FC Cincinnati name Kendall Waston club's first-ever captain

Kendall Waston -- FC Cincinnati

Captain Kendall. 


FC Cincinnati named defender Kendall Waston as the team's first ever captain, the club announced Wednesday. He was captain of the Vancouver Whitecaps during the 2017 and 2018 seasons before being acquired by FC Cincy this offseason. 


“It’s a huge honor for me to be the team captain," Waston said in a club statement. “It’s a big responsibility. I know everything that surrounds it. We have big expectations, but the good thing here is that everybody is fighting for the same goal. We want to lift up MLS Cup. It’s not going to be easy, but with the work of every individual, everything can be possible.”

Waston joined MLS when he signed with the Whitecaps in 2014, where he became an integral member of the team. He accrued 115 appearances from 2014-18, with 14 goals and four assists from his defensive position. He made MLS Best XI twice (2015, 2017) during his time in Vancouver. 


A Costa Rican international, Waston has 30 caps for his country. 


“Kendall is an exemplary leader for our team both on and off the pitch,” head coach Alan Koch said. “When building our roster, we placed a strong emphasis on not only adding quality players, but also somebody who could inspire the players around him. Kendall is someone who is very deserving of the honor of the club’s first-ever MLS captain.”


Waston will lead FC Cincinnati onto the pitch for their first-ever MLS match on Saturday on the road against the Seattle Sounders (10 pm ET | FS1, Fox Deportes, MLS Live on DAZN in Canada).