Sporting Kansas City
Full nameSporting Kansas City[1][2]
Nickname(s)Wizards, Wiz
Short nameSKC
FoundedJune 6, 1995 (1995-06-06) (as Kansas City Wiz)
StadiumChildren's Mercy Park
Capacity18,467[3]
OwnerSporting Club
Head coachPeter Vermes
LeagueMajor League Soccer
2023Western Conference: 8th
Overall: 15th
Playoffs: Conference Semifinals
WebsiteClub website

Sporting Kansas City is an American men's professional soccer club that plays in Major League Soccer (MLS) and is based in the Kansas City metropolitan area. The administrative offices are located in Downtown Kansas City, Missouri, and the team clubhouse and practice facilities are located in Kansas City, Kansas, near Children's Mercy Park.[4] The club competes as a part of the league's Western Conference.

Sporting Kansas City began play in 1996 as a charter team in the league, then known as the Kansas City Wiz. The team was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1995. Since moving across the state line, they have been the only major professional sports league franchise to play their home games in Kansas.

Starting in 1997, the franchise was known as the Kansas City Wizards. The team rebranded in November 2010, coinciding with its move to its new home stadium, Children's Mercy Park.[2][5] The franchise has won the MLS Cup twice (2000, 2013), the Supporters' Shield in 2000, and the U.S. Open Cup in 2004, 2012, 2015 and 2017.

The club also has a reserve team, Sporting Kansas City II, that began play in the second-tier USL Championship in 2016 and switched to MLS Next Pro in 2022.

History

The early years (1996–1999)

The Kansas City MLS franchise was founded by Lamar Hunt, who was also the founder of the American Football League, the Kansas City Chiefs, the United Soccer Association (which merged with the NPSL to form the North American Soccer League or NASL), and Major League Soccer. The Kansas City Wiz played their first game on April 13, 1996, defeating the Colorado Rapids at Arrowhead Stadium, 3–0.[6][7] The Wiz players included Preki, Mo Johnston and Digital Takawira, and were coached by Ron Newman. The team finished third in the Western Conference (fifth overall) in 1996 regular season with a 17–15 record, qualifying for the first ever MLS Playoffs. In the 1996 conference semi-finals, the Wiz beat the Dallas Burn in three games, winning the final game in a shootout, before losing the conference final to the LA Galaxy.

Following the 1996 season, the Wiz changed names, becoming the "Wizards", following legal action from electronics retailer The Wiz.[8] For the 1997 MLS season, their record was 21–11, sufficient for the Western Conference regular season championship. Preki was named 1997 MLS MVP.[9] In the first round of the playoffs, the Wizards lost to the last-seeded Colorado Rapids. The Wizards had losing records for the 1998 and 1999 seasons, finishing last in the Western Conference both years. The Wizards fired Ron Newman early during the 1999 season,[10] and replaced him with Bob Gansler. The Wizards finished the 1999 season with a record of 8–24, which put them in last place in the Western Conference once again.

Supporters' Shield and MLS Cup (2000)

In 2000, their first full season under Bob Gansler, the Wizards opened the season on a 12-game unbeaten streak. Goalkeeper Tony Meola recorded an MLS record shutout streak at 681 minutes and 16 shutouts, and won MLS Goalkeeper of the Year and MLS MVP.[11] Peter Vermes was named 2000 MLS Defender of the Year. The Wizards finished the 2000 regular season 16–7–9, the best record in the league, winning the MLS Supporters' Shield.

In the 2000 playoffs, fell behind 4 to 1 to the LA Galaxy, but Miklos Molnar scored a penalty kick in game three to send the series into a tiebreaker, where he scored again to send the Wizards to their first MLS Cup. At RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C., the Wizards, with the league's best defense, faced the team with the league's best offense, the Chicago Fire. The Wizards took the lead on an 11th-minute goal by Miklos Molnar. The Fire put ten shots on goal, but Tony Meola and the defense held, and the Wizards claimed their first MLS Cup Championship. Tony Meola was named 2000 MLS Cup MVP.[11]

Post-championship struggles (2001–2002)

After the loss of Preki to the Miami Fusion, the team struggled to defend their championship in 2001, making the playoffs as the 8th seed with a record of 11–13–3. In the first round, the Wizards reign as champion ended with a 6 points to 3 loss to Preki and the Miami Fusion. Despite getting back Preki, the Wizards sat in last place in the Western Conference in 2002. They made the playoffs with a record of 9–10–9. The last two teams in the East, the MetroStars and D.C. United missed the playoffs, which propelled the Wizards into the playoffs. In the first round, the team would fall, 6 points to 3 to eventual champions, Los Angeles Galaxy.

More success (2003–2004)

The Wizards returned to the top half of the West in 2003 with a record of 11–10–9. In the first round of the playoffs, the Wizards defeated the Colorado Rapids in the aggregate goal series, 3–1. That set up a one-game showdown with the San Jose Earthquakes the winner would advance to the 2003 MLS Cup. The Wizards took the lead, but the Earthquakes battled back and forced golden goal in overtime by Landon Donovan in the 117th minute, which sent his team to the 2003 MLS Cup and the Wizards home.

The Wizards started out 2004 mediocre, before turning around in the summer. The Wizards finished the season on a six-game unbeaten streak to finish 14–9–9 for the Western Conference regular season championship. Goalkeeper Tony Meola went down with injury and backup Bo Oshoniyi filled as a replacement.[12]

Jimmy Conrad played with Kansas City from 2003 to 2010

In the first round of the 2004 playoffs, the Wizards lost the first game to San Jose Earthquakes, 2–0. In the second game, however, the Wizards scored 2 goals before Jack Jewsbury scored in stoppage time to move KC onto the conference final. In the conference final, the Wizards held off the Los Angeles Galaxy to reach their second MLS Cup. In the 2004 MLS Cup final, the Wizards went up against D.C. United at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California. The Wizards Jose Burciaga scored in the sixth minute, but D.C. United replied with three goals in the first half. KC was given a lifeline in the 58th minute as Josh Wolff scored the first penalty kick in MLS Cup history,[13] but KC lost the 2004 MLS Cup final 3–2.

Move to the East (2005–2010)

Following MLS expansion, the Wizards moved to the Eastern Conference in 2005. By the end of the 2005 season, despite the solid play of 2005 MLS Defender of the Year Jimmy Conrad, the Wizards found themselves outside the playoffs with a record of 11–9–12. After the season, the team's veteran leader, Preki announced his retirement.

In the 2006 season, the Wizards just missed out on a playoff berth with a loss to the New York Red Bulls on the final day of the regular season, finishing with a 10–14–8 record. Lamar Hunt sold the club in August 2006 to OnGoal, LLC, a six-man ownership group led by Cerner Corporation co-founders Neal Patterson and Cliff Illig, a local group committed to keeping the Wizards in Kansas City.

The club dedicated its 2007 season to Lamar Hunt, who had died in December 2006. A good start earned them four wins in the first seven weeks of the season. The club picked up goalkeeper Kevin Hartman from the LA Galaxy to help with that position. Despite winning just four games after the All-Star break, Kansas City managed to finish fifth in the East at 11–12–7 and qualify for the playoffs. The club shifted over to the West as a result of a playoff format change, the Wizards played against Chivas USA. With the Wizards Davy Arnaud's goal in the first game to win the series, the defense and Kevin Hartman did the rest and kept Chivas USA off the scoreboard. In the conference final, the Wizards came up short to the Houston Dynamo, 2–0.

In 2008, the Wizards played their home games at CommunityAmerica Ballpark in Kansas, and ended a four-year playoff drought by posting an 11–10–9 record, good enough for fourth place in the Eastern Conference. Facing the Columbus Crew, the Wizards earned a 1–1 tie in Game 1 of the first round series, but with a 2–0 loss in Game 2 the Wizards lost the aggregate series 3–1.

In the 2009 season, the Wizards remained at CommunityAmerica Ballpark, but struggled to score. They went 426 minutes without scoring a goal,[14] the longest streak of the season. In August 2009, with the team holding a 5–7–6 record, KC fired Head Coach Curt Onalfo,[15] and named general manager Peter Vermes the head coach. The Wizards finished with the worst home record in the league,[16] and at 8–13–9 were third to last in the league standings. Top players were Claudio López (8 goals & 7 assists) and Josh Wolff (11 goals), who sparked the Wizards offense.

The Wizards hosting Manchester United F.C. in July 2010 at Arrowhead Stadium. This match was considered a turning point in the franchise's history,[17] as their attendance would rapidly grow once the Sporting KC rebrand was announced, and upon the opening of their own stadium the following Summer.

The Wizards hosted Manchester United F.C. in a friendly on July 25, 2010, and won the match by a score of 2–1. The announced attendance of 52,342 is a record for a professional soccer match in the Kansas City area[18][19] It would be the franchise's final overall game played at Arrowhead Stadium.[17][19] In the 2010 regular season, the Wizards finished third in the Eastern Conference and narrowly missed qualifying for the playoffs.

A 'Sporting' rebrand (2011–2012)

With the rebranding (of Wizards to Sporting) the team followed a recent trend in MLS of adopting European-style names, such as Toronto FC, D.C. United, and Real Salt Lake. The title "Sporting" has its origins in Iberia where it is used only by multi-sports clubs with a history of having multiple departments fielding teams across different sports, the most notable being Portugal's Sporting CP.[8] Kansas City's use of the term has been criticized for inaccuracy and cultural appropriation.[20] At the rebrand announcement, the Kansas City's president announced they had planned to add a rugby club and lacrosse club.[21] Since then, a partnership with the Kansas City Blues Rugby Club has been announced,[22] but the two sides are not part of one "Sporting Club" and no lacrosse team has been established. The rebranding was met with a mixture of both excitement and disdain by fans when originally announced.[23] With the opening of the new Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas, Sporting became the first major-league team to have played in stadiums on both sides of the state line in Kansas City, while Kansas City became the only U.S. metropolitan area other than New York City to have major professional sports teams playing in different states.

Because Children's Mercy Park was not ready for the beginning of the 2011 season, Sporting Kansas City played its first ten games on the road, only winning one game. Once the road trip was over, the team found more success and ended the regular season with the most points of any Eastern Conference team. After defeating the Colorado Rapids on a 4–0 aggregate in the Eastern Conference semifinals, Sporting lost to the Houston Dynamo 2–0 in the Eastern Conference finals.

KC began the 2012 season with seven consecutive wins, in the process setting an MLS record for 335 minutes without allowing a shot on goal.[24] The team finished the regular season first in the East with an 18–7–9 record. KC was led by Graham Zusi, who delivered a league-leading 15 assists and was named finalist for 2012 MLS MVP,[25] Jimmy Nielsen, who notched a league leading 15 shutouts and was named 2012 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, and Matt Besler, who was named MLS Defender of the Year. KC lost to the Houston Dynamo in the conference semifinals. KC won the 2012 U.S. Open Cup, defeating Seattle Sounders FC in the finals, to qualify for the 2013–14 CONCACAF Champions League.

MLS Cup champions (2013)

President Barack Obama honoring the team and their victory in MLS Cup 2013, in the East Room of the White House

In 2013, Kansas City took advantage of MLS's newly created retention funds to renew contracts with U.S. national team players Graham Zusi and Matt Besler.[26] Sporting had finished second in the Eastern Conference and overall with 17 wins, 10 losses, and tied 7 times in the regular season. In the 2013 MLS Playoffs, Sporting KC defeated NE Revolution in the conference semifinals and Houston Dynamo in the conference finals, advancing to MLS Cup 2013. SKC defeated Real Salt Lake on penalties (7–6) after the match was tied 1–1 in regulation and overtime. It was the coldest MLS Cup game on record.[27]

Return to the West (2014–present)

Gianluca Busio, Johnny Russell, and Roger Espinoza in 2021.

In the 2014 MLS Cup Playoffs, Sporting were eliminated in the East Knockout Round by the New York Red Bulls.[28]

On October 27, 2014, the league announced that Sporting, along with the Houston Dynamo, would move from the Eastern Conference to the Western Conference when two teams from East Coast states, New York City FC and Orlando City SC, joined the league in 2015. Sporting finished sixth in the Western Conference that year, again qualifying for postseason play due to the expanded twelve-club field in the 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs.[29] They were eliminated in the Western Knockout Round by the Portland Timbers, 6–7 in a Penalty Shootout.

Sporting's co-owner Neal Patterson died due to soft tissue cancer in July 2017.[30][31] Kansas City unveiled wordmarks that was worn on the team's jerseys and on Children's Mercy Park to commemorate their late owner.[32] Later that month, the club traded Dom Dwyer to Orlando City in exchange for $1.6 million (in general and targeted allocation money with additional incentives), setting the record for the most expensive internal trade in league history.[33][34][35][36]

The team won the 2017 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, defeating the New York Red Bulls 2–1 in the final.[37] The win gave Sporting their fourth Open Cup title, and their third in the last six years. The victory extended head coach Peter Vermes's record to 4–0 in cup finals and championship games with the club.[38] In Open Cup history, Kansas City became just the second franchise in the single elimination tournament to have won four Open Cup finals in the same number of appearances.[39]

Colors and badge

The Wizards' crest from 2006 to 2010
Aurélien Collin wearing Sporting's primary uniform (2011–2012)
Teal Bunbury wearing Sporting's secondary uniform (2011–2013)

Sporting Kansas City's official colors are "sporting blue" and "dark indigo"[40] with "lead" as a tertiary color.[41] The primary logo is composed of a teardrop-shaped shield containing a stylized representation of the Kansas-Missouri state line with "sporting blue" stripes on the "Kansas" side and an interlocking "SC" on the "Missouri" side. The shield's contour alludes to the team's former logo while under the "Kansas City Wizards" appellation. The stateline represents Sporting's fanbase in both of the Kansas and Missouri portions of the Kansas City metropolitan area. The eleven alternating horizontal stripes of "sporting blue" and "dark indigo" forming the state line are a nod to the number of players a team fields. The "SC" (for Sporting Club) is inspired by Asclepius' rod representing health and fitness, a Greek statue called the Winged Victory of Samothrace – alluding to strength and movement, and to the Spanish architecture of Kansas City's Country Club Plaza.[1] Beginning in 2013, Ivy Funds became the club's first uniform sponsor,[42] and a new home and away jersey design was unveiled, as well as an alternate argyle design.

Sponsorship

Period Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor Sleeve sponsor
1996–2012 Adidas —
2013–2019 Ivy Investments[43] —
2020 Compass Minerals[44]
2021 Victory Project Compass Minerals
Children's Mercy
2022–present Compass Minerals[45] —

Uniform evolution

Home: 1996–2010

1996–1997
1998–1999
2000–2002
2003–2004
2005
2006–2007
2008–2009
2010

Home: 2011–present

2011–2012
2013–2014
2015–2016
2017–2018
2019–2020
2021–2022
2023–

Third

2013–2014
2015–2016

Stadiums

Arrowhead Stadium

Arrowhead Stadium (here in 2007) served as the Kansas City Wizards' home for over a decade.

From 1996 through 2007, the Wizards played home games in Arrowhead Stadium, the American football stadium mainly used by the Kansas City Chiefs. Wizards management kept the west end of Arrowhead tarped off for the first 10 years of play, limiting seating near the field. In 2006, fans could sit all the way around the field, but, in 2007, seating was [again] only available along the sidelines. After the 2007 final season at Arrowhead, the Wizards continued to use the stadium for select large events. In 2008, the club played a regular season home game against the Los Angeles Galaxy at the stadium to accommodate the large crowd expected for David Beckham's Galaxy debut. Again in 2010, the Wizards played a friendly here against English club Manchester United, winning 2–1.

CommunityAmerica Ballpark

CommunityAmerica Ballpark, was the home stadium of the Kansas City Wizards before moving to Children's Mercy Park.

The Wizards entered an agreement with the Kansas City T-Bones to use their home stadium, CommunityAmerica Ballpark, during the 2008 and 2009 seasons. The deal was later extended to include 2010. The stadium, located across the state line in Kansas City, Kansas, built a new bleacher section financed by the Wizards to increase its capacity to 10,385. This move made the Wizards the third MLS team to share their home ground with a baseball team. D.C. United had been sharing RFK Stadium with Major League Baseball's Washington Nationals in Washington, D.C., before the latter's move into Nationals Park. The San Jose Earthquakes used Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, home of the Oakland A's (and Oakland Raiders), for certain games during the 2008 and 2009 seasons.

The Wizards originally planned to return to Kansas City, Missouri, and build a new stadium there – tentatively called Trails Stadium – as part of a major mixed-use development. The team had received all required approvals and was awaiting site demolition; however, the 2008–09 financial crisis ultimately led to the scrapping of the Trails Stadium project.

Children's Mercy Park

Children's Mercy Park the home of Sporting KC since 2011.

The team sought a new site for its stadium, quickly settling on a development in Kansas City, Kansas, known as Village West, near CommunityAmerica Ballpark and the Kansas Speedway. In September 2009, the developer asked Wyandotte County (in Kansas) and Kansas state officials for permission to use revenues from existing tax increment financing in the Village West area to help finance the soccer complex.[46] On December 17, Wizards president Robb Heineman provided an update on the stadium situation, identifying the Kansas City, Kansas, location as near final, pending the signature of the final agreements.[47][48] On January 19, 2010, Wyandotte County approved the bonds to help finance the stadium,[49][50] and on January 20 the groundbreaking ceremony was made, with Wizards CEO Robb Heineman using heavy machinery to move dirt on the construction site.[51]

When the Kansas City Wizards first rebranded as Sporting Kansas City, they built Livestrong Sporting Park. Spending $200 million on the complex,[52] it was the first "European style" soccer complex in the United States.[53] Name rights were held by the Livestrong Foundation until the downfall of Lance Armstrong from his doping scandal; Sporting Kansas City subsequently changed the name of their stadium to Sporting Park.[54][55][56]

On November 19, 2015, the stadium was renamed to Children's Mercy Park in a ten-year deal with Children's Mercy Hospital.[57]

Home venue(s):

NameLocationYears in use
Arrowhead Stadium Kansas City, Missouri 1996–2007
CommunityAmerica Ballpark Kansas City, Kansas 2008–2010
Children's Mercy Park 2011–present

Other stadiums used:

Club culture

The primary supporters' section, "The Cauldron", at Children's Mercy Park.

Supporters

Sporting regularly sells out its matches, with over 100 straight sellouts as of August 2017.[58] Sporting has 14,000 season-ticket holders, with a wait list for season tickets of 3,000 people.[59] Sporting KC has a relatively young fan base, with season-ticket holders having an average age of 29.7 years.[60] Sporting KC works with Sporting Innovations, a consulting firm spun off from the team that focuses on fan engagement.[60] Administrators from several college football teams, such as the Florida Gators, have visited Sporting KC to learn from the team's success at fan engagement.[60]

The main supporters group of Sporting Kansas City cheers in the Members' Stand on the North side of Children's Mercy Park and is known as "The Cauldron".[61] The name is derived from the large metal pots used for boiling potions, due to the team's former name Wizards. Since the rebranding in 2010, Sporting have seen dramatic growth in their fan section, with several fan groups adding their voice to The Cauldron culture and atmosphere.[61]

Current groups in the north stands along with The Cauldron include: The Emeritus, Drainage Pond SC, Monster Squad, La Barra KC, Mass Street Mob, King City Yardbirds, Fountain City Ultras, Trenches, and Ladies of SKC.[61]

The South Stand SC cheers from the south end of Children's Mercy Park and is the umbrella group for The Wedge and Ad Astra SKC (a reference to the motto of the state of Kansas), while American Outlaws – Kansas City Chapter are also present in the stands.[61]

Mascot

Blue, the franchise's mascot

"Blue the Dog" is the franchise's official mascot.[62]

Rivalries

Houston Dynamo

The two teams had faced each other regularly over the years, while both having been members of the Eastern conference. During that time, Sporting KC had frequently faced Houston in the playoffs, beginning their rivalry. As of 2022, SKC is 18–18–16 (W–L–T) against the Dynamo.

Real Salt Lake

In their total meetings, Sporting KC is 17–19–12 (W–L–T), (as of October 2023). The two teams faced each other in MLS Cup 2013, in what was the coldest MLS Cup final at that time.

Portland Timbers

In recent years, the metro areas of Portland and Kansas City have both become major soccer markets due to the performance of their respective soccer teams. Additionally their NWSL teams, the Portland Thorns and the Kansas City Current, have become major rivals, especially since the Thorns' 2–0 win over the Current in the 2022 NWSL Championship.

St. Louis City SC

Sporting KC began a rivalry with St. Louis City SC starting with the team's entrance into the league in the 2023 season.[63][64][65][66] St. Louis City won the first meeting at CityPark in May 2023, but Sporting KC won the second meeting at Children’s Mercy Park in September of that year.[67] The two teams played in their first postseason matchup in the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs,[68] with Sporting Kansas City (the #8 seed) upsetting the #1 seeded St. Louis in a best-of-three series.[69]

Broadcasting

From 2023, every Sporting Kansas City match is available via MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app.

Prior to 2017 matches were broadcast in high definition on KMCI-TV (except for nationally broadcast matches). The play-by-play announcer was WHB 810AM 'Border Patrol' host Nate Bukaty, who began broadcasting for the team in the 2015 season. Former Sporting Kansas City goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum provided color commentary following his retirement after the 2014 season. Color commentary was covered by Jake Yadrich through the 2013 season, after which he transitioned to be the lead analyst on the sidelines during games. Morning reporter Kacie McDonnell of KSHB-TV, an NBC affiliate and KMCI-TV's sister station, served as the network host of the pregame and postgame shows.[70]

In addition, the Sporting Kansas City Television Network provided coverage across markets in six states:

Matches that are not broadcast nationally were broadcast on Fox Sports Kansas City (it was also carried on Fox Sports Midwest in the St. Louis market until 2023, where it will be removed due to the new St Louis City FC MLS team).[72] In 2017, Fox Sports Midwest only carried select matches, while in 2018, the club announced the St. Louis market would receive all matches while the Mid-Missouri and Iowa markets would receive most matches. Nate Bukaty continues to provide the play-by-play commentary, while Jacob Peterson joined as the color commentator ahead of the 2020 season with Carter Augustine returning as the sideline reporter.[73]

In 2022, prior to an upcoming leaguewide TV deal, KMCI returned as broadcast partner for those in the Kansas City market,[74] with other areas being able to stream all matches on the club's website.[75]

Regular local radio coverage in English is provided through an official partnership with Sports Radio 810 WHB and its affiliate ESPN Kansas City 99.3FM. Spanish broadcasting was previously found on KDTD 1340AM, but is on KCZZ (ESPN Deportes Kansas City 1480AM) for the 2018 season. The broadcasts are produced by Jorge Moreno and feature the voice of 13-year MLS veteran Diego Gutierrez along with Ale Cabero, Raul Villegas and Alonso Cadena.[76]

Players and staff

Roster

As of July 20, 2023[77]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK United States USA John Pulskamp
3 DF Spain ESP Andreu Fontàs
4 DF Germany GER Robert Voloder
5 DF Colombia COL Daniel Rosero
6 MF Serbia SRB Nemanja Radoja
7 FW Scotland SCO Johnny Russell (captain)
9 FW Mexico MEX Alan Pulido
11 FW United States USA Khiry Shelton
14 DF Germany GER Tim Leibold
17 DF United States USA Jake Davis
18 DF Belgium BEL Logan Ndenbe
19 DF United States USA Robert Castellanos
20 FW Hungary HUN Dániel Sallói
No. Pos. Nation Player
21 MF United States USA Felipe Hernández
23 FW Nigeria NGA William Agada
24 DF United States USA Kayden Pierre
25 FW United States USA Ozzie Cisneros
26 MF Germany GER Erik Thommy
29 GK United States USA Tim Melia
30 FW Canada CAN Stephen Afrifa
31 MF United States USA Danny Flores
54 MF France FRA Rémi Walter
77 FW Cyprus CYP Marinos Tzionis
82 DF United States USA Chris Rindov
— DF Canada CAN Zorhan Bassong
— FW Honduras HON Alenis Vargas

Head coaches

Peter Vermes was the first person to win MLS Cup with the same club as player (2000) and later as head coach (2013)
Name Nation Tenure
Ron Newman England October 11, 1995 – April 14, 1999
Ken Fogarty (interim) Republic of Ireland April 14, 1999 – April 28, 1999
Bob Gansler United States April 28, 1999 – July 19, 2006
Brian Bliss (interim) United States July 19, 2006 – December 31, 2006
Curt Onalfo United States November 27, 2006 – August 3, 2009
Peter Vermes United States August 4, 2009 – November 10, 2009 (interim)
November 10, 2009 –

General managers / presidents

Name Tenure
Tim Latta 1996
Doug Newman 1997–1999
Curt Johnson 1999–2006
Robb Heineman 2006–2016
Jake Reid[78] 2016–present

Honors

National[79]
Competitions Titles Seasons
MLS Cup 2 2000, 2013
Supporters' Shield 1 2000
U.S. Open Cup 4 2004, 2012, 2015, 2017

Individual Club Trophies

Team record

Seasons

This is a partial list of the most recent seasons completed by SKC. For the full season-by-season history, see List of Sporting Kansas City seasons.

Season League Position Playoffs USOC Continental / Other Average
attendance		 Top goalscorer(s)
Div League Pld W L D GF GA GD Pts PPG Conf. Overall Name(s) Goals
2017 1 MLS 34 12 9 13 40 29 +11 49 1.44 5th 11th R1 W DNQ 19,565 Guinea-Bissau Gerso Fernandes 8
2018 MLS 34 18 8 8 65 40 +25 62 1.82 1st 3rd SF QF 19,774 Hungary Dániel Sallói 14
2019 MLS 34 10 16 8 49 67 –18 38 1.12 11th 21st DNQ R4 CONCACAF Champions League SF 18,601 Chile Felipe Gutiérrez 12
2020 MLS 21 12 6 3 38 25 +13 39 1.86 1st 5th QF NH MLS is Back Tournament QF 21,188 Mexico Alan Pulido 6
2021 MLS 34 17 7 10 58 40 +18 58 1.7 3rd 4th SF NH DNQ 18,757 Hungary Dániel Sallói 16
2022 MLS 34 11 16 7 42 54 -12 40 1.18 12th 23rd DNQ SF 18,365 Scotland Johnny Russell 8

^ 1. Avg. attendance include statistics from league matches only.
^ 2. Top goalscorer(s) includes all goals scored in League, MLS Cup Playoffs, U.S. Open Cup, MLS is Back Tournament, CONCACAF Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup, and other competitive continental matches.

International tournaments

Group stage v. Peru Sporting Cristal: 1–2
Group stage v. Mexico Santos Laguna: 2–4
Group stage v. Ecuador Barcelona: 3–2
Group stage v. Peru Sporting Cristal: 1–2
Group stage v. Ecuador Barcelona: 1–1
Group stage v. Mexico Santos Laguna: 0–1
First Round v. Trinidad and Tobago W Connection: 1–0, 2–0 (Wizards win 3–0 on aggregate)
Quarterfinal v. Mexico Santos Laguna: 1–2, 2–0 (Wizards win 3–2 on aggregate)
Semifinals v. Mexico Monarcas Morelia: 1–6, 1–1 (Morelia advance 7–2 on aggregate)
First Round v. Costa Rica Deportivo Saprissa: 0–0, 1–2 (Saprissa advance 2–1 on aggregate after added extra time)
Group stage v. Mexico Atlas: 0–0
Group stage v. United States New England Revolution: 1–1
Group stage v. Mexico Santos Laguna: 1–3
Group stage v. Nicaragua Real Estelí: 2–0, 1–1
Group stage v. Honduras Olimpia: 2–0, 0–0
Quarterfinals v. Mexico Cruz Azul: 1–0, 1–5 (Cruz Azul advance 5–2 on aggregate)
Group stage v. Nicaragua Real Estelí: 1–1, 3–0
Group stage v. Costa Rica Deportivo Saprissa: 3–1, 0–2
Group stage v. Trinidad and Tobago Central FC: 2–2, 3–1
Group stage v. Canada Vancouver Whitecaps FC: 3–0, 1–2
Round of 16 v. Mexico Toluca: 3–0, 2–0 (Sporting KC advance 5–0 on aggregate)
Quarterfinals v. Panama Independiente: 1–2, 3–0 (Sporting KC advance 4–2 on aggregate)
Semifinals v. Mexico Monterrey 0–5, 2–5 (Monterrey advance 10–2 on aggregate)

Player records

Top goalscorers

As of September 10, 2023[80]
# Name Career MLS Playoffs Open Cup CCL Total
1 United States Preki 1996–2000
2002–2005		 71 8 1 1 81
2 United States Dom Dwyer 2012–2017 57 1 6 2 66
3 Scotland Johnny Russell 2018–present 56 1 4 0 61
4 Hungary Dániel Sallói 2017–present 45 5 8 0 58
5 United States Davy Arnaud 2002–2011 43 4 5 0 52
6 United States Josh Wolff 2003–2006
2008–2010		 43 1 2 0 46
7 United States Chris Klein 1998–2005 39 3 1 0 43
8 Sierra Leone Kei Kamara 2009–2013 38 0 3 0 41
9 United States Graham Zusi 2009–present 31 1 3 0 35
10 Scotland Mo Johnston 1996–2001 31 1 0 0 32
United States Benny Feilhaber 2013–2017
2019		 29 0 2 1 32
12 Zimbabwe Vitalis Takawira 1996–2000 28 2 1 0 31
13 Trinidad and Tobago Scott Sealy 2005–2008 28 0 2 0 30

The following records are for MLS regular season only:

Source: Updated: March 8, 2020[81]

Sporting Legends

Jimmy Nielsen, 2021 Sporting Legends inductee.

Sporting Legends is an initiative launched in 2013 that pays tribute to the individuals who played an instrumental role for Sporting Kansas City and in the growth of soccer in the region.[82]

The individuals named as Sporting Legends, their year of induction, and a brief description are listed below:

  1. Preki (2013) – 2005 MLS All-Time Best XI, 1997 and 2003 MLS League MVP, Club's all-time leader in goals and assists.
  2. Tony Meola (2013) – 2005 MLS All-Time Best XI, 2000 MLS MVP, 2000 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, 2000 MLS Cup MVP.
  3. Bob Gansler (2013) – 2000 MLS Coach of the Year, 2000 MLS Cup, 2000 MLS Supporters Shield.
  4. Peter Vermes (2014) – as player: 2000 MLS Defender of the Year, 2000 MLS Cup, 2000 MLS Supporters Shield; as manager: 2012, 2015 and 2017 U.S. Open Cups, 2013 MLS Cup.
  5. Jimmy Conrad – (2014) – 2004–06, 2008 MLS Best XI, 2004 U.S. Open Cup, 2005 MLS Defender of the Year.
  6. Lamar Hunt (2014) – A founder of Major League Soccer, owned the Kansas City Wizards 1996–2006.
  7. Chris Klein (2015) – 2000 MLS Cup, 2000 MLS Supporters Shield, 2004 U.S. Open Cup, 2002–2005 MLS All-Star.
  8. Kerry Zavagnin (2016) – 2000 MLS Cup, 2000 MLS Supporters Shield, 2004 U.S. Open Cup, 2004 MLS All-Star, 2004 MLS Best XI.
  9. Mo Johnston (2017) – 2000 MLS Cup, 2000 MLS Supporters Shield, 1996-1998 MLS All-Star.
  10. Josh Wolff (2019) – 2004 U.S. Open Cup, 2004 MLS Western Conference Championship.
  11. Jimmy Nielsen (2021) – 2012 U.S. Open Cup, 2013 MLS Cup, 2010, 2012, 2013 MLS Eastern Conference, 2012 MLS Best XI, 2012 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year.
  12. Davy Arnaud (2022) — 2004 U.S. Open Cup, team captain 2010—2011

Hat tricks

Player Date Opponent
Zimbabwe Vitalis Takawira May 16, 1998 New England Revolution
United States Preki September 5, 1998 San Jose Earthquakes
United States Davy Arnaud July 3, 2004 Dallas Burn
United States Eddie Johnson May 26, 2007 New England Revolution
June 2, 2007 New York Red Bulls
Senegal Birahim Diop October 23, 2010 San Jose Earthquakes
England Dom Dwyer+ July 1, 2015 FC Dallas
Guinea-Bissau Gerso May 17, 2017 Seattle Sounders FC
Scotland Johnny Russell April 20, 2018 Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Hungary Krisztián Németh March 30, 2019 Montreal Impact
Scotland Johnny Russell May 26, 2019 Seattle Sounders FC

^ + Dom Dwyer scored four goals in this game[83][84][85]

Home attendance

Aerial view of Children's Mercy Park, the club's home stadium since 2011.
Season Reg. season[86] Playoffs
1996 12,878 7,754
1997 9,058 10,174
1998 8,073 DNQ@
1999 8,183 DNQ@
2000 9,112 8,243
2001 10,954 5,803
2002 12,255 9,484
2003 15,573 10,712
2004 14,816 11,077
2005 9,691 DNQ@
2006 11,083 DNQ@
2007 11,586 12,442
2008 10,686 10,385
2009 10,053 DNQ@
2010 10,287 DNQ@
2011 17,810# 19,702
2012 19,404 20,894
2013 19,709 20,777
2014 20,003 NHG@
2015 19,687 NHG@
2016 19,512 NHG@
2017 19,537 NHG@
2018 19,774 20,036
2019 18,601 DNQ@
2020 21,188 N/A
2021 18,757 20,734
2022 18,365 DNQ@

^ @ DNQ = Did not qualify; NHG = No home game was played during the playoffs
^ # The 73% jump in attendance between 2010 and 2011 coincides with the team's move from CommunityAmerica Ballpark (capacity 10,400) to their new soccer-specific stadium Livestrong Sporting Park (now known as Children's Mercy Park) (capacity 18,500).

See also

References

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