News from Vancouver

[François]

Wednesday, February 18, 2004 - Vancouver Whitecaps News Release - www.whitecapsfc.com

VANCOUVER, BC -- Whitecaps FC Director of Soccer Operations Bob Lenarduzzi, announced today that the club has signed free-agent midfielder Andrew Gregor, formerly of the rival Seattle Sounders and re-signed two of the team’s core players, forward Carlo Corazzin and defender Nick Dasovic.

Each player has agreed to a multi-year deal, signifying the first time in club history that multi-year contracts have been used.

Gregor, 28, has played the last three seasons with Vancouver’s rival club, the Seattle Sounders.

“He’s the type of skill player you don’t want to have to play against but love having on your team,” says Bob Lenarduzzi. “Andrew is a creative playmaker and we expect his presence on the field to have a very positive impact.”

An established A-League star, Gregor also brings international and Major League Soccer experience to the Whitecaps organization. He played two seasons in MLS and is a former international with the US U-20 team.

Gregor began his professional career in 1998 in MLS with the Columbus Crew after being taken in the second round of the MLS draft. He joined Seattle in 2000, and scored two goals against Vancouver in his A-League debut on May 6, in a 4-2 Sounders win at Swangard Stadium. Gregor returned to MLS in 2001 to play for the Kansas City Wizards, before rejoining the Sounders for the last two seasons, and establishing himself as one of the A-League's marquee players.

He was named to the First Team All A-League in 2002 and again in 2003, and led the Sounders in scoring last season with seven goals and seven assists. The talented midfielder joins two other members of the Whitecaps (Jason Jordan, Oliver Heald) among last years’ top 20 league points leaders. Gregor has agreed to a three-year contract with the Whitecaps.

Corazzin, 32, joined the Whitecaps at the halfway mark of the 2003 season from Oldham Athletic of the English Second Division, and was a key factor in Vancouver's 13-game
undefeated streak in the charge for the playoffs. His seven goals included five game-winners, and with Corazzin on the field the Caps boasted a record of 9-1-5. In post-season awards, he shared Whitecaps Player of the Year honours with Oliver Heald.

A current member of the Canadian National team, Corazzin has made 58 appearances for his country and ranks tied for fourth in all-time scoring with 11 goals on the international stage. He played 10 seasons in England, with Northampton Town, Plymouth Argyle, Cambridge United and Oldham Athletic, scoring a total of 121 goals in 421 games. Corazzin has signed to a three-year deal.

Dasovic, 35, was named Vancouver's Defender of the Year in 2003, while also serving as Assistant Coach for both the Whitecaps and Dale Mitchell's Canadian U-20 men's team. A current member of the Canadian National side, Dasovic has made 62 international appearances, ranking fifth in games played for Canada. He played for Vancouver in 1995 and 1996, but the midfielder-turned-defender spent most of his career in Europe with stops in Croatia, France, Sweden and most recently Scotland, where he spent six seasons with St. Johnstone of the Scottish Premier League before signing with the Whitecaps.

[Daniel]

Each player has agreed to a multi-year deal, signifying the first time in club history that multi-year contracts have been used.

Et ça n'aura pris que 18 ans...