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Thomas Muller is on a mission to win silverware with the Whitecaps

Thomas Muller is on a mission to win silverware with the Whitecaps

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Since joining the Vancouver Whitecaps, Thomas Müller has been among the most productive forwards in Major League Soccer.

By Graham Ruthven

At first, the fit of Thomas Müller and the Vancouver Whitecaps appeared to be an awkward one. This was a club without any serious track record of success in Major League Soccer. The Caps have never won MLS Cup, nor have they ever won a Conference title or Supporters’ Shield. The trophy cabinet isn’t the fullest.

Vancouver isn’t even the most vibrant of sports towns. It’s been over two decades since the Vancouver Grizzlies last played in the NBA while Toronto is the only Canadian city with an MLB team. Vancouver is an ice hockey and adventure sports town where an MLS team also happens to play. It wasn’t an obvious destination for one of Germany’s greatest-ever footballers.

Yet Müller has taken to MLS, and Vancouver, like he was always meant to be there. The 36-year-old has registered seven goals and four assists in just seven games (all comps) and is spearheading the Whitecaps’ challenge for silverware with the play-offs just around the corner. This weekend marks the conclusion of the regular season.

For more graphics like this, check out @fotmobapp on Instagram

Even before Müller’s arrival, Vancouver were enjoying an excellent 2025 season. While the club started the year amid talk of relocation, new manager Jesper Sørensen quickly moulded a modern, dynamic team capable of holding its own against the very best in MLS. The upward trajectory started long before Müller signed.

The momentum Vancouver built up in the first half of the season could have dissipated when Pedro Vite left for Liga MX and Pumas in August. The Ecuadorian had been the Caps’ creator-in-chief, particularly with Ryan Gauld out injured. Vite’s departure might have knocked Sørensen’s side out of their stride.

Instead, it opened the door for Müller to give Vancouver a different dimension. He is a different sort of attacker to Vite. The ‘Raumdeuter’ isn’t so technical on the ball, but his appreciation of space on a football pitch and how to use it continues to make him special. Müller is among the most intelligent players of his generation.

Müller’s stoppage time winner away to Orlando City last Saturday was the German’s best moment in a Vancouver jersey to date. It wasn’t a classic Müller goal in the way he dribbled through a couple tackles before angling a low strike into the bottom corner from 18 yards out, but it highlighted the confidence he is playing with right now.

“He struck it well, and maybe it’s just a little bit of magic,” Sørensen said after the win which kept Vancouver top of the Western Conference. “We’re in magic land, so it was a little bit from the magic kingdom.” Vancouver surely hope Müller has some magic in reserve for the play-offs.

“What he’s shown since he’s come here, with the way he presents himself, with the quality he adds to the team, with how much he’s involved in what chances we create… in the build up and also in the pressing, I think he’s been even more than we could even have hoped for when he came,” Sørensen continued.

Vancouver might be peaking at the right time. They are unbeaten in their last eight league matches with their only recent dropped points coming in Cascadia Cup games against Portland and Seattle. While others have faltered towards the end of the regular season, the Whitecaps have found their groove.

The Philadelphia Union could be a threat after lifting the Supporters’ Shield, but it was only last month that Vancouver demolished Bradley Carnell’s side 7-0 in a statement win. Los Angeles FC are flying at the moment, but Vancouver also emerged victorious in their last meeting with the Californians in June.

Inter Miami certainly can’t be discounted from the play-off equation. However, the Whitecaps got the better of Lionel Messi and co. when they clashed in this season’s CONCACAF Champions League. Vancouver have already shown they can handle the strongest opponents in MLS. It would be foolish to bet against them going all the way in the post-season.

The Supporters Shield table, ahead of Decision Day

At 36 years old, Müller’s signing wasn’t a long-term play for the Caps. They saw an opportunity to add a proven goalscorer and creator to their ranks for what could be an historic second half of the season. The framework for a successful team was already in place. 

In Müller, though, Vancouver have someone who could define their 2025. The German is fit and firing. He has quickly endeared himself to the locals and has spoken about how much he enjoys living in the city. Müller might not be in MLS for a long time, but it very much looks like he’s there for a good time.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every MLS game on FotMob this season – with in-depth stat coverage, including xG, shot maps, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Thomas Muller is on a mission to win silverware with the Whitecaps

Since joining the Vancouver Whitecaps, Thomas Müller has been among the most productive forwards in Major League Soccer.

By Graham Ruthven

At first, the fit of Thomas Müller and the Vancouver Whitecaps appeared to be an awkward one. This was a club without any serious track record of success in Major League Soccer. The Caps have never won MLS Cup, nor have they ever won a Conference title or Supporters’ Shield. The trophy cabinet isn’t the fullest.

Vancouver isn’t even the most vibrant of sports towns. It’s been over two decades since the Vancouver Grizzlies last played in the NBA while Toronto is the only Canadian city with an MLB team. Vancouver is an ice hockey and adventure sports town where an MLS team also happens to play. It wasn’t an obvious destination for one of Germany’s greatest-ever footballers.

Yet Müller has taken to MLS, and Vancouver, like he was always meant to be there. The 36-year-old has registered seven goals and four assists in just seven games (all comps) and is spearheading the Whitecaps’ challenge for silverware with the play-offs just around the corner. This weekend marks the conclusion of the regular season.

For more graphics like this, check out @fotmobapp on Instagram

Even before Müller’s arrival, Vancouver were enjoying an excellent 2025 season. While the club started the year amid talk of relocation, new manager Jesper Sørensen quickly moulded a modern, dynamic team capable of holding its own against the very best in MLS. The upward trajectory started long before Müller signed.

The momentum Vancouver built up in the first half of the season could have dissipated when Pedro Vite left for Liga MX and Pumas in August. The Ecuadorian had been the Caps’ creator-in-chief, particularly with Ryan Gauld out injured. Vite’s departure might have knocked Sørensen’s side out of their stride.

Instead, it opened the door for Müller to give Vancouver a different dimension. He is a different sort of attacker to Vite. The ‘Raumdeuter’ isn’t so technical on the ball, but his appreciation of space on a football pitch and how to use it continues to make him special. Müller is among the most intelligent players of his generation.

Müller’s stoppage time winner away to Orlando City last Saturday was the German’s best moment in a Vancouver jersey to date. It wasn’t a classic Müller goal in the way he dribbled through a couple tackles before angling a low strike into the bottom corner from 18 yards out, but it highlighted the confidence he is playing with right now.

“He struck it well, and maybe it’s just a little bit of magic,” Sørensen said after the win which kept Vancouver top of the Western Conference. “We’re in magic land, so it was a little bit from the magic kingdom.” Vancouver surely hope Müller has some magic in reserve for the play-offs.

“What he’s shown since he’s come here, with the way he presents himself, with the quality he adds to the team, with how much he’s involved in what chances we create… in the build up and also in the pressing, I think he’s been even more than we could even have hoped for when he came,” Sørensen continued.

Vancouver might be peaking at the right time. They are unbeaten in their last eight league matches with their only recent dropped points coming in Cascadia Cup games against Portland and Seattle. While others have faltered towards the end of the regular season, the Whitecaps have found their groove.

The Philadelphia Union could be a threat after lifting the Supporters’ Shield, but it was only last month that Vancouver demolished Bradley Carnell’s side 7-0 in a statement win. Los Angeles FC are flying at the moment, but Vancouver also emerged victorious in their last meeting with the Californians in June.

Inter Miami certainly can’t be discounted from the play-off equation. However, the Whitecaps got the better of Lionel Messi and co. when they clashed in this season’s CONCACAF Champions League. Vancouver have already shown they can handle the strongest opponents in MLS. It would be foolish to bet against them going all the way in the post-season.

The Supporters Shield table, ahead of Decision Day

At 36 years old, Müller’s signing wasn’t a long-term play for the Caps. They saw an opportunity to add a proven goalscorer and creator to their ranks for what could be an historic second half of the season. The framework for a successful team was already in place. 

In Müller, though, Vancouver have someone who could define their 2025. The German is fit and firing. He has quickly endeared himself to the locals and has spoken about how much he enjoys living in the city. Müller might not be in MLS for a long time, but it very much looks like he’s there for a good time.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every MLS game on FotMob this season – with in-depth stat coverage, including xG, shot maps, and player ratings. Download the free app here.