Where Are They Now?

Recently on the From the Backline podcast we've looked back at some memorable matches that the Vancouver Whitecaps have played since they joined Major League Soccer in 2011.  As I've been looking up results and watching match highlights from the past several years I started to wonder what happened to some of the players from our very first MLS match at home to Toronto FC on March 19, 2011.  So read on and learn the fate of the players who first donned the Blue and White that afternoon at Empire Field.  Enjoy!

Jay Nolly - traded to the Chicago Fire at the end of the 2011 season for a MLS Supplemental Draft pick.

Jonathan Leathers - became a free agent at the end of the 2011 MLS season when he was not picked up in the MLS Re-entry Draft.

Jay DeMerit - one of the most popular players of the MLS-era Whitecaps. DeMerit recently signed a new contract to keep him in Vancouver for at least one more season.

Michael Boxall - made 19 appearances for the Caps, but was waived after just three appearances in 2012.  Boxall returned to his native New Zealand and has played for the Wellington Phoenix and Oakleigh Cannons.

Alain Rochat - Rochat's trade to DC United in June 2013 was very unpopular with the Vancouver fans.  The Caps received a second-round draft pick for Rochat, who only a month later was sold by DC to Swiss club BSC Young Boys for a reported fee of $500,000.

Davide Chiumiento - joined the club in 2010 prior to the move to MLS and made 46 appearances for the Whitecaps before he was sold to FC Zurich in July 2012.

Nizar Khalfan - Khalfan was waived by the Caps in November 2011 and was obtained by the Philadelphia Union in the MLS Waiver Draft.  The Union waived him just three months later.  Khalfan is currently with Young Africans SC in Tanzania.

Gershon Koffie - an exciting young talent and another popular player who is still with the Whitecaps.  Koffie will look to improve on the 2013 season, which was marked by injuries and being relegated to the substitutes bench later in the year.

Terry Dunfield - traded to Toronto FC in July 2012 and was waived by the Reds in June 2013.  Dunfield is currently without a team.

Russell Teibert - Teibert's form at the beginning of the 2013 season earned him a place with the Canadian Men's National Team for the Gold Cup.  A dip in form came after his return from national duty, but the youngster finished the season well putting in several solid performances to end the year.

Wes Knight - joined the club in 2009 and made the jump to MLS, but was waived by the Whitecaps in August 2011.  Knight most recently played for FC Edmonton and was released by the Eddies in November 2013.

Atiba Harris - acquired from FC Dallas in the 2011 MLS Expansion Draft, but missed most of that season due to injury.  After being traded to the Colorado Rapids by Vancouver at the end of the 2012 season Harris will play for the San Jose Earthquakes in 2014.

Eric Hassli - the Frenchman was traded by the Whitecaps to Toronto FC in July 2012, who in turn traded him to FC Dallas in February 2013.  Hassli remains a popular figure with Vancouver fans to this day.

Camilo Sanvezzo Futboldemort - do we really need to go there guys?

Joe Cannon - the popular ‘keeper came to Vancouver via the MLS Expansion Draft.  Cannon lost the starting job to Brad Knighton in both 2012 and 2013.  The Whitecaps declined to pick up his option at the end of the 2013 season and Cannon is currently without a club for 2014.

Jeb Brovsky - made 24 appearances for the Whitecaps in 2011, but was left unprotected for the 2011 MLS Expansion Draft and was picked up by the Montreal Impact.

Greg Janicki - made 10 appearances for the club in 2011, but the Whitecaps declined to pick up his contract option for 2012.  Janicki currently plays for the San Antonio Scorpions in the NASL.

Long Tan - was traded to DC United in June 2012 for a MLS Supplemental Draft pick, but was released by DC at the end of that season.  Tan is currently without a club, but was recently on trial with our Cascadia rivals, the Seattle Sounders.

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