Vancouver Whitecaps acquire playmaking midfielder Kenji Cabrera from Peruvian club
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CBC
an hour ago
- CBC
How Thomas Müller could give the Vancouver Whitecaps a star power that's hard to describe
In a 2011 interview with a German newspaper, Thomas Müller — then a few years into his legendary career at Bayern Munich — was asked to describe himself as a soccer player. " Ich bin ein Raumdeuter," said Müller, which translates to "I am a space interpreter." After a decorated career in Germany, the 35-year-old is bringing his unique style — one that relies on his uncanny ability to find space in key areas of the pitch — to the Vancouver Whitecaps of the MLS. "He has always been extremely unconventional and it's impossible to actually put him into a box of a position, because his thing is the game intelligence takes him to where the ball is going to be," says Peter Schaad, a soccer podcaster and former Whitecaps broadcaster. "How you describe that, I don't know." Müller made more appearances than any other player at Bayern and led the club to two UEFA Champions League titles and 13 Bundesliga titles, going out with one last championship this past season. He was also a key member of the German national team that won the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Müller earned the Silver Boot Award as the tournament's second-leading goal scorer. He won the FIFA Golden Boot at the 2010 World Cup as that tournament's top scorer. Two of his five goals came inside of four minutes during Germany's 4-1 Round of 16 win over England. Müller signing puts spotlight on Whitecaps Throughout MLS history, teams have signed veteran stars who had successful tenures with top European clubs, including big names like David Beckham, Thierry Henry, Wayne Rooney and Lionel Messi. The Whitecaps have never signed a player with such global reach, until now. Peter Czimmermann, president of the Southsiders supporters' club, says he is not of fan of MLS clubs signing big-name stars to hefty contracts and then surrounding them with "mediocre players." But that's not the case here, he says. "If you have to sign somebody, he's a good fit," he said of Müller . "He's experienced and I think the team as is right now, it's a lot more than mediocre players. They are great players." Schaad agrees that Müller will be a good fit in Vancouver. "He's a guy who can be very serious sometimes, he can be fun, but he is one of the most intelligent players ever," he said. The Whitecaps' decision to sign Müller comes at a pivotal time in franchise history. Late last year, the owners of the Whitecaps announced they were preparing to sell the club, and the commissioner of the MLS recently said the Whitecaps are in urgent need of a new stadium. Meanwhile, the team has found success on the pitch under coach Jesper Sorensen, earning a spot in the final of the CONCACAF Champions Cup earlier this year. Having a player of Müller's stature on the roster could help the team and raise its valuation, says Czimmermann. "He will bring more attention. We would argue that in the past two years we deserved it because the team was really good, but I think this is kind of stepping up one level." Schaad agrees that the presence of the Raumdeuter has the potential to take the Whitecaps to new heights. "All of a sudden the spotlight is on the Whitecaps again and people are just going, 'How did they pull this off? Why Vancouver? Why did he choose Vancouver?' There must be something good happening. All those are really great things."
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Vancouver Whitecaps sign former Bayern Munich star Thomas Muller
Bayern Munich's Thomas Muller, left, battles for the ball with Auckland City's Gerard Garriga during the Club World Cup group C soccer match between Bayern Munich and Auckland City in Cincinnati, Sunday, June 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel) VANCOUVER — The Vancouver Whitecaps have pulled off the biggest signing in club history, landing former Bayern Munich star Thomas Muller. The club announced the move Wednesday. While a dollar figure was not announced, Muller has signed for the remainder of the 2025 season and the agreement includes a Designated Player option for 2026. Muller will occupy an international roster slot and fill one of the spots opened due to the season-ending injury list pending receipt of his International Transfer Certificate (ITC), visa and work permit. Muller came up through Bayern Munich's academy system and has spent the past 17 years playing for the club in the German Bundesliga. The 35-year-old scored 250 goals for Bayern across all competitions and helped the team to 13 league championships, but his contract was not renewed after last season. Muller, born in Weilheim in Oberbayern, helped lead Germany to the 2014 World Cup title with five goals. He had previously won the Golden Boot at the 2010 tournament in South Africa, scoring five goals and adding three assists. To complete the signing, the Whitecaps acquired Muller's MLS discovery rights from FC Cincinnati in exchange for up to $400,000 in General Allocation Money. He joins a Whitecaps (13-5-6) team that has spent much of the Major League Soccer season hovering around the top of the Western Conference standings. Under first-year head coach Jesper Sorensen, the club has exceeded expectations this year, not only in league play, but by making it to the final of the CONCACAF Champions Cup, where they fell 5-0 to LIGA MX side Cruz Azul. Muller is the latest international star to make the jump to MLS. Argentine forward Lionel Messi joined Inter Miami in 2023 following a long career with Barcelona and a stint at Paris Saint-Germain. The 38-year-old currently leads MLS in scoring with 18 goals on the season. English midfielder David Beckman was one of the first European stars to move to MLS. He signed with the L.A. Galaxy in 2007 after playing for top clubs such as Manchester and Real Madrid, and won the MLS Cup in 2011 and 2012. Beckham remains involved with the league as an owner of Inter Miami. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 6, 2025.
CBC
an hour ago
- CBC
German superstar Thomas Müller joins Vancouver Whitecaps
The Vancouver Whitecaps' long rumoured acquisition of German superstar Thomas Müller has finally come to fruition, according to the team's social media accounts. The Whitecaps made the announcement on X on Wednesday, first making a post with a Trans Canada Highway sign pointing to "Vancoüver" with the caption "Here we go," followed in quick succession by a minute long video in which Müller holds up his #13 Whitecaps jersey and states "Whitecaps, lets make history." Details of the deal to sign the longtime Bayern Munich star and World Cup champion have not been released. The 35-year-old has made more appearances than any other player at Bayern, and led the club to two UEFA Champions League titles and 13 Bundesliga titles, going out with one last championship this past season.
