Vancouver Whitecaps deliver 'heartbreaking' injury news on a really important player
The hits keep coming for the Vancouver Whitecaps.
Despite enjoying perhaps their most successful season since entering Major League Soccer in 2011, the Whitecaps have been hit with the injury bug in a big way this season.
This time it’s Ranko Veselinović, Vancouver’s steady centre back, who suffered an ACL tear during the first half of Saturday’s match against San Diego FC. The injury will end Veselinović’s season, the club said.
“It’s genuinely heartbreaking for Ranko,” said Whitecaps CEO and sporting director Axel Schuster. “He has not only been an extremely consistent and high performer on the field, but also a compassionate and supportive presence in the locker room. He’s been a true cornerstone for us this season, and it’s incredibly difficult to see his year cut short. The entire organization is behind him as he begins his recovery.”
Veselinović appeared in his 200th match for the Whitecaps on Saturday, equalling Jordan Harvey for the second most in club history in the MLS era. The 26-year-old Serbian has added Whitecaps captain to his list of responsibilities for most of this season, while Ryan Gauld has been out with a long-term injury.
Veselinović, along with the Whitecaps’ medical team, will determine next steps in his injury recovery, the club said.
Despite all the adversity they’ve faced this season, the Whitecaps sit second in the Western Conference standings, just one point behind San Diego. They’ve sent a club-record four players to the MLS All-Star Game, which takes place on Wednesday in Austin, Texas.
Vancouver’s next game is Saturday at BC Place, against Sporting Kansas City.
- You might also like:
- Vancouver Whitecaps get positive sign on Ryan Gauld's injury status