Episode 644 – The AFTN Soccer Show (I Cling To The Bittersweet - Ryan Gauld on Vanni’s departure, Jeevan Badwal interview, MLS managerial merry-go-round, Whitecaps awards)

We’re back with another AFTN Soccer Show packed full of Vancouver Whitecaps, Major League Soccer, and general soccer chat, in what's been another eventful week in the world of Canadian football.

The fallout from Vanni Sartini's sacking continues in Vancouver in what has been somewhat of a managerial merry-go-round in MLS these past two months and he was joined in the employment line this past week by John Herdman in Toronto. We look at Herdman's departure at TFC, ponder what's next for him and Vanni, and look again at some of the candidates to replace them in what is now a very busy market. Plus we get the thoughts of Whitecaps captain Ryan Gauld on Sartini leaving the Whitecaps.

Our feature interview this episode is with Whitecaps 18-year-old midfielder Jeevan Badwal. We chat with the homegrown star about his whirlwind past two years, signing his first MLS deal, what lies ahead, the pressure of trying to be the South Asian player that breaks through, playing in a World Cup, and more.

We continue our Whitecaps awards for 2024, handing out gongs for Game, Goal, Save, and Miss of the Year. Plus we talk MLS Cup, FA Cup, Alphonso Davies' DUI, and music-wise we kick off our 2024 Festive 15 with the songs that came in at the numbers 13 to 15 positions.

Here’s the rundown for the main segments from the episode:

01.06: Intro - Tayay fever, Ted Lasso, Phonzie DUI, FA Cup drama
17.22: It's LA v NY in MLS Cup as Puig tears ACL
24.50: Ryan Gauld on Vanni Sartini's departure
40.26: AFTN's 2024 Festive 15 - #15 Kosmetika - Pictures Are Gone
45.00: MLS Managerial Merry-go-round - Herdman out in Toronto
61.15: MLS Managerial Merry-go-round - What's next for Whitecaps and TFC?
76.43: Few surprises with Whitecaps roster decisions
83.41: AFTN's 2024 Festive 15 - #14 Mayflower Madame - A Foretold Ecstasy
89.11: Jeevan Badwal interview
118.15: Anyone Fancy A Chocolate Digestive? - Jeevan Badwal
122.00: AFTN's 2024 Festive 15 - #13 Mog - Playing Along
125.45: AFTN's Whitecaps 2024 awards - Game, Goal, Save and Miss of the Year
149.17: Wavelength - Paul Nicholas - Yesterday's Hero