Marc Weber
Captain joins team in Denmark's top flight
Adrian Cann is getting a kick at his lifelong dream because Bob Lenarduzzi was made an offer he couldn't refuse.
Cann, a 27-year-old centre back and now former Vancouver Whitecap, has signed with Esbjerg fB of the Danish Superliga, a team he had a tryout with in January and one which served up a transfer fee hefty enough to persuade Lenarduzzi, the Caps' president, to part with his strapping captain.
"We weren't interested in moving him at this time but they came back with a close enough amount to what we were suggesting," said Lenarduzzi.
He would not talk numbers but did say he rejected EfB's first offer a week ago.
"But the money wasn't the primary reason for letting him go," Lenarduzzi added, noting that the Danish season starts now and that Cann's escape window was small. "He was anxious to move."
Cann said he had mixed emotions about leaving Vancouver but couldn't hide his excitement and, considering how poorly he played against Montreal last Wedneday, it's hard to imagine the imminent move wasn't already affecting his mental state.
"This is what I've been waiting for my whole life pretty much," said Cann, who has the same agents as Andrew Ornoch, the Canada under-23 midfielder EfB signed after that same January trial.
"You work hard on a daily basis for years and finally something like this comes through -- I don't really know how to explain it. This is my opportunity. I've got to keep pushing forward."
The Toronto native was called up to the national team and saw time in Canada's 4-1 victory in a World Cup qualifier against St. Vincent and the Grenadines at Montreal.
Now Whitecaps coach Teitur Thordarson is left to sort out his back four.
Hulking Omar Jarun will be the biggest beneficiary of Cann's departure, seeing more time in central defence along side Jeff Clarke, the old captain who is now the new captain.
© The Vancouver Province 2008
