Vancouver Whitecaps’ coach, defender, goalkeeper up for MLS awards
Original Publication Date: October 23, 2025 10:00AM
Publication Updated: October 23, 2025 10:57AM
VANCOUVER — Three Vancouver Whitecaps have been shortlisted for Major League Soccer’s end-of-season awards.
Jesper Sorensen is a candidate for coach of the year, Tristan Blackmon is a finalist for defender of the year and Yohei Takaoka is up for goalkeeper of the year.
Sorensen joined the Whitecaps in January and oversaw a historic regular season where the ‘Caps finished second in the Western Conference with an 18-7-9 record, the most goals in the West (66) and the best goal differential in the league (+28).
Vancouver also stunned many in CONCACAF Champions Cup play, earning a spot in the final, and captured a fourth straight Canadian Championship title.
Blackmon was a key part of the team’s back line, starting 23 of the 25 league games he appeared in, and contributing two goals and one assist before suffering a knee injury in mid September.
Takaoka played every minute of Vancouver’s 34 MLS games and recorded a league-high 13 clean sheets.
Winners for the awards will be announced throughout the MLS playoffs.
The Whitecaps will begin their post-season on Sunday when they host FC Dallas to kick off a best-of-three first-round series.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 23, 2025.
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