Episode 651 – The AFTN Soccer Show (Aarhus, In The Middle of BC - Jesper Sorensen is new Whitecaps coach, Colin Elmes and Joven Mann interviews)

We’re back with another AFTN Soccer Show packed full of Vancouver Whitecaps, Major League Soccer, Canadian Premier League, League1 BC, and Canadian college chat.

Vancouver Whitecaps' coaching search is over and the new man at the helm is 51-year-old Dane Jesper Sørensen. The former Brondy and Denmark U21 head coach bring a wealth of experience to Vancouver as a player and a manager. We delve into the appointment and ponder what will the hire mean to the 'Caps? Some fans are enthused, some feel it's underwhelming, but we won't know until the season plays out. The appointment sees every MLS coaching search complete. We look at the other hires around the league this year, including Robin Fraser to Toronto FC. A surprisingly underwhelming appointment or a shrewd one? Plus we look at some coaching extensions in the CPL.

We've two feature interviews to bring you this week. First up is part one of a two-part interview with TSS Rovers Sporting Director and co-owner Colin Elmes. This episode we chat with Colin about the successful 2024 for the Rovers, look ahead to what 2025 might have in store for them, as the Whitecaps potentially await in the Canadian Championship, and talk finances, losses, and the question everyone always asks, what is all that share money used for?!

Turning our attention to the college game, 2024 was a very successful one for BC schools. None more so than UBC Thunderbirds, who achieved an unprecedented USPORTS double on the men's and the women's side. We chat with UBC midfielder Joven Mann about a great year for the team and him personally, his footballing journey through the Whitecaps, and the adventure that now awaits after he was selected by HFX Wanderers in the 2025 CPL draft.

Here’s the rundown for the main segments from the episode:

01.27: Intro
07.45: The Whitecaps finally have their man - welcome Jesper Sørensen
29.50: The MLS managerial merry-go-round is complete
45.47: Ghotbi and Dos Santos given CPL extensions
53.40: TSS Rovers' Colin Elmes Interview - Part One
98.05: UBC Thunderbirds' Joven Mann interview
118.35: Wavelength - Nine Steps To Ugly - Bobby Charlton's Haircut