Whitecaps Re-Sign Demerit

The Vancouver Whitecaps FC made it official and many wonder why it took this long, but getting it right is something a team can’t do in a hasty manner.

The re-signing  of 34 year-old Captain and Centre-Back Jay DeMerit who has started 64 of 66 matches over the past three seasons means a lot as he is one of the more important members of the club as well as a true team leader.

Terms were not disclosed as per the Whitecaps FC policy, which is normal in professional in today’s world.

Jay has always been professional in any conversation I have had with him and he represents his club in the same manner both on and off the pitch.

Whitecaps FC Head Coach Carl Robinson told the media “As he has proven over the last three seasons, Jay is an important member of our club and he’s a total leader, and he’s someone who we had every intention of bringing back.”

Robinson continued “His dedication and professionalism were on full display last season when he returned from a serious injury earlier than expected and proved that he could still compete at a high level.

The experience, energy, and standards Jay brings to our group is second to none and we’re delighted that he has committed to continuing his career with our club.”

The goal of the Whitecaps FC is to have a team that not only win’s but one the fans can be proud of and in the first few seasons in the MLS they have achieved this task.

Jay was the first MLS signing for the Whitecaps FC when he was signed to the initial contract November 18, 2010.

As a true competitor and club captain he has started 58 of 60 regular season matches amassing a total of 5,004 minutes.

DeMerit started the ‘Caps 2012 playoff match as well as played in five (5) Amway Canadian Championship appearances on the pitch.

Last season he suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon a few minutes into Whitecaps FC’s season opener (March 2) and following months of rehabilitation he returned as a “sub” on September 14 when the Whitecaps played host to San Jose Earthquakes.

He was named Budweiser Man of the Match that saw the teams play to a scoreless draw, adding that he played all of the 540 minutes of the club’s remaining six matches of competition.

• In      his second MLS season he managed to grab several first-time achievements of success.
• In 2012, he scored his first MLS goal to help the ‘Caps capture their first road win in MLS,
• He recorded his first assist, and he became the first Whitecaps FC player to appear in an MLS All-Star Game.
• He put in 90-minutes for the MLS All-Stars, as they defeated UEFA Champions League holders Chelsea FC 3-2 at PPLPark      in Chester, Pennsylvania on July 25.
• He led the Blue and White to their first-ever MLS Cup Playoffs appearance.

Before joining Whitecaps FC in their inaugural MLS campaign in 2011, DeMerit enjoyed six seasons with England’s Watford FC.

He originally joined the Football League Championship side (second tier in England) in July 2004 following an impressive preseason friendly performance versus Watford as a trialist with semi-professional outfit Northwood FC of the Isthmian League Premier Division (seventh tier in England).

DeMerit was a regular starter with Watford, and helped the Hertfordshire-based club earn promotion to the English Premier League.

He scored the match-winning goal in the 2005-06 Championship play-off final over Leeds United FC and in total, DeMerit started 193 of 213 appearances in all competitions with The Hornets and scored 10 goals.

The defender also played the 2003-04 season with Southall FC of the Combined Counties Football League (ninth tier in England), and spent one season with Chicago Fire Premier of the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League in 2011.

At the collegiate level, he was a starter at the University of Illinois at Chicago in the NCAA Division I from 1998 to 2001.

On the Internationally Stage he has earned 25 caps with the U.S. men’s national team, despite suffering a serious eye injury.

Jay started all four of his country’s matches at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa and helped the U.S. finish first in Group C.

Congratulations to Jay on the signing!!