands here."
Assistants Gordon Forrest and Martyn Pert, along with goalkeeping coach Marius Rovde, have also signed new multiyear deals.