Brian White makes Vancouver Whitecaps history in Red Bull Arena return
Brian White only needed 15 minutes to make Vancouver Whitecaps FC history Saturday night in his return to Red Bull Arena.
A clinical and mobile striker, Brian White joined Whitecaps FC in June 2021 via trade from Eastern Conference side New York Red Bulls.
In February 2022, White agreed to a contract extension with the 'Caps through 2025, with a club option for 2026.
WHITECAPS FC
'23: White had a remarkable career-year in 2023. The Flemington, New Jersey native notched a career-high 20 goals and added five assists in 38 starts and 43 appearances across all competitions, finishing as the ‘Caps leading goalscorer to win his second Domenic Mobilio Golden Boot. A big part of White’s impressive campaign was demonstrating his ability to score from anywhere in the final third, as all 15 of his MLS regular season goals came from open play (3rd in MLS). He also recorded six game-winning goals (2nd in MLS), 15.27 expected goals (3rd in MLS), and 44 shots on target (4th in MLS). In fact, White was the highest-scoring American at the club level across all competitions throughout the year, beating FC Cincinnati’s Brandon Vazquez and FC Dallas’ Jesús Ferreira. The forward also moved up the club’s all-time MLS goalscoring charts, finishing the season in second for all-time for MLS regular season goals and second all-time for goals across all competitions. White was a finalist for the club's Player of the Year award.
'22: White finished third in goalscoring across all competitions for the ‘Caps in 2022 with seven goals – four coming in MLS play and three coming in Canadian Championship play. One of the forward’s goals came in the Canadian Championship Final against Toronto FC on July 26, as he headed in a cross from Ryan Gauld to give the team an early 1-0 lead. In total, White started 21 of his 29 appearances across all competitions in 2022.
'21: White had a career year after joining the 'Caps mid-season, leading the team in scoring during the regular season with a 12 goals in 23 starts and 27 appearances to win the Domenic Mobilio Golden Boot, while additionally recording a career-high five assists. White became the seventh player in the club’s MLS era to score double-digit goals in a season and was the second-highest scoring American during the MLS regular season. The Flemington, New Jersey native was named to the MLS Team of the Week three times during the regular season and won MLS Player of the Week for Week 29 after scoring his first-career hat-trick on October 2 against San Jose Earthquakes. Additionally, White led the ‘Caps in expected goals excluding penalty kicks (10.4, sixth most in Western Conference), shots on goal (23) and headed goals (4) during the regular season. The striker also started both the MLS Cup Playoffs match against Sporting Kansas City and the Canadian Championship clash against Pacific FC.
NEW YORK RED BULLS
'21:Â Before being traded to Vancouver, White started three of his five appearances in MLS play for the Red Bulls, earning an assist against Los Angeles Galaxy on April 25.
'20: Made 10 starts in 18 appearances with 872 minutes played... led the team in goals with five and also had one assist... tallied late-match equalizers in back-to-back games against Orlando City (October 18) and Chicago Fire FC (October 24) ... his goal against Orlando City came in the 95th minute (94:47), which was the latest result changing goal for the Red Bulls in an MLS regular-season match since Tim Cahill in the 97th minute (96:58) in a 2-2 draw with New England in October 2013 ... became the fourth player in franchise history to record two goals in stoppage time that produced a game-changing result, joining Amado Guevara, Bradley Wright-Phillips and Tim Cahill, who owns the franchise record for latest stoppage time goal in franchise history at 97+ in a 2-2 draw versus New England on October 5, 2013 ... scored his first goal outside of the 18-yard box on November 1 against New York City FC ... finished the season scoring four goals in the last five regular-season matches. Playoffs: Tallied his first MLS Cup Playoffs goal as a substitute against Columbus Crew SC on Nov. 21.
'19: Made 19 appearances in which he started 17...scored nine goals...scored game-winning goals against Sporting Kansas City and the Chicago Fire...recorded 1,283 minutes played...named to the bench of MLS Team of the Week in week 13. USL: Made two starts...scored against Nashville SC on March 24. CCL: Appeared in one contest and logged seven minutes
'18: Made his MLS debut against Vancouver on August 18, tallying eight minutes off the bench, scored his first career MLS goal against Houston on August 29. USL: Started in 16 of the 23 matches he appeared in, tallied eight goals and five assists in 1,539 minutes played, became the first player in USL and MLS history to record a goal, an assist and a save in the same match against the Richmond Kickers on July 13, nominated for mid-season USL Young Player of the Year.
INTERNATIONAL
White received his first call-up to the United States Men's National Team in January 2024 for a camp in Orlando, Florida.
COLLEGE
Made 73 appearances out of possible 74 and started in 63 of those matches for Duke University. White was a top-five getter at Duke, leading in his team’s scoring chart in his senior season with 10 goals.
YOUTH
Competed for the Red Bulls’ Premier Development League side in the Summer of 2017, scoring 17 goals along with three assists. Was named the PDL’s MVP for his incredible performances over the course of the season.