Florian Jungwirth Announces Retirement, Named VWFC Assistant Coach

January 27, 2023 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – Vancouver Whitecaps FC News Release

VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC defender Florian Jungwirth announced his retirement on Friday, following a 15-year professional playing career. In addition, the club announced Jungwirth will be joining the first team coaching staff as an assistant coach.

“I have so many great memories with the most beautiful game in the world,” said Jungwirth. “I’m grateful for all the players, coaches and staff members who shared the road with me. Special shoutout to my biggest mentors Ernst Tanner, Horst Hrubesch, Dirk Schuster and Matías Almeyda. I’m really grateful that the Vancouver Whitecaps, Axel Schuster and Vanni Sartini, have given me this outstanding chance to work as the assistant coach with the first team. It’s a big form of trust and I can’t wait to pay it back.”  

Florian Jungwirth – Career Accomplishments 

More than 400 appearances at the professional club level with six different teams

U-17 Bundesliga Champion & U-19 DFB Pokal Champion with 1860 Munich

Captained Germany’s UEFA U-19 Championship winning team in 2008

Helped Dynamo Dresden gain promotion to the 2.Bundesliga

Helped SV Darmstadt 98 gain promotion to the Bundesliga

Named Defensive Player of the Year at San Jose Earthquakes in 2017 & 2019

2022 Canadian Championship winner with Whitecaps FC

Six goals, 10 assists across 155 appearances in MLS

“First of all, we want to congratulate Florian on an incredible career,” said Axel Schuster, Whitecaps FC sporting director. “We are excited to have Flo join our coaching staff as he brings a wealth of experience having played in many competitions across the world. We have a number of young players on our roster and his first hand knowledge will provide a great resource for them.” 

The native of Gräfelfing, Germany, who celebrates his 34th birthday today, ends his playing career having made 406 appearances for six different teams at the professional club level. Last year, Jungwirth was an assistant coach with the Whitecaps FC BMO MLS Academy U-16 side and earned his UEFA B Licence in December.

Jungwirth made 30 appearances across all competitions for Whitecaps FC and helped the club win the 2022 Canadian Championship.

The defender, who was also deployed as a defensive midfielder during his career, originally moved to MLS in 2017 when he joined San Jose Earthquakes. Across all competitions, Jungwirth made 135 appearances for San Jose, and was honoured as the…