loading...
Canwest News Service
Marcus Haber will be back training with the Vancouver Whitecaps on Monday, but for how long?
The Province has learned that Haber — a 20-year-old striker from Vancouver — impressed West Bromwich Albion boss Roberto Di Matteo enough on his four-day trial that the English Championship side will attempt to buy Haber.
The Whitecaps have an option year on Haber's contract and have also offered the USL-1 rookie of the year a new deal. But club officials have also suggested they won't stand in Haber's way if the smooth, speedy forward wants to return to Europe.
"The trial went well, and I've got only good things to say about the experience at West Brom," is all Haber would say.
Haber spent two seasons with the U-19 side of Dutch Eredivisie club FC Groningen, but was released in 2008, rather than signed to the first team.
He almost caught on with Leeds United but eventually returned to Vancouver in February of this year and signed with the Whitecaps. Haber went on to play every game and scored eight times in the league. He was the Caps' newcomer of the year and voted fan favourite.
Vancouver is bound for Major League Soccer in 2011, but cannot yet offer players MLS deals. President Bob Lenarduzzi has said the club will not be making verbal promises of MLS deals either.
Soehn in the frame
The Whitecaps are on the lookout for an MLS expert to serve in a technical director-type role for the club, and one possibility is longtime D.C. United coach Tom Soehn.
The 43-year-old Chicagoan was in town last week and met with Whitecaps' brass. Lenarduzzi has stated he'd like to have the position filled by the end of the calendar year.
Soehn, who took over coaching duties at D.C. United in 2006, was 36-30-24 in MLS matches there. His contract was up this season and the club announced he was removing his name from consideration.
He has a connection to Canada, playing for the CSL's Ottawa Intrepid in 1989, and coached Caps' goalie Jay Nolly and midfielder Justin Moose at D.C. in 2007.
Soehn won an MLS Cup as a player with the Chicago Fire in 1998 and was an assistant coach there to current U.S. national team boss Bob Bradley.
mweber@theprovince.com
