The Vancouver Whitecaps have appointed Jesper Sorensen, a former midfielder from Denmark, as the new head coach of the team.

Sorensen, who boasts a coaching career spanning 16 years, succeeds Vanni Sartini, who parted ways with the club at the end of November after leading the Major League Soccer (MLS) team for three seasons.

Before his current appointment, Sorensen had a successful stint at the Danish club Brondby, where he achieved an impressive record of 37 wins, 19 losses, and 17 draws over 73 games. In addition, he has experience coaching Denmark’s under-21 national team.

Vancouver’s sporting director Axel Schuster expressed confidence in Sorensen’s capabilities, stating, “Jesper is recognized for his competitiveness, flexibility, and leadership—attributes that have consistently helped him bring out the best in both players and coaching staff.” He noted that Sorensen has a history of delivering swift success with his teams, whether in securing promotions or chasing championship titles. Schuster highlighted the importance of Sorensen’s ability to enhance individual player performance while also applying a dynamic and effective tactical system, which is essential for the team’s ongoing development.

In addition to his coaching career, Sorensen played professionally in Denmark for 15 years and represented youth national teams during his playing days.

Last season, the Whitecaps wrapped up their campaign with a record of 13 wins, 13 losses, and 8 draws. They managed to win their play-in match against the Portland Timbers but faced elimination after a three-game series against LAFC in the playoffs.