Brian White backs Vanni Sartini for permanent Vancouver Whitecaps job

Vancouver Whitecaps striker Brian White says he and his teammates would love interim head coach Vanni Sartini to be given the job on a full-time basis.

Sartini has lost just two MLS games since taking over from Marc Dos Santos in August, guiding the Whitecaps into the Playoffs for the first time since 2017.

The 44-year-old Italian has caught the eye with his exuberant celebrations and passion on the sidelines. And if White's words are anything to go by, he's certainly earned the respect of his players.

"I think we all love playing for Vanni. I think it shows by the way we play on the field, the results we're able to get," he told The Call Up podcast.

"And so should the club decide to keep him as the full-time manager, I think everyone on the team would be excited to have him because it's been great playing with him and we've all enjoyed it a lot."

So, are all the antics and grand gestures on the sidelines just for show? According to White, Sartini is a man who wears his heart on his sleeve, in front of the cameras and away from them.

"I think pretty much what you see is what you get, even behind closed doors," White added. "He's very exuberant, he's very excited and he's really fun to play for because you see the energy, the emotion he puts into it. He puts belief and passion into those speeches, so it really makes it easy for guys to go out and give their all for him. I think you can see that when we go out and play.

"To get these results against some of these bigger top-of-the-table teams has been a clear picture of what he's been able to do with us."

Vancouver face Sporting Kansas City next Saturday in their first MLS Cup Playoff match since November 2017.