MLS fines CF Montréal's Joel Waterman for embellishment
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Winnipeg Free Press
25 minutes ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Müller sure to give Whitecaps attendance a shot in the arm
After spending his entire career at a single club, Thomas Müller wasn't going to play just anywhere. His loyalty to Bayern Munich, where he scored 250 goals and won 23 major honours over a celebrated 25 years, meant he was never going to wear another Bundesliga shirt. European clubs outside Germany, meanwhile, had known for some time that the World Cup winner was not at all interested in joining them, either. It was rumoured he might retire at the end of last season, and if he didn't his previous salary at Bayern — a reported 20 million euros (C$32 million) annually — would surely put off most suitors. MATTHIAS SCHRADER / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILES Long-time Bayern Munich forward Thomas Müller (centre) has left the club and signed with the Vancouver Whitecaps. As it turns out, the 35-year-old is about to earn around five times less — as a Vancouver Whitecap. Once everything's been made official with the Major League Soccer outfit, Müller could see minutes as soon as Aug. 9 against San Jose, and he'll be eligible to feature in the semifinals of the Canadian Championship as well. The Whitecaps will visit Forge FC in the first of two legs on Aug. 13. (Who had Thomas Müller in Hamilton on their bingo card?) Before Tuesday, when the transaction was effectively finalized, Müller had narrowed his options to a few MLS clubs, with Los Angeles FC most prominent among them, as well as A-League record champions Sydney FC. Perhaps former Bayern manager Carlo Ancelotti, who owns a waterfront home in West Vancouver, influenced his thinking. Maybe Alphonso Davies, an ex-Bayern teammate who spent three years in the Whitecaps system, helped make up his mind. Or, Vancouver is simply a world-class city with an attractive lifestyle, and the Whitecaps are a contending MLS team just a point off first place in the Western Conference. A lot of players would relish that scenario. Now it's up to manager Jesper Sorensen to get him into the lineup. Numerically, it won't be a problem. With Ryan Gauld rehabbing a knee injury, Ali Ahmed out with an ankle problem and both Ranko Veselinović and Sam Adekugbe absent long-term, as well as Damir Kreilach's exit early last month, the squad simply needs more players. As to Müller's role, there's no sense in overthinking it or trying to get inventive. He is what he is. Sorensen will use the former German international as a build-up player — from the right, where Emmanuel Sabbi played against Kansas City, or behind striker Brian White, where Jean-Claude Ngando operated. He will not be quick; he will rarely dribble. He'll be counted on to find those slivers of space that no one else noticed, and he'll hopefully score some goals. A lot of his playing time will come as a substitute, allowing him to take advantage of tiring opponents. In context, he came off the bench 18 times in the Bundesliga last season, and on four occasions in 2025 he was an unused sub. He also scored just once in 30 appearances. So, is he washed up? Not necessarily. He's joining a very good team, and his experience as a proven winner will be invaluable — especially come playoff time. He certainly has a knack for coming through when the pressure is high. Off the field, Müller will give Whitecaps attendance a shot in the arm. With ownership trying to sell the team, that can only be a good thing. Vancouver played in front of nine sell-out crowds last term but have yet to fill BC Place (reduced capacity for MLS) this time around. Ideally, they'd like to open the upper bowl for the playoffs. Then there's the reputational boost the club is already experiencing. Once again, the outgoing ownership group should more than make up what they're paying Müller in franchise value. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. If pitch-level expectations are realistic, Müller will be as close to a sure thing as thirty-something MLS signings get. He'll be effective in certain game situations; he'll enhance the Whitecaps brand. And he won't merely go through the motions. If he was going to keep playing post-Bayern, it was only going to be somewhere that appealed to him, that he could commit to. Thankfully for Vancouver, it's there. jerradpeters@
CTV News
2 days ago
- CTV News
CF Montreal defender Joel Waterman fined by MLS
CF Montréal's Joel Waterman plays during an MLS soccer match against the Philadelphia Union, Wednesday, July 16, 2025, in Chester, Pa. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum) CF Montreal defender Joel Waterman has been fined by Major League Soccer for violating the league's policy regarding simulation/embellishment. The amount of the fine was undisclosed. The incident occurred in the 73rd minute of Montreal's 3-1 win over the New England Revolution on Friday. Waterman was shown a yellow card along with New England midfielder Carles Gil. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 29, 2025.
CTV News
3 days ago
- CTV News
‘Historic': Vancouver Whitecaps in talks to sign German legend Thomas Muller
German midfielder Thomas Muller is on the precipice of his MLS debut as the Vancouver Whitecaps look set to sign. Sports commentators are calling the impending signing of a European football star to the Vancouver Whitecaps 'historic.' On Tuesday, TSN reported, GiveMeSport's Tom Bogert revealed the team was finalizing the signing of former Bayern Munich midfielder Thomas Müller. Blake Price, an MLS play-by-play host and co-host of Sekeres and Price, described Müller as one of the biggest global soccer stars of his generation. 'They've overcome all those odds to bring in this player and, honestly, you have to pinch yourself if you're a Whitecaps fan,' he said. As for why Müller chose Vancouver, Price thinks the reasons range from how beautiful the city is, to the upcoming FIFA World Cup. 'And, of course, most notably, perhaps he wants to play for a winner, and right now, the Vancouver Whitecaps are poised to be a winner in Major League Soccer,' he said. The 35-year-old German footballer spent 25 years with FC Bayern Munich. In April, the club announced he would not return for the 2025-26 season. At the time, Herbert Hainer, the club's president said: 'Thomas Müller is the definition of a Bavarian fairytale career; he grew in Bavaria and with Bayern. From Ammersee to the Allianz Arena, as far as Asia and America. Nobody has won more Bundesliga titles, and 33 trophies in total so far speak volumes. He ranks among the most outstanding personalities in FC Bayern history.' Michael McColl, the managing editor of AFTN, said the Whitecaps have never signed a player of this caliber. 'Without trying to be hyperbolic, this is the biggest signing in Whitecaps history,' he said. 'Not even just talking about the MLS Whitecaps, but all the previous incarnations going all the way back to the NASL days.' McColl said he believes Müller will be a positive addition to the club both on the pitch and off. 'He will shift jerseys and big numbers here, but he will also be a huge asset to Vancouver as a soccer city,' he said.
