Vancouver Whitecaps: All-time starting XI part 2
By Ben Steiner
Left Midfield
Alphonso Davies
Even the most casual of Vancouver Whitecaps observers could have chosen this one. Alphonso Davies is by far the best homegrown product ever to come out of the Whitecaps development system, and the 18-year-old is already one of the greatest Canadians ever to play the game. Davies did not begin his soccer-playing days with the Whitecaps, however. That came in Edmonton. He was later recruited when he was 14. He progressed through the final stages of the Vancouver academy program, and at 15, he made his USL debut with the defunct WFC2 before making his MLS debut soon after.
At 15, he was a kid amongst men, being forced off the ball due to his strength more often than not. He showed his determination to succeed, however, by bulking up significantly through the next two years, and by the time he left the Whitecaps, the winger had built himself into an excitable physique. In his last year with the team, he did all he could to keep the side competitive and was really the only bright spot in 2018.
On the international side, he has been a star turn for Canada, and will only get better as his career progresses now under the watchful eyes of the Bayern Munich coaching staff. I play him at left-wing in the all-time XI because that is where he has shown to be most threatening and where his talents are best suited. That’s not to say he won’t be successful in his transition to a more defensive role, but so far in his career, he has been best in the attack.