Sporting Kansas City
- Location: Kansas City, Kansas
- Stadium: Children’s Mercy Park
- Coach: Peter Vermes
- MLS Titles: 2
Current Squad / Roster
- T. Melia
- J. Pulskamp
- K. McIntosh
- P. Siegfried
- A. Fontàs
- G. Zusi
- B. Sweat
- L. Ndenbe
- R. Voloder
- K. Ford
- K. Pierre
- K. Rad
- S. Glass
- N. Isimat-Mirin
- R. Espinoza
- N. Radoja
- F. Hernandez
- G. Kinda
- O. Rosell
- C. Duke
- J. Davis
- O. Cisneros
- R. Walter
- E. Thommy
- J. Russell
- D. Salloi
- K. Shelton
- W. Agada
- A. Pulido
- M. Tzionis
- J. Vázquez
- B. Traore
Team History
The Kansas City Wiz joined the MLS schedule as a charter member in 1996. The Kansas City soccer franchise was founded by AFL, MLS founder, and Kansas City Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt. Legal pressure forced the Wiz to rebrand as the Wizards in The team rebranded as Sporting Kansas City in 2010 when the team’s soccer operations moved from Missouri to Kansas for new world-class facilities.
Throughout their long history, Sporting Kansas City’s stats tell the story of a franchise that ebbs and flows, going from second last to becoming the best team in the league a year later. This long history has enabled Sporting Kansas City to achieve multiple MLS Cup and U.S. Open Cup Championships. Sporting Kansas City moved from the Eastern Conference to the Western Conference in 2014.
Sporting Kansas City Records
As of publication, Sporting Kansas City sits near the bottom of the MLS standings and is often listed as the underdog on MLS Odds, with a record of 6 wins, 5 draws, and 15 losses, with. a -12 goal differential. Captain Johnny Russel leads Sporting Kansas City’s stats and is climbing the franchise’s all-time leaders list. As of publication, Russel has 7 goals, playing 2084 minutes.
Sporting Kansas City Top 5 Most Appearances Top 5 (Total across all games played for Sporting Kansas City, as of August 14, 2022):
- 1: Graham Zusi – 387
- 2: Róger Espinoza – 350
- 3: Matt Besler – 345
- 4: Kerry Zavagnin – 261
- 5: Davy Arnaud – 259
Sporting Kansas City All-time Top 5 Goal Scorers (Total across all games played for Sporting Kansas as of August 14, 2022):
- 1: Preki – 81
- 2: Dom Dwyer – 66
- 3: Davy Arnaud – 52
- 4: Johnny Russell – 47
- 5:Josh Wolff- 41
Sporting Kansas City All-time Top 5 Most Shutouts (Total across all games played for Sporting Kansas City as of August 14, 2022):
- 1: Tim Melia – 63
- 2: Jimmy Nielsen – 46
- 3: Tony Meola – 37
- 4: Bo Oshoniyi – 22
- 5: Kevin Hartman – 22
Championships Won
Historical Events
After three years of failure, The Kansas City Wizards had a season to remember dominating MLS betting stats and the MLS standings. In 1999, The Kansas City Wizards posted a record of eight wins, twenty-four losses, zero ties, and a goal differential of -20. The Wizards were last in the Western Conference.
The year 2000 was entirely different. Kansas City recorded sixteen wins, seven loses, and 9 draws. The 2000 Kansas City Wizards won an overwhelming majority of the awards that year.
Goalkeeper Tony Meola backstopped the Wizards’ incredible turnaround in 2000. Meola set an MLS record shutout streak of 681 minutes and posted 16 shutouts. This performance earned Meola The MLS MVP and the MLS Goalkeeper of the year award. Kansas City won their first significant collection of awards in 2000.
When the Kansas City Wizards moved into a new stadium across state lines, the franchise chose to rebrand as Sporting Kansas City and became the first and only professional sports team to play their home games in Kansas.
Championship Won by Sporting Kansas City
Under any name from their history, Sporting Kansas City is one of the most successful franchises in MLS history. Here is a list of the championships won by Sporting Kansas City throughout their long history:
- 1996 MLS Western Conference Regular Season Champions
- MLS Cup Champions – 2000, 2013
- 2000 Supporter’s Shield
- U.S. Open Cup Champions – 2004, 2012, 2015, 2017
- MLS Fair Play Award – 1998, 2002, 2005, 2006
- 2019 CONCACAF Champions League Fair Play Award
- MLS Western Conference Champions – 2000, 2004
- 2013 MLS Eastern Conference Championship
What are the Sporting Kansas City 2022-23 Transfers?
Nikola Vujnović (F, FK Vozdovac) is the only transfer out from Sporting Kansas City – Vujnović’s loan ends in 2022-23.
Sporting Kansas City has two new players: free agent Erik Thommy (M) and William Agada (F) via transfer from Hapoel Jerusalén.
Who are the Sporting Kansas City Best Coaches?
Pete Vermes is the only choice as Sporting Kansas City’s best coach. Vermes was the first person to win the MLS Cup as a player and coach with the same team. Vermes was a member of the legendary 2000 Kansas City Wizards team, returning as head coach and leading the franchise to the 2013 MLS Cup.
As of publication, Vermes is the current head coach of Sporting Kansas City – a title he’s held since November 10, 2009. Vermes has coached 508 games for Sporting Kansas City, with 217 wins, 120 draws, and 171 losses.
