When Vancouver Whitecaps management began exploring ideas about who might be coach when the team joins Major League Soccer next year, it needed to look no further than its current bench.
Teitur Thordarson, who has coached the Whitecaps for the last three seasons, will be at the helm when Vancouver launches its inaugural MLS campaign in March.
"To have the chance to play in the top league in North America is a tremendous opportunity for everyone involved," Thordarson (pronounced Thor-dar-son) told a news conference Thursday. "Our aim is to be successful from the first kick.
"I am really excited about what lays ahead."
During his tenure in Vancouver, Thordarson coached the Whitecaps to a league championship in 2008 and reached the finals last season.
The Whitecaps are currently first in the NASL Conference of the United States Soccer Federation Division-2 with a record of nine wins, three losses and a tie. Overall, Thordarson's record with the Whitecaps is 44-27-37.
Bob Lenarduzzi, the Whitecaps president, said it was a short conversation when the topic of next year's coach was discussed.
"We sat down and weighed the pros and cons of should we establish a search," said Lenarduzzi. "We felt Teitur has been successful with us and he has the international experience.
"All of those things considered, why would we tempt fate?"
Paul Barber, the Whitecaps chief executive officer, said naming a coach is another important step on the road to MLS.
"To have an experienced, knowledgeable and highly thought of coach in charge of your roster as you move into a new arena is absolutely critical," he said. "I am delighted we have someone of that status and that quality in place."
The Whitecaps have been a work in process this season. Vancouver signed 10 new players over the summer as management evaluated talent who could play for the team in MLS.
The 58-year-old Thordarson knew his abilities as a coach were also being scrutinized.
"It's been the same process with me as the players," said the native of Iceland, who has previously coached in Sweden, Norway and Estonia.
"We have been assessed all the way through. The team is performing and I'm a part of that and I think that also played in."
Thordarson doubts he will have to change his coaching style in the new league. He will seek advance from Tom Soehn, the Whitecaps director of soccer operations and the former head coach of D.C. United.
"There will be some difference in terms of MLS, all the rules that are around the team," he said. "I am very fortunate to have an experienced MLS coach with me in Tom Soehn.
"I hope I can as much as possible concentrate on the coaching."
Thordarson's contract is for one year, with a team option for 2012.
Lenarduzzi has been impressed with both Thordarson's style and coaching philosophy.
Whitecap management believes the key to building a successful team is developing young talent. Thordarson has a history of utilizing young players.
"We'd love to have short-term success (but) what we don't want to do is try and produce an instant winner by sacrificing the initiatives that involve player development and getting young players in and having them grow with our club," said Lenarduzzi.
"Our plan is to build slowly and he's proven he's prepared to use the young players."
Lenarduzzi, former head coach with both the Canadian national team and the Vancouver 86ers, also likes the way Thordarson relates to his players.
"He's not a yeller," said Lenarduzzi. "He's not a screamer. The players appreciate that.
"Getting a rollicking from the coach sometimes is needed. More often than not, if you can communicate to players, and be clear about what you are looking for and do that in a constructive way, I think you are going to get the most out of players. That is something he has been able to do."
Before coming to Vancouver, Thordarson coached for 11 years in Norway's top-level Eliteserien. He also coached the Estonian national team between 1996 and 1999.
As a player, Thordarson was a striker who signed his first professional contract at age 17 with his hometown club rDottabandalag Akraness in 1969. Over the next two decades he would play with Swedish teams J÷nk÷pings S÷dra IF, �Wsters IF, and Sk÷vde AIK, Swiss side Yverdon-Sport FC, and French clubs Racing Club de Lens and Association Sportive de Cannes.
While at Cannes he played under current Arsenal FC manager Arsene Wenger.
Wenger appeared in a video played during Thursday's news conference to wish Thordarson success.
Watch CTV News at Six for Jason Pires' report on Teitur Thordarson's extension to stay as coach.
