VANCOUVER, B.C – After six seasons on the west coast with Vancouver Whitecaps FC, Jake Nerwinski is taking his talents to the Show-Me State to join MLS expansion side St. Louis City SC.
After having his 2023 option declined by Vancouver last month, Nerwinski hit the free agent market and signed a two-year contract with a 2025 option with MLS newcomer St. Louis City SC on November 28.
The 28-year old Nerwinski made 141 MLS appearances for Whitecaps FC, scoring four goals and adding six assists. The versatile defender logged 11,171 MLS minutes for Vancouver.
When did Nerwinski find out that Vancouver would not be picking up his 2023 option?
“I found out a little bit after the deadline,” Nerwinski recently told Har Journalist over zoom. “I was hoping to find out earlier. It seemed like there was an understanding that this was going to be the case. I was hoping that if it was and since it was, I could start looking for a new team earlier. I didn’t want to miss the wave of when teams are filling spots. Yeah it happened a little bit after the deadline hit.”
With the door firmly shut on a return to Vancouver, Nerwinski quickly got to work on finding a new team for the upcoming season. He told his agents that St. Louis City SC was his top choice and that’s where he wanted to play next season.
There was enough interest from both parties and Nerwinski was able to put pen to paper, manifesting a move to Missouri.
“I first thought it would be really exciting to be part of a team where it’s the first season,” Nerwinski said. “I thought the stadium, training ground, everything just looked like it was top notch. It seemed like the city was just buzzing and itching for a professional soccer team. I think the playing style, coach Bradley (Carnell), it just made sense. It seems like it would be a good situation for me to come into and to help this club for the first two seasons at least.”
One of the biggest questions heading into Nerwinski’s first season in St. Louis is whether or not coach Carnell will play Nerwinski out of position or at his correct right back spot?
“The correct position,” Nerwinski laughed. “Yes, I had a great chat with him and (Sporting Director) Lutz (Pfannenstiel). Yes, I’m seen as a right back. I know that you knew this for a while. I think that is my strongest position and it has been for my entire career. When I was in Vancouver, I was asked to play different positions, and I was always up for it, willing to do my part to help the team in any way possible. Even though it came at a cost of maybe being as consistent on the field.”
“I knew that a left centre back role was a challenge and it was difficult,” Nerwinski added. “It was something that I knew it wasn’t meant for me. Vanni (Sartini) asked me to play there and I did the best that I could. I think I had some positive games but not as many as I wanted. Being in that position for more than a year or two years could have potentially hurt my career, if I’m being honest. I had to look at all of those factors going forward.”
In the past two seasons with Vancouver, Nerwinski found himself competing for playing time with fellow right back, Javain Brown. His starting spot was no longer a given. Being able to play at multiple positions including left centre back, centre back and right back earned him more playing time, but it also opened him up to more criticism and mixed results.
If Nerwinski had played more of the season at his natural right back spot, does he believe his 2023 option would have been picked up by Vancouver?
“The long answer is yes,” Nerwinski said. ”I think If you look at the last four games of the season, I played at my position. I’m very aware of how I play. I’m not somebody who thinks I’m the best player all of the time. I think those last four games proved that I should have been playing at that position the whole season. I think those are my four best games and I think those are the four best games that we played all season. Our defense was very strong. I’m not saying it was me, because I was at right back. I’m saying it was all a part of it. It’s all a part of the system and how we play together. I think that back four was very cohesive, the chemistry was great and it showed on the field. I think my play spoke for itself.”
“I know a lot of people are telling me I should have been at right back,” Nerwinski added. “I know you said that. All my teammates have said that, and I know they still say that things probably would have been different if I played there.”
“You have to move forward,” Nerwinski continued. “That’s why I thought St. Louis was a good spot for me. I think this is a chance I will get to prove that I’m still a starter in this league and I can still make an impact for a team at my preferred and best position.”
Salary wise, Nerwinski earned $280,000 last season with Vancouver. If his option had been picked up, the price tag would have been set at $335,000 – His 2023 salary with St. Louis City SC is below what his option price would have been.
“I’ll say it’s below,” Nerwinski said. “But I did not take a cut, that’s all I’ll say from last season. I think in a way when the team that you played for six seasons doesn’t see your value at that number it’s probably very hard to get that number. I think that it was always going to be difficult to get to that number, but I’m extremely happy with the number that we settled on.”
Whitecaps coach Sartini used a variety of formations last season and was reluctant to switch to a back four formation until later in the season.
The Caps often used a three at the back or a three and half defensive formation which yielded inconsistent results. Vancouver allowed 57 goals against in 2022 and finished tied for last in the west with a -17 goal differential.
What type of formation can we expect to see from St. Louis City SC?
“I expect a lot more of a four at the back,” Nerwinski revealed. “That will allow me, hopefully if I prove myself to the coaching staff and Bradley that I can be that right back and I can play alongside Tim Parker again which would be great. Going into that first year that me and Tim Parker played together was a very successful year. We have that chemistry, friendship, we’ve kept in touch these last six years. I think that’s something that can definitely be built on. That chemistry is already there which is important for a new club.”
The Gateway to the West will feature a reunion with Nerwinski joining forces with fellow tri-state native Tim Parker. The duo have remained in contact since Nerwinski’s rookie season in 2017, which happened to be Parker’s final season with Vancouver.
Having someone that you already know and have played with can make all the difference when you’re on a new team, in a new city, looking to make a positive impression.
“I hope it’s like riding a bike,” Nerwinski said. “We’ll find out. He was one of the first people I texted after I signed the contract. He was super excited he called me right away. He was happy that we’ll be playing together again. Happy for my wife and his wife as well. We’ll all have a good situation to come into. As always you’ve got to think about your family when you make these changes. In all aspects, St. Louis made sense for us.”
As Nerwinski and Parker look to get acclimated to all things St. Louis, the question of how bagels are prepared in St. Louis is sure to drive a fierce debate for both east coast natives as they adjust to all things Saint Louis.
While New York, New Jersey and Montreal bagels are well known. The St. Louis bagel is a slice to behold, an acquired taste for some, a daring challenge for others.
“I had to check out the bagel scene,” Nerwinski admitted. “I’m very skeptical of any bagel that’s not from New Jersey or New York, or Pennsylvania. (Montreal) Yeah, but they’re sweeter. I don’t like the sweetness to be fair. When you grow up with a classic New Jersey bagel, it’s hard to branch out.”
Has Nerwinski seen what happens to bagels in St. Louis?
“Yes I have,” Nerwinski admitted. “Listen, I have to go for it. I’m going to have to try it, but we’ll see. I’m still skeptical.”
This is the first big move for Jake and his wife Allie since their days at UConn when Nerwinski was drafted by Vancouver in 2017. The Nerwinski’s spent two days in St. Louis last week exploring and picking up their keys to their new place.
As MLS players head off to warmer climates with loved ones during the off-season, the Nerwinski’s have had to relocate from Vancouver to Lawrenceville, New Jersey and over to St. Louis. The sun, sand, and umbrella drinks will have to wait as they adapt to a massive life change.
This is the first holiday season they will be celebrating Christmas and Hanukkah with six month old daughter Laine, who was born in Vancouver in June. The closest thing to warmer temperatures and sunshine will have to wait until February when Allie might travel to Palm Springs during MLS preseason where both St. Louis City SC and Whitecaps FC will be in action.
Nerwinski spent a large chapter of his life in Vancouver with monumental milestones taking place. He proposed, got married, and became a father during his time on the west coast.
“I got engaged, married, and also had a daughter,” Nerwinski said. “These six years, it’s always going to be where we call home, where a lot of life events happened for me on and off the field. It’s bittersweet. My wife and I loved living in Vancouver. It has to be one of the best cities in the world if not the best.”
“I think Vancouver took a chance on me,” Nerwinski said. “After my senior year at the University of UConn, I wasn’t really seen as a top prospect at all. I remember my agent telling me that you’ll probably hopefully go in the third or fourth round of the draft. For Vancouver to see something in me and take a chance as the seventh pick is something that I will always cherish and be thankful for. It seemed like once I got there, it was also the right situation for me with (Carl Robinson) Robbo there with the playing style that he had and wanting to give younger players a chance. It worked out.”
MLS training camp is right around the corner as both St. Louis City SC and Whitecaps FC prepare for a new MLS campaign. Although Nerwinski has moved on he still has an eye on all things Vancouver. His message to Whitecaps FC fans is simple.
“It’s thank you,” Nerwinski said. “Thank you for welcoming me in. To the fans who always supported me and the team no matter what, Vancouver will always hold a special place in my heart. It’s a place where I played my first professional game. It’s somewhere where I grew into an adult. It’s a very special spot. I look forward to coming back, being back at BC Place, and playing against the Whitecaps.”
St. Louis City SC will make their first visit to BC Place in Vancouver on Wednesday, October 4 and Whitecaps FC will visit CityPark in St. Louis on Saturday, May 27.
You can best believe Nerwinski will have a stack of receipts in his pocket as battles his former Whitecaps FC teammates.
“You know I have receipts Har,” Nerwinski confirmed. “I always have the receipts. It’s just thank you, thank you for everything. I loved my time there, six years is a large part of somebody’s life. I leave with nothing but positive thoughts, but I’m excited for this new journey. I’m excited to finally get going with this new team.”
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