Whitecaps FC men's team captain Martin Nash models the new uniform that will feature Bell Canada's logo. Bell was announced as the team's Premier Founding Partner and exclusive mobile video provider on June 10 in Vancouver. (CNW Group/Bell Canada)Hand-Out
The Vancouver Whitecaps won't be pushed into signing a big-name player to its roster when the team joins Major League Soccer next season, club president Bob Lenarduzzi said Wednesday.
The New York Red Bulls made a splash by signing French forward Thierry Henry to a multi-year contract. The 32-year-old former Arsenal and Barcelona player is expected to make his Red Bulls' debut on July 22 in an exhibition against Premier League club Tottenham.
Lenarduzzi said signing Henry "provides credibility and added profile" to MLS. He's sure the Red Bulls will be a huge attraction in their first visit to Vancouver.
"There is not going to be any shortage of people who do want to see Thierry Henry," he said.
MLS teams operate on a US$2.6-million salary cap. Teams are allowed to have two designated players above the cap.
Lenarduzzi would rather build a team and maybe add a designated player to fill a need, rather than simply make headlines by grabbing a high-profile name.
"The DP (designated player) is something we are incorporating into our plans for how we evolve and what kind of roster we will have in 2011," Lenarduzzi said. "It's not something we feel is imperative in our case."
There's no doubt the Whitecap owners have deep pockets.
The Whitecaps' ownership group is headed by reclusive local millionaire Greg Kerfoot. Other owners include Steve Nash, the two-time NBA MVP who grew up in Victoria; Jeff Mallett, a co-owner of baseball's San Francisco Giants; and Steve Luczo, a co-owner of the NBA Boston Celtics.
The team has already sold 13,000 season tickets and plans to cap sales at 16,500.
"We know the DP is an option," Lenarduzzi said. "The ownership are committed if the right DP comes along under the right circumstances."
Lenarduzzi would rather sign a player because of what he brings to the pitch, and the community, rather than the name printed on the back of his uniform.
"My belief is we need to establish a solid core of players," he said. "If there is an opportunity to get the DP in, it goes beyond does the DP sell tickets for you.
"Hopefully you sign a DP that can be a great role model."
Henry was released by Barcelona last month after scoring just four goals last season.
He helped France win the World Cup in 1998 and the 2000 European Championship. At this year's World Cup in South Africa, France was eliminated in the first round after the team was beset by a player protest.
Henry guided Arsenal to the Premier League title in 2002 and 2004 before leaving in 2007 to join Barcelona, where he won six trophies in 2009 - the Champions League, the Spanish league, the Copa del Rey, the Spanish Supercup, the UEFA Supercup and the FIFA Club World Cup.
The Los Angeles Galaxy made headlines around the world when they signed former England captain David Beckham to a five-year contract in July 2007.
Beckham, who hasn't played this season because of a torn Achilles tendon, is the league's highest paid player at $6.5 million guaranteed compensation. Toronto FC midfielder Julian de Guzman is fourth at $1.72 million.
Lenarduzzi isn't afraid MLS will go the route of the old North American Soccer League which saw teams drown in a sea of red ink after throwing huge salaries at older players.
"It's totally different," said Lenarduzzi, a member of the Whitecaps' team that won the 1979 NASL championship. "They've limited the number of DPs you can sign so you are not blowing your brains out."