Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced today that Whitecaps men’s head coach Bob Lilley, who just completed his third and final year on his contract, will not return for the 2008 season. Whitecaps assistant coach, Todd Wawrousek, will immediately take over the off-season coaching responsibilities.
“We are grateful to Bob Lilley for his service to the club,” said Bob Lenarduzzi, Vancouver Whitecaps President. “Bob has played a major role in our organization during his three-year tenure and was a pivotal piece in our 2006 championship. However, at this time, we all felt it would be best to move in another direction. The recruiting process for a new head coach will begin immediately.”
Lilley, who joined the Whitecaps in November 2004, guided Vancouver to an overall regular season record of 33 wins, 20 losses and 31 ties from 2005 to 2007. In addition, Lilley led the Whitecaps to the 2006 United Soccer Leagues First Division (USL-1) championship and a playoff record of 3-1-4. This year, the Whitecaps finished in seventh place (9-7-12) in the 12-team USL-1 and were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs; 3-1 on aggregate to Portland.
Following last weekend’s USL-1 quarterfinal loss, Whitecaps players will now have a short break before they begin training in early October for the November exhibition match against David Beckham and the Los Angeles Galaxy at BC Place.
