Vancouver Whitecaps fire head coach Vanni Sartini

The Vancouver Whitecaps have parted ways with head coach Vanni Sartini, the Major League Soccer club confirmed Monday.

The Italian coach led the Whitecaps this year to a regular season record of 13 wins, 13 losses and eight draws, finishingeighth in the Western Conference. After winning a play-in playoff game against the Portland Timbers, Vancouverlost a best-of-three first-found playoff series to Los Angeles F.C.

Sartini took over coaching duties on an interim basis in August 2021 after the Whitecaps dismissed Marc Dos Santos and was officially named head coach that November.

He posted a record of 57-51-39 across all competitions.

Whitecaps CEO Axel Schusterthanked Sartini for his passion and commitment to the club in an interview with CBC News.

"I got to the point where I felt like we need some fresh new energy," he told Amy Bell, the guest host of CBC's On The Coast.

"We need some, I would say, creative [coaching]that that mixes everything a little bit up and creates a new competitive environment."

WATCH | Schuster defends decision to fire Vanni Sartini:

Vancouver Whitecaps CEO says club needed 'fresh new energy' after coach Vanni Sartini axed

18 hours ago

Duration 9:33

Vancouver's MLS club made a decision that surprised many fans when it fired Sartini, who led the club to three Canadian Championships in a row. CEO Axel Schuster said the club needed to hold itself accountable with a change of direction.

Schustersaid the decision came after he had meetings with club staff and players following the disappointing end to the season.Los Angeles haseliminated theWhitecapsfrom the first round of the playoffs two years in a row, and the club hasn't madethe Western Conference semifinals since 2017.

"It's more about why we haven't got the outcome, even if we saw some progression in certain areas of our play," he said.

"Why have we been the second-worst home team in the Western Conference, and why could we only grab two points from the last seven regular season games? And then, this is all facts, and we analyze them, and everyone is responsible for this."

Schuster said the club had to hold themselves accountable and "kick everyone in the ass in our organization" to come in with a fresh mindset next season.

He was bullish about Vancouver's potential for the next season, saying the club had proven it could compete with the best teams in the Western Conference.

"We need somebody who is technical, flexible and has a proven record that he can coach teams right away to success," he said of the new coach."Somebody also brings this fresh energy into the environment, and also somebody who shakes the players."