54 Remi Walter vault-AIR MID 5-8 165 04/26/1995 (29) Essey-les-Nancy, France
#SKCvORL: HEAD-TO-HEAD
Sporting Kansas City (6-14-6, 24 pts.) returns to MLS regular-season action this weekend with a home match against Eastern Conference foes Orlando City SC (9-9-7, 34 pts.) at Children’s Mercy Park on Saturday night. Both teams have been idle for the past two weeks after suffering elimination from the Leagues Cup at the Round of 32 stage on Aug. 9 as Sporting fell to Columbus while Orlando were eliminated by Cruz Azul on penalty kicks.
The two sides have not met in over three years with the last matchup coming during Sporting’s home opener on April 23, 2021. Sporting took the lead that night through a well-taken finish from Gianluca Busio before Orlando equalized late through Nani’s impudent backheel.
Sporting’s last two clashes with Orlando have come at Children’s Mercy Park, as Orlando claimed a 2-1 victory on Sept. 23, 2020. Tesho Akindele and Benji Michel each scored late in the first half, before Johnny Russell cut the deficit early in the second period but Sporting was unable to find an equalizer.
Sporting KC’s last paid a visit to Inter & Co Stadium on Aug. 14, 2019. Tesho Akindele got Orlando off the mark early on the night and Sporting was unable to claw their way back into the game and fell 1-0.
The two sides have met twice in the U.S. Open Cup, in 2012 and 2013. Sporting emerged victorious in the Third Round encounter at Children’s Mercy Park on May 29, 2012 behind two goals from Soony Saad and another from Paulo Nagamura. The opposite was the case in 2013, when Long Tan scored in just the second minute for Orlando as the visitors advanced in the Fourth Round contest.
#SKCvORL: Recent Meetings (ORL leads 3-2-2 in regular season)
Date Score Result Details
04/23/2021
KC 1 vs ORL 1 T Busio scores in first half before Nani equalizes late on 09/23/2020 KC 1 vs ORL 2 L Russell pulls one back after Akindele & Michel open scoring
08/14/2019
09/08/2018
05/13/2017
KC 0 at ORL 1 L Akindele’s early goal seals win for Orlando
KC 1 vs ORL 0 W Gutierrez scores early in second half to seal three points
KC 2 at ORL 2 T Blessing tallies twice either side of Larin & Kaka goals
#SKCvORL: PLAYER HISTORY
• Forward Johnny Russell has scored once against Orlando City SC, pulling a goal back in the 2-1 home loss on Sept. 23, 2020.
• Forward Daniel Salloi has one assist against Orlando, setting up the opener in the 1-1 home draw on April 23, 2021.
• Goalkeeper Tim Melia is 2-2-1 against Orlando City SC with a 1.20 goals against average and one shutout.
• Goalkeeper John Pulskamp is 0-0-1 all-time against Orlando with a 1.00 goals against average following the 1-1 home draw on April 23, 2021.
• Midfielder Memo Rodriguez has one assist against Orlando City, coming as a member of the Houston Dynamo in a 2-1 home win on Sept. 21, 2019.
#SKCvORL: BY THE NUMBERS
Sporting KC Team Notes
• Sporting ranks seventh in MLS in non-penalty goals scored (41).
• Sporting’s 1.58 goals per match during the 2024 regular season are the club’s fourth most since the Peter Vermes era began in 2009 (Sporting had more goals per match in 2018, 2020 and 2021).
• Sporting has scored 14 goals from set pieces this season in all competitions (10 in MLS, three in the Open Cup and one in Leagues Cup). That accounts for 26.9% of the club’s goal scoring (14 of 52).
• Sporting leads MLS with 11 goals from outside the box during the 2024 season.
• Sporting has outperformed its expected goal total by 9.0 goals during the 2024 regular season, the fourth most in MLS (41 goals scored, 32.0 expected goals).
• Sporting has scored multiple goals in nine of 13 MLS home matches this season and in 12 of 17 home games across all competitions.
• Sporting has scored in 15 straight regular season home matches dating back to Sept. 23, 2023, totaling 31 goals during that stretch (2.07 per match).
• Sporting is tied for the MLS lead with 15 different goal scorers during the 2024 regular season.
• Sporting is one of two MLS teams without a penalty kick goal during the 2024 regular season (New England Revolution).
• Sporting has fielded 24 different starting lineups in its last 24 matches across all competitions. Sporting has utilized 28 different starting lineups in 32 total matches this season.
• Sporting has used 23 different players during the regular season, tied for second fewest in MLS.
• Sporting has two clean sheets during the 2024 regular season, tied for second fewest in MLS and ahead of only San Jose (one).
• Sporting has 11 MLS losses by a single goal this season, the most in the league.
Sporting KC Player Notes
• Forward William Agada leads Sporting with 11 goals this season in all competitions - nine in the MLS regular season, one in the Open Cup and one in Leagues Cup. Agada has six goals across his last six starts in all competitions since July 7. Agada ranks second in MLS in both expected goals per 90 minutes (0.78) and non-penalty expected goals per 90 minutes (0.73). He also ranks sixth in total shots per 90 minutes (4.54) and seventh in total expected goals (11.0).
• Forward Stephen Afrifa is tied for second on the team with five goals this season in all competitions.
• Forward Johnny Russell leads Sporting with seven assists this season in all competitions. He also ranks second on the team with 11 goal contributions in all competitions, behind only William Agada (14).
Orlando City Team Notes
• Orlando has a 4-0-1 record in its last five regular season matches. Orlando’s 13 points since the start of July are the most in MLS.
• Orlando is 3-5-4 at home and 6-4-3 on the road during the regular season. Orlando is the only MLS team two or more games below .500 at home and two or more games above .500 on the road.
• Orlando’s six regular season road wins are tied for third most in MLS.
• Orlando has scored 1.42 goals per home match (22nd in MLS) and 1.69 goals per away match (fifth in MLS) during the regular season.
• Orlando has been outscored 10-3 in the first 15 minutes of matches this season while outscoring opponents 36-28 after the 15th minute.
• Orlando is 6-1-1 when leading at halftime and 1-8-2 when trailing at halftime during the regular season.
• Orlando leads MLS in both attempted crosses per match (21.3) and completed passes into the penalty area per match (10.1).
• Orlando ranks second in MLS with 72 tackles in the attacking third.
• Orlando ranks last in MLS with an aerial duel success rate of 39.9%, more than 5% lower than any other team.
Orlando City Player Notes
• Midfielder Facundo Torres leads Orlando with eight goals and 13 total goal contributions during the regular season. He ranks sixth in MLS in successful crosses into the penalty area (16) and fifth in progressive passes received (239).
• Winger Ivan Angulo ranks fifth in MLS in carries into the penalty area (41) and eighth in progressive passes received (216). He is tied for second on the team in assists (seven) and goal contributions (10).
NOTEWORTHY MILESTONES
• Midfielder Memo Rodriguez is one shy of his 250th professional club appearance.
#SKCvORL: PLAYER/COACH CONNECTIONS
• Orlando City forward Duncan McGuire played youth soccer for Sporting Omaha, a Sporting Kansas City youth affiliate in Nebraska.
• Defender Dany Rosero and Orlando City forward Luis Muriel both spent time at Colombian clubs Deportivo Cali and Atletico Junior earlier in their careers.
• Defender Robert Voloder is one shy of his 50th appearance for Sporting in all competitions.
SPORTING KANSAS CITY NEWS AND NOTES
MLS IS BACK
Fifteen days since Sporting Kansas City’s last match, the club is back in action this weekend with a return to MLS regular-season play as the team hosts Orlando City SC at Children’s Mercy Park on Saturday night. Both Sporting and Orlando were eliminated from Leagues Cup 2024 on the same night on Aug. 9 in the Round of 32.
Sporting has eight matches remaining in the regular season following the Leagues Cup break along with a pivotal U.S. Open Cup semifinal against USL Championship outfit Indy Eleven at Children’s Mercy Park on Tuesday, Aug. 27. In an odd scheduling quirk, following their 15-day hiatus, Sporting will play two matches in four days on Aug. 24 and 27 before another 11-day spell without a match as Sporting is next in action on Sept. 7 at the New York Red Bulls.
Sporting enters the stretch run of MLS action nine points out of the ninth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Orlando, meanwhile, have surged up the table in recent months after a slow start and find themselves seventh in the East.
ORLANDO THEMES
Sporting Kansas City returns to MLS regular-season action this weekend for a rare match against Eastern Conference foes Orlando City SC at Children’s Mercy Park on Saturday night. Sporting has not faced off against Orlando in over three years, with the last meeting coming in early 2021.
During Sporting’s home opener on April 23, 2021, the two sides played out a 1-1 draw at Children’s Mercy Park. Gianluca Busio’s neat finish gave the hosts the lead in the first half but Nani’s impudent backheel finish earned the visitors a draw late on.
Sporting and Orlando had also met during the truncated 2020 season at Children’s Mercy Park on Sept. 23, 2020, with the Lions claiming a 2-1 victory. Tesho Akindele and Benji Michel gave Orlando a two-goal lead before Johnny Russell pulled one back in the second half.
Sporting’s last visit to Inter & Co Stadium in Orlando came on Aug. 14, 2019, where an early Akindele goal condemned the visitors to a 1-0 loss. Sporting trails the all-time series 2-3-2, including a 2-1-1 mark at home.
SPORTING SIGNS DEFENDER JOAQUIN FERNANDEZ
Sporting Kansas City has signed 28-year-old Spanish center back Joaquin Fernandez, the club announced last week. Joaquin has signed an MLS contract through 2025 and will occupy an international spot on Sporting’s roster.
A 6-foot-3 center back who can also play as a defensive midfielder, Joaquin logged over 300 professional appearances during a 12-year European career, including 85 matches in the top-flight Spanish La Liga with Real Valladolid.
Joaquin joined the UD Almeria youth academy in his hometown and made his senior debut with Almeria B in the Spanish third division as a 16-year-old in December 2012. In 2015, he was promoted to Almeria’s first team in the Spanish Segunda. Joaquin was a regular starter for Almeria from 2016-2018, logging 35 appearances each season.
In 2018, Joaquin moved up to La Liga by signing for newly promoted Real Valladolid. Joaquin was a starter in La Liga from 2018-2021, and although Valladolid was relegated to the second tier in 2021, the team bounced back into the top flight by finishing second in the 2021-22 Spanish Segunda. Joaquin made a career-high 27 La Liga appearances in 2022-23 and played his final match for Valladolid in a 3-1 victory over European powerhouse FC Barcelona on May 23, 2023.
In June 2023, Joaquin moved abroad for the first time in his career by joining Turkish side Trabzonspor, making 17 appearances and helping Trabzonspor finish third in the league to qualify for the UEFA Europa League.
SUMMER OF AGADA
Sporting Kansas City forward William Agada has been in fine form throughout the summer of 2024, scoring six goals in his last six starts for the club since July 7 and eight goals in his last nine starts since June 19 across all competitions.
Agada leads Sporting with 11 goals this season in all competitions. Ten of Agada’s 11 goals this season have come at home and he has now scored 20 goals in 20 home starts at Children’s Mercy Park since debuting for the club in July 2022. With two further multi-goal games this summer against Real Salt Lake on June 19 and FC Dallas on July 7, Agada is now tied for fifth in club history with six multi-goal games in the regular season, one shy of a tie for third.
On a league-wide scale, Agada ranks second in MLS in both expected goals per 90 minutes (0.78) and non-penalty expected goals per 90 minutes (0.73). He also ranks sixth in total shots per 90 minutes (4.54) and seventh in total expected goals (11.0).
FEILHABER TO BE INDUCTED INTO SPORTING LEGENDS
On Saturday night, Sporting Kansas City will induct MLS Cup champion and World Cup veteran Benny Feilhaber as the newest member of Sporting Legends.
Feilhaber, who spent six standout seasons at Sporting and now serves as Sporting KC II head coach in MLS NEXT Pro, will be formally inducted into the Sporting Legends hall of honor in an on-field ceremony at halftime of Saturday’s match when Sporting hosts Orlando City SC at Children’s Mercy Park. Feilhaber is the 13th club icon to join Sporting Legends, an initiative launched in 2013 that tributes all-time greats while providing a platform for inductees to engage with supporters and the Kansas City community.
Feilhaber enjoyed a brilliant 15-year playing career highlighted by a 2013 MLS Cup and two Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cups with Sporting as well as a 2007 Concacaf Gold Cup title and a 2010 FIFA World Cup appearance with the U.S. Men’s National Team.
Feilhaber played 426 professional matches during a club career that took him to the German Bundesliga, English Premier League, Danish Superliga and MLS. The playmaker amassed 41 goals and 60 assists in nine MLS seasons from 2011-2019.
OPEN CUP SEMIFINALS SET FOR AUG. 27
After a dramatic 2-1 quarterfinal win in extra time over FC Dallas on July 10, Sporting Kansas City will continue the club’s quest for a record-tying fifth Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup trophy with a semifinal match-up against USL Championship foe Indy Eleven at 7 p.m. CT on Tuesday, Aug. 27 at Children’s Mercy Park.
Sporting and Indy Eleven will meet for the first time in a competitive match. Sporting advanced to the semifinals with a 2-1 win in extra time at Union Omaha (USL League One) in the Round of 32, a 4-0 victory over FC Tulsa (USL Championship) in the Round of 16 and a 2-1 triumph in extra time against FC Dallas (MLS) in the Quarterfinals.
Sporting have prevailed in 28 U.S. Open Cup matches since 2012, more than any other team in American soccer, during a run that includes an active 15-match home unbeaten streak in U.S. Open Cup play since the start of 2015.
USMNT SET TO FACE CANADA AT CMP ON SEPT. 7
The United States Men’s National Team will kick off its fall home schedule with a Fan Appreciation Night match-up against Canada at 3 p.m. CT on Saturday, Sept. 7 at Children’s Mercy Park.
The international friendly will be the first USMNT match after Copa América and will see U.S. Soccer celebrate supporters on Fan Appreciation Night with a match experience featuring interactive fan activations, opportunities to win prizes and more.
The United States is 17-10-13 all-time against Canada. The national teams squared off twice in 2023 in Concacaf competitions with the USA first collecting a 2-0 victory in the Nations League championship match on June 18 in Las Vegas. On July 9, following a dramatic 2-2 draw in extra time, the USMNT utilized two penalty kick saves from Matt Turner to defeat Canada in a shootout at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati in the Gold Cup quarterfinals.
The USMNT is unbeaten all-time at Children’s Mercy Park (8-0-2). A host city for FIFA World Cup 2026, Kansas City has a rich history of supporting the U.S. Men’s and Women’s National Teams, who are a combined 16-1-6 in Kansas City and 12-0-4 at Children’s Mercy Park.
QUOTES: #CLBvSKC
Sporting KC Manager Peter Vermes
Thoughts on the match…
“I thought in the first half we were actually pretty good. A little lack of organization on the first goal that they scored to end the half when they had a little momentum. I thought we were very organized, and I thought we were good in the first half. I don’t think they created all that much. In the second half, we just couldn’t keep up the work that we needed to do, and tactically we got tired in our heads a little bit. We missed some very easy situations where they capitalized on those because they were moving very well off the ball.”
On the difference between the two halves…
“They [Columbus] were good and they were themselves in the first half. I don’t think that they were rusty at all. I thought we did a good job tactically and work ethic wise. We didn’t provide them with a lot of options to play with. A lot of balls went wide, we forced them backward and I thought we did a great job of that. We were disorganized on the first goal, which we overcommitted to one side, especially in the midfield. We didn’t have any pressure on the ball, and it was an easy run behind us, which happened on their third or fourth goal. It was the same exact thing, and we were very slow to react. We got tired in the second half and we had very poor decision making.”
MID - Ozzie Cisneros (Loaned to Carolina Core FC - April 16, 2024)
FWD - Marinos Tzionis (Transfered to FK Čukarički - July 26, 2024)
SPORTING KANSAS CITY TRANSACTION TIMELINE
DATE IN/OUT DETAILS
Dec. 1: OUT Sporting KC declines options on defenders Kortne Ford and Graham Zusi along with midfielders Roger Espinoza and Felipe Gutierrez. In addition, goalkeeper Kendall McIntosh and midfielders Cam Duke and Gadi Kinda are out of contract.
Dec. 12: IN Sporting KC signs free agent defender Zorhan Bassong, most recently with Farul Constanta (Romania).
Dec. 15: IN Sporting KC acquires forward Alenis Vargas in a transfer from Futbol Consultants Desamparados (Costa Rica). Vargas had spent the 2023 season on loan with Sporting KC II (MLS NEXT Pro).
Feb. 1: IN Sporting KC signs free agent midfielder Memo Rodriguez, most recently with Austin FC (MLS).
Feb. 5: IN Sporting KC signs goalkeeper Ryan Schewe, the club’s first round pick (22nd overall) in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft out of Georgetown.
April 16: OUT Sporting KC loans midfielder Ozzie Cisneros to Carolina Core FC (MLS NEXT Pro) for the remainder of the 2024 season.
July 26: OUT Sporting KC transfers forward Marinos Tzionis to FK Čukarički (Serbia).
Aug. 13: IN Sporting KC signs free agent defender Joaquin Fernandez, most recently with Trabzonspor (Turkey).
CONSTRUCTING SPORTING KANSAS CITY
Daniel Salloi (1/13/16) 2018
Johnny Russell (1/31/18)
Andreu Fontas (8/8/18)
Felipe Hernandez (8/30/19) 2020
Khiry Shelton (12/9/19)
Alan Pulido (12/10/19)
2021 Remi Walter (12/22/20)
2022
Logan Ndenbe (1/14/22)
Robert Voloder (1/19/22)
William Agada (6/23/22)
Erik Thommy (6/23/22)
2023 Stephen Afrifa (1st Round - #8) Chris Rindov (2nd Round - #37) Nemanja Radoja (10/26/22) Tim Leibold (1/12/23)
Robert Castellanos (2/17/23)
Dany Rosero (3/2/23)
2024 Ryan Schewe (1st Round - #22) Zorhan Bassong (12/12/23)
Alenis Vargas (12/15/23)
Joaquin Fernandez (8/13/24)
Danny Flores (1/13/23)
Memo Rodriguez (2/1/24)
John Pulskamp (2/24/20)
Ozzie Cisneros (1/20/21)
Kayden Pierre (5/4/21)
Jake Davis (8/19/21)
SPORTING KANSAS CITY 2024 SCHEDULE AND RESULTS
Saturday, February 24 at Houston Dynamo FC
SATURDAY, MARCH 2 PHILADELPHIA UNION
Saturday, March 9 at Los Angeles FC
SATURDAY, MARCH 16 SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES
PULIDO SATURDAY, MARCH 23 LA
Saturday, March 30 at Toronto FC
Walter, Davis, Vargas SUNDAY, APRIL 7 PORTLAND TIMBERS
SATURDAY, APRIL 13 INTER MIAMI CF
SATURDAY, APRIL 20 ST. LOUIS
April 27 at Minnesota United FC
May 4 at Real Salt Lake
Wednesday, May 8 at Union Omaha
MAY 11
May 18
TUESDAY, MAY 21 FC TULSA
May 25 at Portland Timbers
June 1 at Minnesota United FC
June 15 at LA Galaxy
JUNE 19 REAL SALT LAKE
June 22 at
JUNE
July 4 at Colorado Rapids
3-3 AGADA (2), ROSERO
(2)
Tzionis, Pulido
THOMMY
HERNANDEZ (2), AFRIFA, TZIONIS
Castellanos
AFRIFA
1-2 Russell SUNDAY, JULY 7 FC DALLAS
JULY 10 FC DALLAS
ROSERO Saturday, July 13 at San Jose Earthquakes
July 17 at Vancouver Whitecaps
JULY 20
JULY 28
MONDAY, AUGUST 5
August 9 at Columbus Crew
SATURDAY, AUGUST 24 ORLANDO CITY SC
September 15 at Seattle Sounders FC
OCTOBER 5
October 19 at FC Dallas
2024 REFEREE LOG (MLS REGULAR SEASON)
2024 VIDEO ASSISTANT REFEREE LOG (MLS REGULAR SEASON)
Feb. 24, 2024 at HOU Jaime Herrera
Ian Anderson HOU Goal
Overturned - No Goal
Brad Smith heads the ball into the bottom corner off a cross from Coco Carrasquilla. After reviewing the play, referee Jaime Herrera overturns his original decision and disallows the goal because Carrasquilla was offside in the build-up.
March 16, 2024 vs. SJ Amin Hadzic
Ian Anderson SJ Goal
Overturned - No Goal
Rodrigues fires the ball home from close range after a free kick is deflected into his path. After reviewing the play, referee Amin Hadzic overturns his original decision and disallows the goal due to handball because the ball came off the arm of Vitor Costa.
March 23, 2024 vs. LA Aleksandar Zhelyazkov
Shawn Tehini LA No Goal
Overturned - Goal
Marky Delgado fires home at the far post after the ball had been tipped into his path, but the flag goes up for offside. After reviewing the play, referee Aleksandar Zhelyazkov overturns his original decision and allows the goal because Delgado was onside.
May 18, 2024 at ATX Sergii Boiko
Sorin Stoica ATX Goal
Overturned - No Goal
Dani Pereira scores for Austin after a build-up that began with Jader Obrian down the right wing. After reviewing the play, referee Sergii Boiko overturns his original decision and disallows the goal because Obrian was offside.
May 25, 2024 at POR Drew Fischer
Jorge Gonzalez POR No Goal
Overturned - Goal
Evander scores for Austin after the ball was headed down into his path by Felipe Mora, but the referee raises his flag for offside on Mora. After reviewing the play, referee Drew Fischer overturns his original decision and allows the goal because Mora was onside.
SPORTING KC MISCELLANEOUS STATS
2024 Regular-Season Record When...
Scoring first goal 4-4-4
Conceding first goal 2-10-1
Leading at halftime 3-1-2
Tied at halftime 3-4-2
Trailing at halftime 0-9-2
Scoring 0 goals 0-2-1
Scoring 1 goal 0-7-3
Scoring 2 goals 4-4-0
Scoring 3 goals 2-1-2
Scoring 4+ goals 0-0-0
Allowing 0 goals 1-0-1
Allowing 1 goal 4-1-3
Allowing 2 goals 1-6-0
Allowing 3 goals 0-4-2
Allowing 4+ goals 0-3-0
Wearing Sporting blue 5-8-4
Wearing Argyle 1-5-2
Wearing Wizards 0-1-0
Leading at 75’ 4-0-2
Tied at 75’ 2-6-4
Trailing at 75’ 0-8-0
Outshooting opponent 5-5-3
Outshot by opponent 1-7-2
Shots even 0-2-1
Shutouts 1-2-1
One-goal games 4-11-0
Day games (before 5 p.m.) 0-0-1
Games 5 p.m. CT or later 6-14-5
Temperature 75 & up 3-7-0
Temperature below 75 3-7-6
With SKC red card 1-0-0
With opponent red card 1-0-0
In Pacific time zone 1-3-1
In Mountain time zone 0-2-0
In Central time zone 4-8-5
In Eastern time zone 1-1-0
vs. Western Conference 5-12-5
vs. Eastern Conference 1-2-1
On grass 6-12-5
On turf 0-2-0
With zero subs 0-0-1
With one sub 0-1-1
With two subs 0-1-2
With three subs 1-3-1
With four subs 2-4-0
With five subs 3-5-1
With six subs 0-0-0
Regular Season Record By Month
Feb. 2024 0-0-1
Feb. all-time 1-2-1
March 2024 2-1-2
March all-time 27-16-15
April 2024 0-2-2
April all-time 46-47-25
May 2024 0-5-0
May all-time 47-59-31
June 2024 2-4-0
June all-time 50-40-31
July 2024 2-2-1
July all-time 61-50-33
Aug. 2024 0-0-0
Aug. all-time 56-55-22
Sept. 2024 0-0-0
Sept. all-time 43-53-23
Oct. 2024 0-0-0
Oct. all-time 34-21-19
Nov. 2024 0-0-0
Nov. all-time 1-2-0
Regular Season Team-By-Team (in 2024)
vs. Atlanta United FC 1-2-1 (0-0-0)
vs. Austin FC 3-5-1 (1-1-0)
vs. Charlotte FC 0-0-0 (0-0-0)
vs. Chicago Fire FC 19-28-12 (0-0-0)
vs. Colorado Rapids 29-27-19 (0-1-0)
vs. Columbus Crew 26-23-9 (0-1-0)
vs. D.C. United 22-22-13 (0-0-0)
vs. FC Cincinnati 1-0-1 (0-0-0)
vs. FC Dallas 29-30-14 (1-0-0)
vs. Houston Dynamo FC 14-14-16 (0-1-1)
vs. Inter Miami CF 0-2-0 (0-1-0)
vs. Los Angeles FC 4-6-2 (0-0-1)
vs. LA Galaxy 26-28-18 (0-2-0)
vs. Minnesota United FC 11-6-4 (0-2-0)
vs. CF Montreal 8-5-3 (0-0-0)
vs. Nashville SC 2-2-0 (0-0-0)
vs. NE Revolution 25-20-12 (0-0-0)
vs. New York City FC 2-3-1 (0-0-0)
vs. New York Red Bulls 22-22-14 (0-0-0)
vs. Orlando City SC 2-3-2 (0-0-0)
vs. Philadelphia Union 6-6-7 (0-0-1)
vs. Portland Timbers 9-8-7 (0-1-1)
vs. Real Salt Lake 13-18-9 (0-2-0)
vs. St. Louis 1-2-2 (0-0-2)
vs. SJ Earthquakes 32-26-10 (2-0-0)
vs. Seattle Sounders FC 12-12-4 (1-0-0)
vs. Toronto FC 15-4-8 (1-0-0)
vs. Vancouver Whitecaps 12-8-5 (0-2-0)
Regular Season Home, Away & Neutral
Overall All-time 368-346-200
2024 at home 4-5-4
All-time at home 239-123-93
2024 on road 2-9-2
All-time on
SPORTING KC IN 2024 (MLS REGULAR SEASON)
Quickest Goal... Erik Thommy (4/13 vs. MIA) - 6th Minute
Quickest Goal Against... Michael Boxall (4/27 at MIN) - 2nd Minute
Game-winning goals after 75’... Alenis Vargas (6/8 vs. SEA) - 85th Minute Memo Rodriguez (7/7 vs. DAL) - 82nd Minute
Game-tying goals after 75’...
Game-winning goals against after 75’... Mark Delgado (3/23 vs. LA) - 80th Minute Chicho Arango (5/4 at RSL) - 81st Minute Ibrahim Aliyu (5/11 vs. HOU) - 78th Minute Evander (5/25 at POR) - 79th Minute
Ryan Gauld (5/29 vs. VAN) - 82nd Minute
Matt Crooks (6/19 vs. RSL) - 84th Minute Djordje Mihailovic (7/4 at COL) - 94+ Minute Fafa Picault (7/17 at VAN) - 76th Minute
Game-tying goals against after 75’... Alejandro Bedoya (3/2 vs. PHI) - 95+ Minute Eric Miller (4/7 vs. POR) - 81st Minute Tomas Totland (4/20 vs. STL) - 92+ Minute
Penalty Kicks... William Agada (4/7 vs. POR) - Missed Wide Left Johnny Russell (6/19 vs. RSL) - Saved by Gavin Beavers
Penalty Kicks Earned... Foul on Erik Thommy (4/7 vs. POR) - 62nd Minute Foul on Erik Thommy (6/19 vs. RSL) - 20th Minute
Penalty Kicks Against... Evander (4/7 vs. POR) - Scored on Tim Melia Sebastian Driussi (5/18 at ATX) - Saved by Tim Melia Djordje Mihailovic (7/4 at COL) - Scored on Tim Melia
Youngest Goalscorer... Alenis Vargas (3/30 at TOR) - 20 years and 117 days
Oldest Goalscorer... Johnny Russell (7/4 at COL) - 34 years and 87 days
Youngest Starter... Alenis Vargas (5/29 vs. VAN) - 20 years and 177 days
Youngest to play in a game... Alenis Vargas (2/24 at HOU) - 20 years and 82 days
Oldest Starter... Tim Melia (7/20 vs. STL) - 38 years and 66 days
Oldest to play in a game... Tim Melia (7/20 vs. STL) - 38 years and 66 days
SPORTING KC ALL-TIME WIN/LOSS RECORDS IN COMPETITIVE MATCHES
SPORTING KC 2024 MLS REGULAR SEASON BOX SCORES
Feb. 24, 2024: Houston Dynamo 1-1 Sporting KC
MLS Regular Season | Shell Energy Stadium | Houston, TX Attendance: 18,818 Weather: 69 degrees and clear
Sporting KC (0-0-1, 1 point)
Houston Dynamo (0-0-1, 1 point)
Sporting KC Houston Dynamo FC GK Melia GK Clark (C)
D Davis D Dorsey
D Rosero D Sviatchenko
D Fontas D Micael
D Leibold (Bassong 74’) D Schmitt
M Radoja M Artur
M Thommy (Rodriguez 74’) M Carrasquilla
M Walter M Raines (Gregus 67’)
F Russell (C) (Afrifa 59’) F Kowalczyk
F Pulido (Agada 59’) F Aliyu
F Salloi (Vargas 86’) F Smith (Segal 67’)
Subs not used: Subs not used: Pulskamp (GK) Tarbell (GK)
POR - Eric Miller (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 82’
SKC - Jake Davis (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 98+
Stats Summary SKC POR
Shots (on goal) 15 (6) 9 (8) Saves 5 3
16 20
April 27, 2024: Minnesota United 2-1 Sporting KC MLS Regular Season | Allianz Field | St. Paul, MN Attendance: 19,712 Weather: 57 degrees and cloudy 1 2 F
Sporting KC (2-3-5, 11 points) 1
Minnesota United (5-2-2, 17 points)
Sporting KC Minnesota United GK Melia GK St. Clair
D Pierre (Shelton 70’) D Taylor
D Rosero D Arriaga
D Fontas D Boxall (C)
D Leibold D Padelford (Harvey 80’)
M Walter D Rosales
M Radoja M Lod (Bran 92+)
M Thommy M Trapp
M Pulido (Vargas 83’) F Oluwaseyi (Tapias 66’)
M Salloi (C) F Pukki (Clark 46’)
F Agada (Russell 62’) F Fragapane (Hlongwane 46’)
Subs not used: Subs not used: Pulskamp (GK) Smir (GK)
Bassong Valentin
Castellanos
Voloder
Rodriguez
Tzionis
Scoring Summary:
MIN – Michael Boxall 1 (Robin Lod 6, Joseph Rosales 2) 2’
MIN – Tanitoluwa Oluwaseyi 4 (Joseph Rosales 3, Robin Lod 7) 25’
MIN – Devin Padelford (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 32’
MIN – Michael Boxall (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 63’
Stats Summary SKC MIN
Shots (on goal) 7 (3) 9 (5)
Saves 3 1
Fouls 11 16
Offside 5 0
Corner Kicks 4 5
April 13, 2024: Sporting KC 2-3 Inter Miami CF MLS Regular Season | Arrowhead Stadium | Kansas City, MO Attendance: 72,610 Weather: 77 degrees and sunny
(2-2-4,
Sporting KC Inter Miami CF GK Melia GK Callender
D Davis D Weigandt
D Rosero D Aviles
D Fontas D Freire
D Leibold D Alba (Negri 78’)
M Walter (Hernandez 46+) M Busquets
M Radoja M Gressel (Cremaschi 67’)
M Thommy (Russell 84’) M Ruiz
M Pulido F Messi (C)
M Salloi (C) F Suarez
F Agada F Gomez (Bright 93+)
Subs not used: Subs not used: Pulskamp (GK) Dos Santos (GK) Bassong Allen
Castellanos Sailor
Pierre Sunderland
Voloder Afonso
Tzionis Borgelin
Vargas
Scoring Summary:
SKC - Erik Thommy 2 (Tim Leibold 1) 6’
MIA - Diego Gomez 2 (Lionel Messi 5) 18’
MIA - Lionel Messi 5 (David Ruiz 2) 51’
SKC - Erik Thommy 3 (Unassisted) 58’
MIA - Luis Suarez 6 (Diego Gomez 5) 71’
Misconduct Summary:
MIA - Tomas Aviles (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 15’
MIA - Diego Gomez (Yellow Card; Delaying a Restart) 56’
SKC - Felipe Hernandez (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 79’
Leagues Cup Group Stage | Children’s Mercy Park | Kansas City, KS Attendance: 14,047
Sporting KC (1-0-0, 3 points)
Chicago Fire (0-1-0, 0 points)
Sporting KC Chicago Fire GK Melia (C) GK Richey
D Shelton D Souquet (Gutman 79’)
D Castellanos D Salquist
D Fontas (Voloder 73’) D Shannon (Glasgow 56’)
D Leibold (Bassong 81’) M Herbers
M Radoja M Acosta
M Walter M Gutierrez
M Afrifa (Vargas 84’) M Gimenez (C)
M Thommy M Haille-Selassie
M Salloi F Barlow (Koffi 62’)
F Agada F Koutsias
Subs not used: Subs not used: Schewe (GK) Brady (GK)
Ndenbe Gal (GK)
Rindov Casas
Rosero Navarro
Flores
Tschantret Cruz
Scoring Summary:
CHI - Georgios Koutsias 1 (Brian Gutierrez 1) 22’
SKC - Robert Castellanos 1 (Remi Walter 1) 39’
SKC - William Agada 1 (Stephen Afrifa 1) 76’
Misconduct Summary:
CHI - Jaylen Shannon (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 53’
Stats
(6)
(5)
August 5, 2024: Sporting KC 1-2 Toluca FC Leagues Cup Group Stage | Children’s Mercy Park | Kansas City, KS Attendance: 14,797 Weather: 91 degrees and sunny
Sporting KC (1-1-0, 3 points)
Toluca FC (2-0-0, 6 points)
Sporting KC Toluca FC GK Melia GK Volpi
D Shelton D B. Garcia
D Castellanos (Rosero 73’) D Mendez
D Voloder D Pereira (Luan 50’)
D Leibold (Ndenbe 73’) D Gallardo
M Radoja (Davis 45’) M Arteaga (Amaya 58’)
M Walter M Ruiz
M Russell (C) M Dominguez (Araujo 46’)
M Pulido (Thommy 61’) M Vega (C)
M Afrifa (Salloi 60’) M Angulo (Meneses 73’)
F Agada F Morales (Lopez 57’)
Subs not used: Subs not used: Pulskamp (GK) Beltran (GK) Schewe (GK) L. Garcia (GK)
Bassong Baeza
Fontas Orrantia
Pierre Villegas
Rodriguez Violante
Vargas Freyfeld
Scoring Summary:
TOL - Jesus Angulo 2 (Unassisted) 40’
SKC - Stephen Afrifa 1 (Johnny Russell 1) 46+
TOL - Maximiliano Araujo 1 (Brian Garcia 1) 66’
Misconduct Summary:
SKC - Tim Leibold (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 48+
TOL -- Jean Meneses (Yellow Card; Delaying a Restart) 93+
August 9, 2024: Columbus Crew 4-0 Sporting KC Leagues Cup Round of 32 | Lower.com Field | Columbus, OH
Attendance: 20,397
Weather: 79 degrees and sunny
Sporting KC Columbus Crew GK Pulskamp GK Hagen
D Pierre (Shelton 80’) D Moreira
D Rosero D Camacho
D Voloder D Amundsen (Cheberko 62’)
D Leibold (Ndenbe 67’) M Farsi
M Davis M Zawadzki
M Walter M Nagbe (C)
M Russell (C) (Agada 56’) M Arfsten (Dej. Jones 76’)
M Thommy (Vargas 80’) F Ramirez (Chambost 68’)
M Salloi (Afrifa 56’) F Hernandez (Matan 68’) F Pulido F Rossi (Russell-Rowe 76’)
Subs not used: Subs not used: Melia (GK) Schulte (GK)
Schewe (GK)
Jackson
Bassong Der. Jones
Castellanos Mrowka
Fontas Yeboah
Cruz
Scoring Summary:
CLB - Diego Rossi 1 (Cucho Hernandez 1) 44’
CLB - Diego Rossi 2 (Unassisted) 57’
CLB - Dajuan Jones 1 (Jacen Russell-Rowe 1) 77’
CLB - Dylan Chambost 1 (Unassisted) 79’
Misconduct Summary: None
(10)
SPORTING KC STARTERS BY POSITION (2024 REGULAR SEASON)
Formation: 4-3-3 (17 games)
Left forward
Daniel Salloi 11
Marinos Tzionis 3
Stephen Afrifa 2
Alenis Vargas 1
Left-center midfielder
Memo Rodriguez 7
Erik Thommy 7
Remi Walter 2
Felipe Hernandez 1
Center forward
Alan Pulido 10
William Agada 7
Left back
Tim Leibold 11
Zorhan Bassong 6
Defensive midfielder
Nemanja Radoja 16
Memo Rodriguez 1
Left center back
Andreu Fontas 8
Robert Voloder 7
Robert Castellanos 2
Right forward
Johnny Russell 13
Erik Thommy 2
Alenis Vargas 2
Right-center midfielder
Erik Thommy 6
Jake Davis 4
Remi Walter 3
Memo Rodriguez 2
Marinos Tzionis 1
Felipe Hernandez 1
Right center back
Dany Rosero 12
Robert Castellanos 4
Andreu Fontas 1
Goalkeeper
Tim Melia 15
John Pulskamp 2
Formation: 4-2-3-1 (8 games)
Right back
Jake Davis 11
Kayden Pierre 3
Khiry Shelton 3
NOTE: Charts do not account for players interchanging and/ or switching positions over the course of a match. Substitute players are not listed.
Left midfielder
Daniel Salloi 7
Stephen Afrifa 1
Center forward
William Agada 7
Alan Pulido 1
Attacking midfielder
Alan Pulido 7
Erik Thommy 1
Left-defensive midfielder
Nemanja Radoja 7
Memo Rodriguez 1
Left back
Tim Leibold 7
Zorhan Bassong 1
Left center back
Andreu Fontas 4
Robert Voloder 4
Right midfielder
Erik Thommy 4
Alenis Vargas 3
Johnny Russell 1
Right-defensive midfielder
Remi Walter 5
Memo Rodriguez 2
Jake Davis 1
Right center back
Dany Rosero 5
Robert Castellanos 2
Andreu Fontas 1
Goalkeeper
Tim Melia 8
Right back
Jake Davis 4
Kayden Pierre 3
Khiry Shelton 1
SPORTING KC STARTERS BY POSITION (2024 REGULAR SEASON)
Formation: 3-4-3 (1 game)
Left forward
Stephen Afrifa 1
Center forward
William Agada 1
Left midfielder
Zorhan Bassong 1
Left-center midfielder
Nemanja Radoja 1
Left center back
Robert Voloder 1
Right-center midfielder
Memo Rodriguez 1
Central center back
Dany Rosero 1
Right forward
Erik Thommy 1
NOTE: Charts do not account for players interchanging and/ or switching positions over the course of a match. Substitute players are not listed.
Right midfielder
Kayden Pierre 1
Right center back
Robert Castellanos 1
Goalkeeper
John Pulskamp 1
SPORTING
KC AND CHILDREN’S MERCY KANSAS CITY CONTINUE TO IMPACT LOCAL COMMUNITY
A leading independent children’s health organization dedicated to holistic care, translational research, educating caregivers and breakthrough innovation to create a world of well-being for all children, Children’s Mercy Kansas City began a 10-year partnership with Sporting KC in 2016. Children’s Mercy provides the highest level of care for children from birth through the age of 21. U.S. News & World Report has repeatedly ranked Children’s Mercy as one of “America’s Best Children’s Hospitals.”
The comprehensive partnership between Sporting KC and Children’s Mercy Kansas City – which includes naming rights to Sporting KC’s world-class stadium, Children’s Mercy Park, as well as the Sporting KC II and Sporting KC Academy complex at Swope Soccer Village – is also at the forefront of Sporting’s state-of-the-art training ground at Compass Minerals National Performance Center. In a first-of-its-kind collaboration between a professional sports team, a national sports federation and a sports medicine provider, the facility opened in 2018 and features the Children’s Mercy Sports Medicine Center alongside Sporting Kansas City and U.S. Soccer.
Children’s Mercy Kansas City is also the official health care and sports medicine provider for the Sporting Kansas City Academy and Compass Minerals National Performance Center as part of a multi-faceted partnership that focuses on the following three components to impact the local community:
1. Strengthening community
• The partnership directly supports The Victory Project, Sporting’s foundation to help children - including those with cancer and disabilities – through all of life’s challenges.
• Sporting KC players and staff engage with, encourage and inspire Children’s Mercy patients throughout the year during hospital visits and special events.
• FLEET, an innovative team of remote experience robots operated via an iPad, regularly attends Sporting KC home matches to provide an all-access interactive experience for patients at Children’s Mercy. Manufactured by Double Robotics, the robot allows users to enjoy two-way live audio and video captured from a 150-degree wide-angle lens while navigating to control their own VIP behind-the-scenes journey.
• Launched in 2018, the RED CARD campaign addresses one of the most significant social issues impacting children nationwide by empowering youth and adults to prevent and intervene in bullying. Through school assemblies and community-wide messaging, the RED CARD initiative aims to reach children, parents, teachers and coaches who have daily opportunities to create supportive environments and stop bullying in its tracks. In 2023 and 2024, Sporting and Children’s Mercy teamed up to provide 90 students at 30 local elementary and middle schools with SKC jerseys on National Random Acts of Kindness Day as part of a Kindness In The Schools (K.I.T.S.) initiative.
2. Improving access to pediatric-trained sports medicine
• The Children’s Mercy Sports Medicine Center at Village West is located inside Compass Minerals National Performance Center and offers a full range of sports medicine services, resources and programming for youth athletes. More than two million high-school athletes and 3.5 million children under age 14 are injured each year in the U.S. playing sports. Only a small percentage are treated by pediatric-trained sports medicine specialists who truly understand the youth’s growing body, developing brain and unique psychosocial stressors.
3. Protecting youth athletes and educating parents and coaches
• The partnership provides athletic training, rehabilitation and conditioning programs for the Sporting KC Academy’s six teams at Swope Soccer Village, which hosts Sporting KC II home matches as well as year-round athletic leagues, tournaments and other marquee events.
Position-Minutes - Starting Position-Minutes Played DNP - Unused Substitute INJ - Injured SKCII - Sporting Kansas City II SUB-Minutes - Substitute-Minutes played UNAV - Unavailable For Selection SUS - Suspended INTL - International Duty LOAN - Out on Loan ACD - Sporting KC Academy
MANAGER & SPORTING DIRECTOR | PETER VERMES
Peter Vermes is in his 16th season as Sporting Kansas City Manager in 2024 and is the longest-tenured active head coach in MLS. He is the team’s longest-serving manager and his 248 coaching victories in all competitions are the most club history. During his tenure, he has won four major trophies – the 2012, 2015 and 2017 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cups and the 2013 MLS Cup championship – and finished atop the Eastern Conference regularseason standings in 2011 and 2012, as well as the Western Conference in 2018 and 2020. His three U.S. Open Cup championships are the third most in Open Cup history. He is the first coach in club history to lead Sporting KC to eight straight postseason appearances, as well as the only person to ever win the MLS Cup as both a player and a coach with the same team. His 201 regular-season wins top the club’s all-time chart and rank third most in MLS history. He passed his former coach Bob Gansler as the winningest manager in team history with a 3-1 win over Real Salt Lake on Aug. 12, 2015, his 109th victory in all competitions.
On August 4, 2018, Vermes coached his 302nd MLS regular-season game with Sporting KC, becoming the league’s all-time leader in games coached for one club. He was named the first-ever MLS Sporting Executive of the Year by his peers in 2018. Vermes has coached 591 total games during his Kansas City coaching career, most in club history.
With over 15 years of service at Sporting KC, Vermes is one of the longest serving managers in world soccer. Among all leagues with an average attendance of 10,000+, Vermes ranks second, only behind Bundesliga side FC Heidenheim’s Frank Schmidt (Sept. 17, 2007 – present). Among the top 126 leagues in the world as denoted by the CIES Football Observatory in March 2022, Vermes’ tenure at ranks as the fifth longest active run.
Vermes oversees all soccer operations for Sporting KC, including the active roster, Sporting Kansas City II (MLS NEXT Pro) and the Sporting KC Academy. Vermes entered MLS ahead of its inaugural season in 1996 and retired from the league in 2002, closing out his playing career in Kansas City after stints with the New York/New Jersey MetroStars and Colorado Rapids.
Following a standout high school career in which he was named New Jersey Player of the Year, Vermes was a star forward and All-American at Rutgers University. After college, Vermes represented the United States in the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, Korea, and was named 1988 Chevrolet U.S. Male Soccer Athlete of the Year for his efforts.
Vermes was an integral part of a young U.S. team at the 1990 World Cup in Italy, where he nearly scored against the host Azzurri. It was the first time the U.S. had qualified for the World Cup in 40 years and set the stage for the progress of the U.S. National Team. In 1989 and 1990, Vermes became the first American to play in the Hungarian and Dutch First Divisions, playing for Raba ETO and FC Volendam, respectively. He later spent five years with Figueres of the Spanish Second Division.
For MLS’s inaugural season in 1996, Vermes served as captain of the New York/New Jersey MetroStars. In 1997, he was traded to the Colorado Rapids for current Sporting KC Assistant Coach Kerry Zavagnin and played in Denver through the 1999 season, leading the Rapids to the 1997 MLS Cup Final.
Vermes joined Kansas City in 2000 for what would be the most successful season of his MLS career. During his first year in Kansas City, he anchored one of the best defenses in league history and won MLS Defender of the Year honors in helping lead the Wizards to the 2000 MLS Cup Championship. He retired in 2002 after appearing in 209 MLS matches (including playoffs) and playing more than 18,000 minutes. In 2013, Vermes was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame.
PETER VERMES HEAD COACHING RECORD AT SPORTING KC
ASSISTANT COACH | KERRY ZAVAGNIN
Kerry Zavagnin currently holds the MLS record as he enters his 25th season with one club as a player or coach. Zavagnin first joined Kansas City in 2000 as a holding midfielder and was an integral part of the club’s midfield for the next nine seasons, during which time he helped lead the Wizards to MLS Cup (2000) and U.S. Open Cup (2004) Championships. He was named to the MLS All-Star team and the Best XI in 2004. Zavagnin’s primary duties as an assistant include scouting, developing Sporting Kansas City’s younger players, breaking down film and assisting with training sessions. He started his professional career with the MetroStars, where he played in 39 games over two seasons. After spending one season with the Lehigh Valley Steam (USL-1), Zavagnin came to KC in 2000. He played 237 games and logged 20,516 minutes for Kansas City, setting team records in both categories before being overtaken by Matt Besler early in 2018. He scored eight goals and added 22 assists in his nine seasons in KC. Zavagnin was named Team Defender of the Year in 2001. On top of his club success in Kansas City, Zavagnin also appeared 21 times for the U.S. Men’s National Team. He recorded one assist for the U.S., who went 15-2-4 when Zavagnin featured.
ASSISTANT COACH | ZORAN SAVIC
Zoran Savic joined Sporting Kansas City late in the 2009 season after a 30-year career at all levels of the game in the United States. A native of Gornji Milanovac, Yugoslavia, Savic began his journey through American soccer with the Buffalo Stallions of the Major Indoor Soccer League in 1980. Savic would go on to star for several MISL teams, with his most prosperous period coming with the Kansas City Comets, with whom he scored 70 goals in just over 100 appearances from 1982-1984. After retiring as a player in 1991, Savic turned his attention to coaching in the indoor game. Savic led the Kansas City Attack from 1992-1996, winning Coach of the Year honors for the 1994-1995 season while also serving as the team’s General Manager. Savic later coached the Kansas City Comets from 2000-2005. In 2007 Savic switched to the outdoor game, joining Chivas USA as an assistant to then-head coach Preki before moving into the commentary booth for Kansas City matches in 2008 and 2009. Savic’s career as a commentator was cut short, however, when newly installed Manager Peter Vermes tabbed Savic to be part of his coaching staff late in the 2009 season.
ASSISTANT COACH | ASH WALLACE
Ash Wallace has served on Sporting Kansas City’s technical staff since 2012, aiding the first team coaching staff in a variety of roles. Wallace, originally from England, helps scout and develop game plans for upcoming opponents, assists in planning and executing training sessions and provides valuable analysis for coaches and players regarding strategy. Wallace holds a U.S. Soccer A License. Wallace’s first involvement with the club came in August 2012 when he was contracted to produce a detailed scouting report on Seattle Sounders FC ahead of the U.S. Open Cup Final, helping Sporting claim their first of four major titles during a trophy-laden decade. Prior to joining Sporting KC, Wallace was a member of the Preston North End coaching staff and also served as an opposition scout for Fleetwood Town in his native England. Earlier in his career, he worked with Preston North End’s women’s academy teams and Penwortham Boys academy teams while earning a Degree in Sports Coaching from the University of Central Lancashire.
GOALKEEPER COACH | ALEC DUFTY
Alec Dufty is in his ninth season with Sporting Kansas City having been introduced to the organization as the Sporting KC II goalkeeper coach in the side’s inaugural season in 2016. In his first season working with the Sporting KC first team, starting goalkeeper Tim Melia enjoyed a recordbreaking season where he was named the 2017 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year. A former MLS player, Dufty began his playing career with the New York Red Bulls in 2009, making one appearance before joining the MLS reserve goalkeeper pool. In 2010, Dufty joined USSF D2 Pro League side AC St. Louis, making 30 appearances before returning to MLS with the Chicago Fire in late 2010. He announced his retirement at the conclusion of the 2011 season. Dufty then took to coaching, first working with Florida Gulf Coast University and then the University of Illinois at Chicago. In 2015, Dufty served as goalkeeper coach for Toronto FC II in their inaugural USL Championship season.
Joey Harty was named Sporting Kansas City’s Director of Sports Performance and Science ahead of the 2020 season, stepping up from his role as assistant fitness coach which he held from 2018-2019. Harty manages all aspects of the club’s performance department from the academy to the senior team. He oversees day-to-day training plans on and off the field, including work in the weight room, soccer session planning, onfield movement training, data analysis and more, aiming to optimize player health and performance. Harty joined Sporting’s organization in January 2016, serving as a fitness coach for the Sporting Kansas City Academy before spending the 2017 season as head fitness coach for Sporting KC II. The Colorado native then transitioned to assistant fitness coach for Sporting’s first team in January 2018 before landing his current role with the club. Prior to arriving in Kansas City, Harty worked for Phoenix Rising FC and Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona. Harty attended Grand Canyon from 2010-2014, played for the men’s soccer team from 2010-2012 and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology and Exercise Science. In addition to holding several professional licenses and certifications in athletic performance, Harty is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the National Strength and Conditioning Association.
#30 | F | STEPHEN AFRIFA
Height: 5-10
Weight: 155 Birthday: 2/19/2001
Hometown: Toronto, Canada
College: Florida International University
Acquired: 2023
MLS SuperDraft 1st Round (#8)
Forward Stephen Afrifa was selected by Sporting Kansas City as the eighth overall pick of the 2023 MLS SuperDraft before signing with the team at the conclusion of his senior year in April. He enjoyed a standout career at FIU, where he amassed 23 goals and 11 assists in 63 appearances from 2019-2022. He made his debut for Sporting on May 17, 2023 at LAFC before earning his first start at Austin on July 15, 2023. Afrifa scored his first goal for the club in a 4-0 Open Cup win over FC Tulsa on May 21, 2024.
Capable of playing as a striker or a winger, Afrifa began his professional journey on the heels of a phenomenal campaign in 2022 that yielded a team-high 10 goals, four assists and USC Second Team All-American honors. He guided the Panthers to the 2022
Regular Season Game Highs:
Goals 1, 3 times, last: June 29, 2024, KC vs. ATX
Assists 0
Shots on Goal 1, 4 times, last: June 29, 2024, KC vs. ATX
Shots 4, July 17, 2024, KC at VAN
Fouls Committed 3, July 7, 2024, KC vs. DAL
Fouls Suffered 2, March 16, 2024, KC vs. SJ
Last Regular Season...
Appearance July 20, 2024, KC vs. STL
Goal June 29, 2024, KC vs. ATX
Assist N/A
2024 Record when: he starts 1-3-0 he scores 1-2-0
American Athletic Conference regular season and tournament titles and was named the AAC Championship Most Outstanding Offensive Player. Afrifa ended his senior season as a MAC Hermann Trophy Semifinalist and a member of the USC All-East Region Team.
As a freshman, Afrifa tallied three goals and three assists, and added two goals and an assist during his COVID-shortened sophomore year. As a junior, Afrifa helped FIU make its first of two consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances with a team-best eight goals and three assists. Afrifa competed for USL League Two side One Knoxville SC in 2022, scoring 10 goals and leading the club to a first-place finish in the South Central Division and a run to the national quarterfinals.
#23 | F | WILLIAM AGADA
Height: 5-9
Weight: 185 Birthday: 9/17/1999
Hometown: Bauchi, Nigeria
Last Club: Hapoel Jerusalem (Israel)
Acquired: Acquired in transfer on 6/23/2022
William Agada joined Sporting KC in a transfer from Israeli side Hapoel Jerusalem in June 2022. A native of Nigeria, Agada scored 37 goals across four seasons in Israel before heading to the United States. Agada enjoyed an incredible start to his Sporting KC career, tallying eight goals and two assists in just 12 appearances to close out 2022 - placing him among the best goalscorers by a per-game basis in the league.
Agada turned professional as an 18-year-old and bagged eight goals during his first season with Hapoel Jerusalem in 2018-2019. He doubled his goal haul the following year, scoring a team-best 15 times across 36 appearances in the Israeli second division.
Regular Season Game Highs:
Goals 2, 6 times, last: July 7, 2024, KC vs. DAL
Assists 1, 4 times, last: April 20, 2024, KC vs. STL
Shots on Goal 5, 2 times, last: July 7, 2024, KC vs. DAL
Shots 10, June 19, 2024, KC vs. RSL
Fouls Committed 5, Aug. 6, 2022, KC vs. LA
Fouls Suffered 3, 4 times, last: July 20, 2024, KC vs. STL
Last Regular Season...
Appearance July 20, 2024, KC vs. STL
Goal July 20, 2024, KC vs. STL
Assist April 20, 2024, KC vs. STL
2024 Record when: he starts 2-10-3 he scores 1-3-2
Agada’s excellent 2019-2020 campaign paved the way for a loan to Hapoel Haifa in the Israeli Premier League where he finished second on the team with six goals in 20202021. The 2021-2022 season saw Agada return to Hapoel Jerusalem, which had gained promotion to the Premier League and led the team with eight goals.
#22 | D | ZORHAN BASSONG | @BassongZ
Height: 5-10
Weight: 175 Birthday: 5/7/1999
Hometown: Montreal, Canada
Last Club: Farul Constanta (Romania)
Acquired: Signed as Free Agent on 12/12/2023
Sporting Kansas City added left back Zorhan Bassong ahead of the 2024 campaign. The Canadian has previously spent time in France, Belgium, Romania and Major League Soccer, including 43 matches in all competitions with CF Montreal. He played two MLS seasons in Montreal from 2021-2022 before spending 2023 in Romania with Arges Pitesti and Farul Constanta.
Born in Toronto and raised in Montreal, Bassong moved to Belgium in 2013 to join the Mouscron academy. Bassong furthered his development in the heralded academy systems at Belgian side Anderlecht and French club Lille, beginning his professional career at the latter in 2016.
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals 0
Assists 1, 2 times, last: June 19, 2024, KC vs. RSL
Shots on Goal 1, 2 times, last: June 19, 2024, KC vs. RSL
Shots 2, June 19, 2024, KC vs. RSL
Fouls Committed 5, June 19, 2024, KC vs. RSL
Fouls Suffered 2, 2 times, last: July 7, 2021, MTL vs. MIA (w/ MTL)
Last Regular Season... Appearance July 17, 2024, KC at VAN Goal N/A
Assist June 19, 2024, KC vs. RSL
2024 Record when: he starts 0-8-0 he scores 0-0-0
He joined Belgian outfit Cercle Brugge in January 2019 and left the club in July 2020. Bassong enjoyed a two-year MLS stint with CF Montreal that began in early 2021. Following his time with Montreal, Bassong spent 2023 with two Romanian clubs, Arges Pitesti and Farul Constanta.
On the international stage, Bassong represented the Belgium U-19s for two friendlies in 2017 before switching his allegiance to Canada. He earned two caps for Canada’s senior national team in January 2020, including a 90-minute outing in a 4-1 friendly win over Barbados. In March 2021, Bassong played three matches for Canada at the 2020 Concacaf Men’s Olympic Qualifying Championship in Mexico, reaching the semifinals.
#19 | D | ROBERT CASTELLANOS | @rc4official
Height: 6-1
Weight: 195 Birthday: 5/11/1998
Hometown: Palmdale, California
Last Club: KuPS (Finland)
Acquired: Signed as Free Agent on 2/17/2023
Center back Robert Castellanos signed with Sporting Kansas City ahead of the 2023 campaign following a brief stint playing abroad with KuPS in Finland. Castellanos turned professional in 2017 and has had stints in the USL Championship, MLS and Finland. Castellanos made his debut for the club in Philadelphia on April 1, 2023 and scored his first goal for Sporting in the 4-1 home win over Austin FC on June 10, 2023.
Castellanos developed at the youth level with Nomads SC in San Diego before joining Liga MX club Atlas’ academy in 2016. He launched his professional career in early 2017, signing for LA Galaxy II and started 15 of 16 appearances in his debut USL Championship season. Castellanos spent the next three years at RGVFC, where he played 37 matches
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals 1, 3 times, last: June 15, 2024, KC at LA Assists 0
Shots on Goal 1, 5 times, last: July 20, 2024, KC vs. STL Shots 2, 3 times, last: July 20, 2024, KC vs. STL Fouls Committed 3, 2 times, last: July 7, 2024, KC vs. DAL Fouls Suffered 2, June 17, 2023, KC vs. LAFC
Last Regular Season... Appearance July 20, 2024, KC vs. STL
Goal June 15, 2024, KC at LA
Assist N/A
2024 Record when: he starts 2-6-1
and scored two goals. Castellanos jumped to MLS by signing for Nashville in February 2021 where he scored an equalizing goal in a 1-1 draw at Toronto FC in his lone appearance for the club. Nashville loaned Castellanos to the Tampa Bay Rowdies for the 2022 season where he played 13 matches, including starts in all three playoff games as the Rowdies reached the Conference Final. Castellanos then ventured abroad by joining KuPS, where he started three matches before leaving the club.
Castellanos is a former U.S. youth international, having made two appearances for the U.S. U-20 Men’s National Team in 2016.
Height: 5-5
Weight: 140
Hometown: Omaha, Nebraska
Last Club: Sporting KC Academy
#25 | M | OZZIE CISNEROS
| @OzzieCisner10
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals N/A
Assists N/A
Shots on Goal N/A
Shots N/A
Fouls Committed N/A
Fouls Suffered N/A
Last Regular Season... Appearance N/A Goal N/A
Assist N/A
Birthday: 3/13/2004
Acquired: Signed as Homegrown Player on 1/20/2021
Forward Ozzie Cisneros, who has competed for the Sporting KC Academy at the U-13 through U-19 levels, became the fourth-youngest signing in club history when he inked an MLS contract at age 16 in early 2021. He scored his first professional goal for Sporting KC II against Louisville City FC on July 28, 2021 before making his debut for Sporting KC in a Leagues Cup match against Club Leon on Aug. 10, 2021. Cisneros is currently out on loan at Carolina Core FC in MLS NEXT Pro for the remainder of the 2024 season.
A native of Omaha, Nebraska, Cisneros joined the Sporting KC Academy as a 12-year-old in 2016. That summer, he led Sporting to a fourth-place finish at the Concacaf U-13 Champions League in Mexico City. Cisneros went on to play almost 70 matches for
CAREER
Sporting in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy, scoring 15 goals and climbing to the U-19 ranks by the time he was 15. He helped the U-17s reach the 2019 Development Academy Playoffs and split time between the U-17s and U-19s during the first half of the 2019-20 campaign. Cisneros and the SKC Academy returned to action in September 2020 in MLS Next play, with Cisneros striking twice during the abbreviated fall season - once for the U-17s and once for the U-19s.
On the international stage, Cisneros notably starred at the 2019 Concacaf U-15 Championship in Bradenton, Florida, scoring both goals in a 2-0 quarterfinal win over Costa Rica, and also found the back of the net at the 2019 Torneo delle Nazioni in Italy.
#17 | D | JAKE DAVIS | @jdavis_3211
Height: 5-9 Weight: 160 Birthday: 1/3/2002
Hometown: Rochester, Michigan
Last Club: Sporting KC II (USL Championship) Acquired: Signed as Homegrown Player on 8/19/2021
Sporting Kansas City signed defender Jake Davis as a Homegrown Player in August 2021 as the 19th Homegrown Player to emerge from the Sporting Kansas City Academy. He made his first-team debut in the 4-0 victory over Minnesota United on Sept. 15, 2021 and earned his first MLS start on April 29, 2023 in a home match against Montreal. Davis scored his first goal for Sporting with the game-winner in a 3-1 win at Toronto on March 30, 2024.
Davis spent significant time developing with Sporting KC II under former Sporting greats Paulo Nagamura and Benny Feilhaber from 2019-2022 before breaking out with the first
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals 1, 2 times, last: May 18, 2024, KC at ATX
Assists 1, 4 times, last: March 30, 2024, KC at TOR Shots on Goal 1, 4 times, last: May 29, 2024, KC vs. VAN Shots 3, June 19, 2024, KC vs. RSL
Fouls Committed 3, 2 times, last: July 15, 2023, KC at ATX
Fouls Suffered 2, 3 times, last: May 4, 2024, KC at RSL
Last Regular Season... Appearance July 7, 2024, KC vs. DAL
Goal May 18, 2024, KC at ATX
Assist March 30, 2024, KC at TOR
2024 Record when: he starts 5-10-5 he scores 1-1-0
team in early 2023, switching from central midfield to right back and helping the team post a 12-7-5 record in the 24 regular-season matches he started.
A native of Rochester, Michigan, Davis moved to Kansas City in 2017 at age 15 to join the Sporting KC Academy. He represented Sporting at the U-17 and U-19 levels, amassing eight goals across 54 appearances in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy. In July 2024, Davis was named as an alternate for the U.S. Olympic team for the 2024 Paris Olympics, his first international recognition since November 2019 when he was selected to the U.S. U-17 National Team for the 19th annual Nike International Friendlies.
#12 | D | JOAQUIN FERNANDEZ
Height: 6-3
Weight: 180 Birthday: 5/31/1996
Hometown: Huercal de Almeria, Spain
Last Club: Trabzonspor (Turkey)
Acquired: Signed as Free Agent on 8/13/2024
Sporting Kansas City signed Spanish center back Joaquin Fernandez midway through the 2024 campaign. A 6-foot-3 center back who can also play as a defensive midfielder, Joaquin logged over 300 professional appearances during a 12-year European career, including 85 matches in the top-flight Spanish La Liga with Real Valladolid.
Joaquin joined the UD Almeria youth academy in his hometown and made his senior debut with Almeria B in the Spanish third division as a 16-year-old in December 2012. In 2015, he was promoted to Almeria’s first team in the Spanish Segunda. Joaquin was a regular starter for Almeria from 2016-2018, logging 35 appearances each season. In 2018, Joaquin moved up to La Liga by signing for newly promoted Real Valladolid. Joaquin was a starter in La Liga from 2018-2021, and although Valladolid was relegated
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals N/A
Assists N/A
Shots on Goal N/A
Shots N/A
Fouls Committed N/A
Fouls Suffered N/A
Last Regular Season... Appearance N/A Goal N/A Assist N/A
2024 Record when: he
to the second tier in 2021, the team bounced back into the top flight by finishing second in the 2021-22 Spanish Segunda.
Joaquin made a career-high 27 La Liga appearances in 2022-23 and played his final match for Valladolid in a 3-1 victory over European powerhouse FC Barcelona on May 23, 2023. In June 2023, Joaquin moved abroad for the first time in his career by joining Turkish side Trabzonspor, making 17 appearances and helping Trabzonspor finish third in the league to qualify for the UEFA Europa League.
On the international stage, Joaquin represented Spain at the U-16, U-17 and U-18 levels from 2012-2014 and participated in 2013 UEFA European Under-17 Championship.
#31 | M | DANNY FLORES
Height: 5-9
Weight: 150 Birthday: 4/6/2002
Hometown: Half Moon Bay, CA
College: Virginia Tech
Last Club: Oakland Roots (USL Championship)
Acquired: Signed off Waivers on 1/13/2023
Sporting Kansas City added Danny Flores off MLS waivers in January 2023. Flores began his MLS career after a two-year college stint at Virginia Tech, while he also boasts three seasons of play in the USL Championship, representing Philadelphia Union II from 2019-2020 and Oakland Roots SC in 2021. Flores spent the 2023 season primarily with SKC II, tallying two goals and two assists in 21 MLS NEXT Pro appearances while he also made his first-team debut on March 25 against Seattle.
Flores made his USL Championship debut in September 2019 for Union II and was an ever-present fixture for the club the following year by playing in all 16 matches. Flores returned to California in 2021 as he moved cross-country to join Oakland Roots SC for the
club’s inaugural USL Championship campaign, starting 10 of 12 matches. Following his successful spell in Oakland, Flores began his collegiate career in Virginia Tech’s midfield. He started all 19 matches during his first season and was named the No. 3 freshman in the country by Top Drawer Soccer and earned ACC All-Freshman Team accolades. Flores continued to lead the Hokies in 2022, scoring a team-best four goals and adding two assists.
Flores has represented the U.S. U-17 National Team, where he competed alongside SKC Academy products Gianluca Busio and Tyler Freeman. Flores starred for two clubs at the Academy level, first with Shattuck St. Mary’s and later with the Philadelphia Union.
#3 | D | ANDREU FONTAS | @AFontas3
Height: 6-2
Weight: 200 Birthday: 11/14/1989
Hometown: Banyoles, Spain
Last Club: Celta Vigo (Spain)
Acquired: Signed as Free Agent on 8/8/2018
Andreu Fontas joined Sporting KC midway through the 2018 season following a 10-year career with more than 200 appearances in his native Spain. Fontas underwent Achilles surgery in late 2019, keeping him out for the majority of the 2020 season before returning as an MLS Defender of the Year contender in 2021. Fontas has made 144 appearances in all competitions for Sporting KC, tallying three goals and three assists.
Fontas spent five seasons from 2013-2018 with Celta Vigo in Spain’s top-flight La Liga, where he played alongside current Sporting midfielder Nemanja Radoja and started 100 of 105 league appearances, helping the club to the semifinals of the 2016-17 UEFA
Regular Season Game Highs:
Goals 1, 3 times, last: Aug. 21, 2022, KC vs. POR
Assists 1, 3 times, last: April 20, 2024, KC vs. STL
Shots on Goal 1, 10 times, last: May 11, 2024, KC vs. HOU
Shots 2, 8 times, last: June 21, 2023, KC at LA
Fouls Committed 3, 4 times, last: Sept. 16, 2023, KC at MIN
Fouls Suffered 3, May 11, 2024, KC vs. HOU
Last Regular Season...
Appearance July 7, 2024, KC vs. DAL
Goal Aug. 21, 2022, KC vs. POR
Assist April 20, 2024, KC vs. STL
2024 Record when: he starts 2-8-4 he scores 0-0-0
Europa League. The defender developed in FC Barcelona’s famed La Masia youth academy, playing nearly 100 matches combined for FC Barcelona B and FC Barcelona from 2008-2012. Fontas advanced from Barcelona’s B team to the first team in 2009 and played in 16 games for the Spanish giants, including a sub appearance in the 2011 FIFA Club World Cup Final. Fontas spent the 2012-13 season on loan at Mallorca before signing with Celta Vigo in June 2013.
Internationally, Fontas has represented Spain at the Under-19, Under-20 and Under-21 levels and has also played for the Catalonia National Team.
#21 | M | FELIPE HERNANDEZ | @Fe1ipe98
Height: 5-7
Weight: 140 Birthday: 6/8/1998
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee
Last Club: Sporting Kansas City II (USL Championship) Acquired: Signed as Homegrown Player on 8/30/2019
Felipe Hernandez signed with Sporting KC as a Homegrown Player in August 2019. Hernandez is the first Sporting player to progress from an Academy Affiliate club to the SKC Academy to Sporting KC II before signing with the senior team. He signed with the first team following a breakout 2019 with SKC II in the USL Championship, where he started 24 of 26 appearances, scored a team-best eight goals and recorded four assists.
Hernandez scored his first MLS goal for the club in a June 23, 2021 victory over the Colorado Rapids and also tallied the opener against his hometown club Nashville SC in a 2-1 Sporting victory on June 19, 2022.
Regular Season Game Highs:
Goals 1, 4 times, last: May 28, 2023, KC vs. POR
Assists 2, May 14, 2022, KC at POR
Shots on Goal 2, May 28, 2023, KC vs. POR
Shots 4, 4 times, last: Sept. 10, 2022, KC at HOU
Fouls Committed 3, 4 times, last: July 23, 2022, KC vs. LAFC
Fouls Suffered 4, 2 times, last: April 8, 2023, KC vs. COL
Last Regular Season...
Appearance June 8, 2024, KC vs. SEA
Goal May 28, 2023, KC vs. POR
Assist May 14, 2022, KC at POR
2024 Record when: he starts 0-2-0 he scores 0-0-0
Hernandez played for Sporting Nashville Heroes, a former Academy Affiliate, and moved to Kansas City in the summer of 2014 to join the Academy. At age 16, Hernandez earned a preseason training stint with the first team in January 2015, before signing an Academy contract with SKC II in August 2016, two months prior to earning Bob Gansler Academy Player of the Year honors that then led to a professional SKC II contract in early 2017.
On the international stage, Hernandez played for the U.S. U-19 and U-20 National Teams in 2016 and 2017.
#14 | D | TIM LEIBOLD
Height: 5-9 Weight: 170 Birthday: 11/30/1993
Hometown: Friolzheim, Germany
Last Club: Hamburger SV (Germany)
Acquired: Signed as Free Agent on 1/12/2023
Tim Leibold joined Sporting Kansas City in January 2023 having amassed more than 20 goals and 40 assists in nearly 300 professional appearances in his native Germany. Leibold is the third German newcomer at Sporting since the start of 2022, following center back Robert Voloder and midfielder Erik Thommy. Since joining the club, Leibold has tallied one goal and six assists in 46 appearances across all competitions.
Leibold spent eight seasons across Germany’s top two divisions from 2015-2022. He starred at Nurnberg from 2015-2019 before moving to Hamburg, where he served as club captain during the 2020-21 campaign. Leibold developed in youth academies at VfB Stuttgart, TSF Ditzingen and SGV Freiberg before turning professional with Freiberg at
Height: 6-1
Regular Season Game Highs:
Goals 1, June 29, 2024, KC vs. ATX
Assists 1, 6 times, last: July 7, 2024, KC vs. DAL
Shots on Goal 2, March 30, 2024, KC at TOR
Shots 2, 4 times, last: July 20, 2024, KC vs. STL
Fouls Committed 3, 2 times, last: July 20, 2024, KC vs. STL
Fouls Suffered 5, March 9, 2024, KC at LAFC
Last Regular Season... Appearance July 20, 2024, KC vs. STL
Goal June 29, 2024, KC vs. ATX
Assist July 7, 2024, KC vs. DAL
2024 Record when: he starts 6-6-6 he scores 1-0-0
age 18 in 2012. Leibold enjoyed a breakthrough in 2015 by joining 2. Bundesliga side Nurnburg and solidifying his place as a regular starter. The 2018-19 campaign saw Leibold lead Nurnburg with 32 Bundesliga starts while also assisting three goals. Competing in one of the world’s best leagues, he led the team in key passes, tackles, recoveries and touches while placing second in minutes played.
Leibold then returned to the 2. Bundesliga with a move to Hamburg, where he had his best professional season to date in 2019-20. He played every minute of all 34 league matches and led the 2. Bundesliga with 16 assists. At the international level, Leibold played five matches for the Germany U-20s in 2013.
#29 | GK | TIM MELIA | @TimMelia28
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals Allowed 7, 2 times, last: May 14, 2022, KC at POR Saves 10, April 8, 2018, KC at LA
Last Regular Season... Appearance July 20, 2024, KC vs. STL Shutout June 29, 2024, KC vs. ATX 2024 Record when: he starts 6-11-6
Weight: 215 Birthday: 5/15/1986
Hometown: Great River, New York
College: Lynn University
Last Club: Chivas USA (MLS)
Acquired: Signed as Free Agent on 12/23/2014
Tim Melia leads Sporting KC in regular-season wins (106), shutouts (68) and saves (739), and has also played the most games (255) of any goalkeeper in club history. Melia claimed the 2017 Goalkeeper of the Year crown with career-highs in wins (12), shutouts (10), saves (91), starts (31) and minutes (2,759) before surpassing each of those stats in 2018.
Melia has an unbelievable knack for saving penalty kicks, having only conceded 22 of the 38 he has faced for Sporting while also guiding the team to penalty shootout victories in the 2015 U.S. Open Cup Final, the 2017 U.S. Open Cup Semifinal, the 2020 MLS is Back Round of 16, the 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs Quarterfinal and the 2023 Wild Card Game.
Among goalkeepers with at least 15 regular-season appearances in 2017, he led MLS with a 0.78 goals against average, 78.4 save percentage and 69.2-percent passing accuracy. He also ranked second in shutouts. On April 8, 2018, Melia set a new club record and career-high with 10 saves in a 2-0 win over the LA Galaxy. During his breakout campaign in 2015, he was named MLS Comeback Player of the Year.
After a four-year college career with NCAA DIII program Lynn University, Melia began his professional career in 2008 with the Rochester Rhinos of the USL First Division. After stints with Real Salt Lake and Chivas USA, he spent the latter half of 2014 as a League Pool Goalkeeper, earning call-ups from Sporting KC, FC Dallas and D.C. United.
#18 | D | LOGAN NDENBE | @Ndenbe22
Height: 5-8
Weight: 180 Birthday: 2/9/2000
Hometown: La Louviere, Belgium
Last Club: EA Guingamp (France)
Acquired: Acquired in transfer on 1/14/2022
Logan Ndenbe joined Sporting in a transfer from French team EA Guingamp in January 2022. Ndenbe arrived in Kansas City after spending his first five professional seasons in Europe with Belgian top-flight side KV Oostende and Guingamp.
Ndenbe has made 52 appearances for the club in all competitions, tallying two goals and two assists with both goals coming in the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs series against St. Louis. Ndenbe suffered a torn ACL in the second match against St. Louis on Nov. 5, 2023 and returned to the field exactly nine months later on Aug. 5, 2024.
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals 0
Assists 1, Oct. 7, 2023, KC at RSL
Shots on Goal 1, 3 times, last: Oct. 7, 2023, KC at RSL
Fouls Suffered 4, 2 times, last: July 3, 2022, KC vs. NY
Last Regular Season...
Appearance Oct. 21, 2023, KC vs. MIN Goal N/A
Assist Oct. 7, 2023, KC at RSL
2024 Record when: he starts 0-0-0 he scores 0-0-0
Ndenbe developed in the Royal Excel Mouscron academy before joining KV Oostende as a 17-year-old in 2017. Ndenbe left Belgium in July 2020, signing for Guingamp to mark the start of a successful stint in the French Ligue 2.
On the youth international stage, Ndenbe rose through the Belgian U-17 and U-18 teams before earning his Belgium U-21 debut in June 2021 for his first of six matches in 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying. He started in four games during qualifying, helping the team go 3-0-1.
#24
| D | KAYDEN PIERRE | @KaydenPierre5
Height: 5-9 Weight: 155 Birthday: 2/16/2003
Hometown: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
Last Club: Sporting KC Academy Acquired: Signed as Homegrown Player on 5/4/2021
Kayden Pierre signed with Sporting as a Homegrown player early in the 2021 season after impressing at preseason camp in Arizona with the Sporting KC first team. He made his debut for the club against Club Leon in the Leagues Cup on Aug. 10, 2021 before making his MLS debut at Colorado on March 12, 2022. He enjoyed a breakout spell over the summer of 2022 with senior right back Graham Zusi sidelined through injury, as Pierre made 12 of his 19 appearances on the season between June 25-Sept. 17.
Pierre joined the Sporting KC Academy in 2018 from Vardar SC in his native Michigan. He represented Sporting at the U-15, U-17 and U-19 levels and helped guide the U-17s to
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals 0
Assists 1, 2 times, last: June 29, 2024, KC vs. ATX Shots on Goal 0
Shots 1, 2 times, last: July 7, 2024, KC vs. DAL
Fouls Committed 3, Sept. 4, 2022, KC at LA Fouls Suffered 4, July 3, 2022, KC vs. NY
Last Regular Season... Appearance July 17, 2024, KC at VAN Goal N/A
Assist June 29, 2024, KC vs. ATX
2024 Record when: he
the Academy Playoffs in 2019. Capable of playing at left back and right back, Pierre gained his first professional experience in 2020 when he signed an amateur academy contract with SKC II. Pierre enjoyed a breakout season for Sporting in 2022, making 22 appearances in all competitions.
On the international stage, Pierre has competed for the U.S. U-14, U-16 and U-20 national teams.
#9 | F | ALAN PULIDO | @alanpulido
Height: 5-10 Weight: 170 Birthday: 3/8/1991
Hometown: Ciudad Victoria, Mexico
Last Club: C.D. Guadalajara (Mexico)
Acquired: Acquired in transfer on 12/10/2019
Mexican star Alan Pulido signed with Sporting KC as a Designated Player in a club-record transfer from Chivas Guadalajara in December 2019. Pulido has scored over 100 combined goals for club and country during a decorated career highlighted by five domestic championships and the 2018 Concacaf Champions League title.
Pulido tallied 15 goals and eight assists in 36 games in his first two seasons in MLS and was named Sporting’s Offensive Player of the Year in 2020. Pulido missed the entire 2022 season following knee surgery, returning to the field on April 1, 2023 and was named MLS Comeback Player of the Year after tallying 14 goals on his return in 2023. Pulido has recorded 35 goals and 18 assists in 97 appearances across all competitions for the club.
Pulido developed in the Tigres UANL youth academy before breaking into the first team in 2009 as an 18-year-old. He helped Tigres to the 2009 SuperLiga title and two years later,
Regular Season Game Highs:
Goals 2, 6 times, last: Sept. 2, 2023, KC vs. STL
Assists 2, July 22, 2020, KC at RSL
Shots on Goal 6, Oct. 24, 2020, KC vs. COL
Shots 8, May 22, 2021, KC at SJ
Fouls Committed 3, June 19, 2021, KC at POR
Fouls Suffered 5, 2 times, last: Aug. 4, 2021, KC at LAFC
Last Regular Season...
Appearance July 20, 2024, KC vs. STL
Goal July 13, 2024, KC at SJ
Assist July 20, 2024, KC vs. STL
2024 Record when: he starts 5-9-4 he scores 2-1-1
Pulido scored in the second leg of the 2011 Liga MX Apertura Final as Tigres won its first league championship since 1982. Pulido enjoyed a breakout 2013-14 campaign with 25 goals in all competitions during his final season at Tigres, scoring in the 2014 Copa MX Clausura Final to finish as the tournament’s top scorer. Pulido then signed for Greek outfit Levadiakos before heading to Greek powerhouse Olympiacos. Pulido returned to Liga MX in August 2016, joining Chivas on a club-record transfer fee. His first full season with Chivas yielded 14 goals, helping his side to a double-winning campaign that ended with his first Liga MX Best XI selection. In 2018, he led Chivas to the Concacaf Champions League title and the club’s first continental championship in 56 years.
At the international level, Pulido has bagged five goals in 20 caps for Mexico’s senior team and was part of the El Tri squad at the 2011 Copa America and the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
#1 | GK | JOHN PULSKAMP | @john_pulskamp
Height: 6-4
Weight: 210 Birthday: 4/19/2001
Hometown: Bakersfield, California
Last Club: Sporting Kansas City II (USL Championship)
Acquired: Signed as a Homegrown Player on 2/24/2020
John Pulskamp joined Sporting KC as a Homegrown Player ahead of the 2020 season after acquiring his Homegrown rights from the LA Galaxy where he spent two seasons in the club’s Academy. He made his MLS debut in the 2021 season opener, helping the side to a 2-1 victory at the New York Red Bulls.
Pulskamp became the youngest goalkeeper in Sporting KC history to record a shutout following a 2-0 win over the LA Galaxy on Oct. 27, 2021 at the age of 20 years and 191 days. He enjoyed a breakout year in 2022 when he deputized for an injured Tim Melia to make 15 starts in all competitions, posting an 8-3-4 record.
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals Allowed 4, 2 times, last: March 25, 2023, KC vs. SEA Saves 7, July 17, 2022, KC at RSL
Last Regular Season... Appearance June 22, 2024, KC at CLB Shutout March 11, 2023, KC vs. LA 2024 Record when: he starts 0-3-0
Pulskamp joined the MLS ranks on the heels of a breakout 2019 USL Championship season with SKC II. Pulskamp arrived in Kansas City in April 2019 after a two-year stint in the LA Galaxy Academy. He also spent time on trial with English Premier League outfit AFC Bournemouth in the summer of 2018. Prior to joining the Galaxy, he represented youth sides Real So Cal and Central California Aztecs.
Pulskamp was called in to a U.S. Men’s National Team training camp in December 2021 and was named as an alternate for the U.S. Olympic Team at the 2024 Paris Olympics. At the youth international level, Pulskamp has represented the U.S. at the U-18 and U-20 levels.
#6 | M | NEMANJA RADOJA
Height: 6-0
Weight: 175 Birthday: 2/6/1993
Hometown: Novi Sad, Serbia
Last Club: Levante (Spain)
Acquired: Signed as Free Agent on 10/26/2022
Nemanja Radoja signed with Sporting KC ahead of the 2023 campaign, having spent most of the last decade in the Spanish La Liga with Celta Vigo and Levante. Radoja played nearly 300 matches across the top divisions of Serbia and Spain and also boasts experience in the UEFA Europa League with Vojvodina and Celta Vigo. Radoja has tallied one goal and seven assists in 59 appearances across all competitions since joining SKC.
Radoja began his professional career with Serbian club Vojvodina before embarking on an eight-year journey in La Liga. He logged 181 La Liga appearances from 2014-2022, playing alongside Sporting defender Andreu Fontas at Celta Vigo from 2014-2018 and spent three seasons with Levante from 2019-2022. Radoja developed in Vojvodina’s youth academy and joined the club’s senior team in 2011 prior to brief loan spells in Serbia. Celta Vigo acquired Radoja via transfer in August 2014 and he took little time
Regular Season Game Highs:
Goals 1, March 23, 2024, KC vs. LA
Assists 2, 2 times, last: July 13, 2024, KC at SJ
Shots on Goal 2, March 23, 2024, KC vs. LA Shots 3, March 23, 2024, KC vs. LA
Fouls Committed 3, 6 times, last: July 20, 2024, KC vs. STL
Fouls Suffered 3, 3 times, last: June 29, 2024, KC vs. ATX
Last Regular Season...
Appearance July 20, 2024, KC vs. STL
Goal March 23, 2024, KC vs. LA
Assist July 13, 2024, KC at SJ
2024 Record when: he starts 5-13-6 he scores 0-1-0
settling in as a key figure for Celta, regularly competing in tandem with Fontas for a team that finished eighth in 2014-15. Radoja and Celta improved upon their fortunes in 2015-16 leading to a sixth-place league finish. Celta Vigo’s 2016-17 campaign was highlighted by runs to the semifinals of the Copa del Rey and UEFA Europa League, where they fell to eventual champions Manchester United. Radoja moved to Levante ahead of the 2019-20 campaign. His first year at the club was highlighted by scoring in a 3-1 upset win over European powerhouse FC Barcelona.
On the international stage, Radoja has two caps for the Serbia Men’s National Team. He earned his senior debut in a friendly match at Ukraine in November 2016 and made one appearance in Serbia’s successful qualifying campaign ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup. As a youth, Radoja represented Serbia at the U-18 through U-21 levels.
#28 | D | CHRIS RINDOV | @ChrisRindov
Height: 6-2 Weight: 185 Birthday: 10/8/2001
Hometown: Rockville, Maryland
College: Maryland
Acquired: 2023 MLS SuperDraft 2nd Round (#37)
Sporting Kansas City singed center back Chris Rindov ahead of the 2023 season after selecting the defender in the Second Round (37th overall) of the 2023 MLS SuperDraft out of Maryland. Rindov became Sporting’s first MLS SuperDraft selection to sign for the first team since 2018. Rindov made his MLS debut as a late substitute on April 22, 2023 at New England.
Rindov was a defensive mainstay for perennial powerhouse Maryland, starting in each of the program’s 38 matches over his final two seasons and finishing his college career with four goals and five assists in 58 appearances. Rising from freshman walk-on to team captain as a senior, he had a banner year in 2022 as an All-Big Ten First Team honoree
and an MLS College Showcase participant. Rindov played every minute in all 20 matches for the Terrapins in 2022, pushing Maryland to the Big Ten regular season title with an unbeaten 4-0-4 conference record. A two-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week, Rindov guided the Terps to their 22nd consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance in the fall of 2022.
Rindov won four consecutive state championships at Rockville High School. He also played for youth club OBGC, where he competed at two national championships and won an Eastern Regional title in 2018.
#8 | M | MEMO RODRIGUEZ | @40_jrod
Height: 5-8
Weight: 155 Birthday: 12/27/1995
Hometown: El Campo, Texas
Last Club: Austin FC (MLS)
Acquired: Signed as Free Agent on 2/1/2024
Sporting Kansas City signed midfielder Memo Rodriguez ahead of the 2024 MLS campaign. Prior to joining Sporting, Rodriguez scored 34 goals in 227 professional club appearances since joining Houston Dynamo FC as a homegrown player in late 2014. He spent seven MLS seasons in Houston, notably winning the 2018 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, prior to representing both LA Galaxy and Austin FC in 2023.
Born in Wharton, Texas, and raised in nearby El Campo, Rodriguez entered the Houston Dynamo Academy in 2011. He was named its Academy Player of the Year in 2012 and 2013 before launching his MLS career at age 18, inking a Homegrown Player deal with the Dynamo ahead of the 2015 season. He spent most of his debut campaign on loan
Regular Season Game Highs:
Goals 2, 2 times, last: July 13, 2020, HOU at LAFC (w/ HOU)
Assists 1, 22 times, last: July 7, 2024, KC vs. DAL
Shots on Goal 3, 3 times, last: July 24, 2021, HOU at SJ (w/ HOU)
Shots 7, 2 times, last: April 16, 2021, HOU vs. SJ (w/ HOU)
Fouls Committed 5, June 18, 2022, HOU at ORL (w/ HOU)
Fouls Suffered 5, 2 times, last: June 29, 2022, HOU at POR (w/ HOU)
Last Regular Season...
Appearance July 13, 2024, KC at SJ
Goal July 7, 2024, KC vs. DAL
Assist July 7, 2024, KC vs. DAL
2024 Record when: he starts 5-7-2 he scores 1-1-0
with the Charleston Battery in the USL Championship before joining the Rio Grande Valley FC Toros, Houston’s then-USL affiliate, for a breakout 2016 season. Rodriguez rejoined Houston in 2017 and made his MLS debut on April 8, 2017. In 2018, Rodriguez and Houston collected silverware as champions of the prestigious U.S. Open Cup before being named the Dynamo Young Player of the Year in 2019.
The Galaxy signed Rodriguez as a free agent in January 2023. He scored his first goal for the club in a thrilling 3-2 road win over Real Salt Lake on May 31 before moving to Austin FC in a trade on Aug. 1. He played nine MLS matches for Austin and finished the year with 21 league appearances, notching one goal and two assists.
#5 | D | DANY ROSERO
Height: 6-2
Weight: 205 Birthday: 10/6/1993
Hometown: Bogota, Colombia
Last Club: Atletico Junior (Colombia)
Acquired: Acquired in transfer on 3/2/2023
Sporting Kansas City acquired center back Dany Rosero in a transfer from Colombian side Atletico Junior in March 2023. Rosero eclipsed 300 professional appearances across Argentina and his native Colombia, scoring 20 goals and competing in the Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana. Beginning his career at Argentine club Arsenal de Sarandi as a teenager, the defender spent seven seasons in the Colombian top-flight Categoria Primera A with Patriotas Boyacá, Deportivo Cali and Junior. To date, Rosero has tallied six goals in 55 appearances across all competitions for Sporting KC.
Born in Colombia, Rosero moved to Argentina to join Arsenal’s youth academy and began his professional career with the club in 2012. He enjoyed a pair of early breakthroughs by helping Arsenal win the 2013 Copa Argentina and by appearing in the 2014 Copa Libertadores. Rosero returned to his home country in 2016 with Patriotas Boyacá where
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals 1, 4 times, last: April 7, 2024, KC vs. POR Assists 0
Shots on Goal 1, 11 times, last: May 29, 2024, KC vs. VAN Shots 3, April 1, 2023, KC at PHI
Fouls Committed 3, 3 times, last: June 22, 2024, KC at CLB Fouls Suffered 3, 2 times, last: April 20, 2024, KC vs. STL
Last Regular Season... Appearance July 13, 2024, KC at SJ Goal April 7, 2024, KC vs. POR
Assist N/A
2024 Record when: he starts
strong performances paved the way for Rosero to join Colombian powerhouse Deportivo Cali in 2017. Rosero delivered his most dominant season to date in 2019, scoring seven goals and starting 55 games in all competitions, with Deportivo Cali finishing as Copa Colombia runners-up.
In 2020, Rosero signed for Colombian heavyweights Junior and played in both the Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana, making 11 starts across the two tournaments. The following season, Rosero made seven appearances in the Copa Libertadores and one in the Copa Sudamericana while scoring three goals in 33 Primera A matches as Junior finished fifth in the aggregate league table. Rosero remained one of the Colombian first division’s best center backs in 2022, starting 36 league games and propelling Junior to the Copa Colombia finals.
#7 | F | JOHNNY RUSSELL
Height: 5-9
Weight: 175 Birthday: 4/8/1990
Hometown: Glasgow, Scotland
Last Club: Derby County FC (England)
Acquired: Acquired in transfer on 1/31/2018
Scottish winger Johnny Russell joined Sporting KC in a transfer from English club Derby County FC in January 2018. A cult-hero at the club, Russell has tallied 66 goals and 50 assists in 223 appearances for Sporting KC since the start of 2018. He was named club captain ahead of the 2021 season.
In 2021, Russell scored in eight consecutive games as part of a run where he tallied 15 goals in 19 matches over the second half of the campaign. Russell was named the club’s MVP in 2020 and 2022 as well as Offensive Player of the Year in 2018, 2019 and 2021.
Russell previously scored 93 goals during a 12-year professional career in England and his native Scotland. Russell developed in the Dundee United Academy in Scotland before
Height: 6-1
Weight: 160
Hometown: Budapest, Hungary
Last Club: Sporting KC Academy
Regular Season Game Highs:
Goals 3, 2 times, last: May 26, 2019, KC vs. SEA
Assists 2, 3 times, last: Sept. 15, 2021, KC vs. MIN
Shots on Goal 4, 4 times, last: Aug. 28, 2021, KC vs. COL
Shots 8, Sept. 2, 2020, KC vs. DAL
Fouls Committed 5, April 30, 2022, KC vs. DAL
Fouls Suffered 6, 2 times, last: April 8, 2023, KC vs. COL
Last Regular Season...
Appearance July 20, 2024, KC vs. STL
Goal July 4, 2024, KC at COL
Assist July 13, 2024, KC at SJ
2024 Record when: he starts 3-7-3 he scores 1-3-0
making his professional debut for the top-flight Scottish Premiership club in May 2007 at age 17. He spent most of the following three seasons out on loan and marked his first Dundee United start with a goal in the 2009 Scottish FA Cup. After scoring 23 goals from 2010-2012, Russell’s final season at Dundee saw him produce a team-best 20 goals. Russell joined Derby County in the summer of 2013 and marked his debut for the Rams with his first of nine goals in the 2013-14 English Championship as Derby fell just short of promotion to the EPL. He totaled 18 goals over the next two seasons.
Russell has 13 career caps for Scotland and scored his first international goal during a European Championship Qualifier in San Marino on March 24, 2019. He has also represented Scotland at the U-19 and U-21 levels.
#10 | F | DANIEL SALLOI
Regular Season Game Highs:
Goals 2, 4 times, last: May 18, 2022, KC vs. COL
Assists 2, 4 times, last: Oct. 21, 2023, KC vs. MIN
Shots on Goal 4, 3 times, last: July 13, 2019, KC at VAN
Shots 8, May 5, 2018, KC vs. COL
Fouls Committed 4, June 7, 2019, KC at TOR
Fouls Suffered 5, July 31, 2021, KC vs. DAL
Last Regular Season...
Appearance July 20, 2024, KC vs. STL
Goal May 11, 2024, KC vs. HOU
Assist May 25, 2024, KC at POR
2024 Record when: he starts 4-8-6 he scores 0-1-0
Birthday: 7/19/1996
Acquired: Signed as Homegrown Player on 1/13/2016
Daniel Salloi signed with Sporting KC as a Homegrown Player in early 2016 and made his Sporting KC debut on April 9, 2017. After enjoying a breakout campaign in 2018 where he tallied 16 goals and seven assists in all competitions, Salloi rebounded from a few lean years to be named an MLS All-Star and an MLS MVP finalist in 2021 after recording 16 goals and 10 assists in all competitions, tying the club record for most non-penalty goals in a single MLS regular season. His 16 game-winning goals are the most in club history.
Salloi, who signed a new four-year contract in late 2022, enjoyed another productive year in 2023 by leading the team with 22 goal contributions (10 goals, 12 assists) and has recorded 59 goals and 40 assists in 242 appearances across all competitions. Salloi scored on his first start for the club - a 4-0 win over Minnesota United in the U.S. Open Cup on June 14, 2017 - and added his first MLS goal vs. Portland on July 1, 2017 before scoring the winning goal in the 2017 U.S. Open Cup Final against the Red Bulls.
Salloi moved to the U.S. in 2014 as an AFS exchange student and attended Blue Valley Northwest High School in Overland Park, Kansas, joining the SKC Academy. Salloi briefly returned to his former Hungarian Academy side Ujpest FC in July 2015 where he made his pro debut on July 18, 2015 before returning to Kansas City in 2016. He split the 2016 season on loan with SKC II and Gyirmot SE in Hungary before joining the Sporting KC first team full-time in 2017.
Salloi has four caps for the senior Hungary National Team, having made his debut in a World Cup Qualifier against England on Sept. 2, 2021. He previously played for the Hungary Under-21 National Team.
#36 | GK | RYAN SCHEWE
Height: 6-3
Weight: 195 Birthday: 3/8/2002
Hometown: Marietta, Georgia
College: Georgetown
Acquired: 2024 MLS SuperDraft 1st Round (#22)
Sporting Kansas City selected goalkeeper Ryan Schewe as the 22nd overall pick in the first round of MLS SuperDraft 2024. In two outstanding seasons as a starter at Georgetown University from 2022-2023, Schewe posted a 20-4-4 record with a 0.79 goals against average, 12 clean sheets and 86 saves. He enjoyed a breakout season as a junior in 2022, landing Second Team All-BIG EAST recognition after leading the conference in save percentage (.838) and shutouts (seven) en route to an 11-2-1 record.
During his senior year in 2023, Schewe propelled the Hoyas to the BIG EAST regular season championship with a 9-2-3 record and led the conference with the lowest goals against average (0.84) and the most shutouts (five). He punctuated his final college
Height: 6-3
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals Allowed N/A Saves N/A
Last Regular Season... Appearance N/A Shutout N/A
2024 Record when: he starts 0-0-0
campaign with BIG East Goalkeeper of the Year and First Team All-BIG EAST honors while also receiving United Soccer Coaches Second Team All-East Region accolades.
In addition to playing for Georgetown, Schewe competed as an amateur for Georgia club Apotheos FC of the National Premier Soccer League in 2022 and the New York-based Westchester Flames of USL League Two in 2023. At the youth level, the Georgia native spent three years each with the Atlanta United Academy and United Football Academy in his home state.
#11 | F | KHIRY SHELTON | @KhiryShelton
Regular Season Game Highs:
Goals 1, 18 times, last: June 10, 2023, KC vs. ATX
Fouls Suffered 4, April 11, 2015, NYC at PHI (w/ NYC)
Last Regular Season...
Appearance July 20, 2024, KC vs. STL
Goal June 10, 2023, KC vs. ATX
Assist June 8, 2024, KC vs. SEA
2024 Record when: he starts 1-2-1 he scores 0-0-0
Weight: 190 Birthday: 6/26/1993
Hometown: Austin, Texas
College: Oregon State
Last Club: SC Paderborn 07 (Germany)
Acquired: Signed as Free Agent on 12/9/2019
Khiry Shelton is in the midst of his second stint with Sporting Kansas City, having initially helped the club to a first place in the Western Conference and a record-breaking scoring season in 2018, before departing to play in Germany with SC Paderborn 07 for one season in 2019. He returned to the club ahead of the 2020 season and has tallied 15 goals and 19 assists across 156 appearances for the club.
Shelton was selected second overall in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft by expansion side New York City FC and spent three seasons with the club before initially arriving in KC via trade ahead of the 2018 season.
He was NYCFC’s first-ever SuperDraft pick and played a total of 54 regular-season games for the club, notching six goals and 10 assists across just 23 starts.
In college, Shelton attended Oregon State University where he was an NSCAA All-America Second Team selection; Pac-12 Player of the Year; All-Far West Region First Team as he helped lead the Beavers to their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2003 during his senior year. Shelton was a member of the U.S. U-18 National Team as a youth player.
#26 | M | ERIK THOMMY | @erikthommy
Height: 5-8 Weight: 155 Birthday: 8/20/1994
Hometown: Wettenhausen, Germany
Last Club: VfB Stuttgart (Germany)
Acquired: Signed as Free Agent on 6/23/2022
Erik Thommy, a German Bundesliga veteran, signed with Sporting KC in June 2022. Thommy previously recorded 42 goals and 33 assists across nine seasons in his native Germany - including nine goals, 14 assists and 96 appearances in the top-flight Bundesliga. He scored his first goal for Sporting in the 4-2 victory over the LA Galaxy on Aug. 6, 2022 and has tallied 13 goals and 18 assists across 84 appearances across all competitions for the club.
Regular Season Game Highs:
Goals 2, April 13, 2024, KC vs. MIA
Assists 2, Sept. 2, 2023, KC vs. STL
Shots on Goal 4, 2 times, last: March 11, 2023, KC vs. LA
Shots 8, 2 times, last: June 19, 2024, KC vs. RSL
Fouls Committed 4, April 20, 2024, KC vs. STL
Fouls Suffered 5, 4 times, last: June 29, 2024, KC vs. ATX
Last Regular Season...
Appearance July 20, 2024, KC vs. STL
Goal July 13, 2024, KC at SJ
Assist July 4, 2024, KC at COL
2024 Record when: he starts 5-10-6 he scores 1-1-2
Capable of playing in an advanced midfield role or on the wing, Thommy launched his professional career with FC Augsburg in 2014 before going on loan to FC Kaiserslautern (2014-2016) and Jahn Regensburg (2016-2017). Thommy joined VfB Stuttgart in 2017, starred for Fortuna Dusseldorf during a successful loan spell in 2019-2020, and ended his time at Stuttgart in the Spring of 2022 by appearing in each of the club’s last six matches of the 2021-2022 campaign.
Thommy developed in academies at SV Kleinbeuren (2000-2002), SSV Ulm (2002-2009) and TSG Thannhausen (2009-2010) before moving to FC Augsburg. He signed for FC Augsburg II in 2013 and made his Bundesliga debut with Augsburg’s senior team as a 19-year-old in February 2014.
#20 | F | ALENIS VARGAS | @_aleeenis
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals 1, 2 times, last: June 8, 2024, KC vs. SEA Assists 1, July 7, 2024, KC vs. DAL Shots on Goal 2, March 30, 2024, KC at TOR Shots 3, July 7, 2024, KC vs. DAL
Fouls Committed 1, 9 times, last: July 13, 2024, KC at SJ Fouls Suffered 3, June 8, 2024, KC vs. SEA
Last Regular Season... Appearance July 17, 2024, KC at VAN Goal June 8, 2024, KC vs. SEA
Assist July 7, 2024, KC vs. DAL
2024 Record when: he starts 2-4-0 he scores 2-0-0
Height: 6-1 Weight: 160 Birthday: 12/4/2003
Hometown: San Pedro Sula, Honduras
Last Club: Futbol Consultants Desamparados (Costa Rica)
Acquired: Acquired in transfer on 12/15/2023
Sporting Kansas City acquired forward Alenis Vargas in a transfer from Costa Rican side Futbol Consultants Desamparados ahead of the 2024 season. Vargas spent the 2023 season on loan with SKC II and enjoyed an excellent campaign in MLS NEXT Pro. In 21 appearances, Vargas recorded six goals and five assists while drawing three penalty kicks and helping the team reach the MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs with a third-place finish in the Western Conference.
A native of San Pedro Sula, Honduras, Vargas did not begin playing competitive soccer until he was 16. He developed in the Leones Academy from 2019-2020 before joining the
reserve team at Honduran powerhouse C.D. Olimpia in December 2020 at age 17. Vargas left his home country in 2022, signing for Futbol Consultants in Costa Rica’s second division. During the latter half of the year, he trained with reigning top-flight champion Cartaginés, where he was coached by former striker and Costa Rican World Cup veteran Paulo Wanchope.
Vargas excelled on loan with SKC II in 2023, scoring a sensational scissor-kick goal to spark a 4-0 home win over first-place Colorado Rapids 2 before scoring a hat trick in a 6-1 win over Portland Timbers 2 in Aug. 13, 2023.
Height: 6-0
Weight: 170
Hometown: Frankfurt, Germany
Last Club: NK Maribor (Slovenia)
Acquired: Acquired in transfer on 1/19/2022
Birthday: 5/9/2001
#4 | D | ROBERT VOLODER
Regular Season Game Highs:
Goals 1, Sept. 13, 2022, KC vs. DC
Assists 1, 2 times, last: April 7, 2024, KC vs. POR
Shots on Goal 1, Sept. 13, 2022, KC vs. DC
Shots 1, 4 times, last: June 3, 2023, KC at VAN
Fouls Committed 2, 5 times, last: June 29, 2024, KC vs. ATX
Fouls Suffered 4, April 7, 2024, KC vs. POR
Last Regular Season...
Appearance July 20, 2024, KC vs. STL
Goal Sept. 13, 2022, KC vs. DC
Assist April 7, 2024, KC vs. POR
2024 Record when: he starts 4-6-2 he scores 0-0-0
Robert Voloder arrived in Kansas City in a transfer from NK Maribor in the Slovenian first division ahead of the 2022 MLS season. Voloder had played every minute for Slovenian powerhouse Maribor during the 2021-22 season before making the move to MLS. Since joining Sporting KC, Voloder has made 49 appearances in all competitions and tallied his first MLS goal against D.C. United on Sept. 13, 2022.
Prior to joining Maribor, Voloder began his professional career at heralded German side FC Cologne. He developed in the club’s academy from 2016-2020 before being selected to Cologne’s first team squad for three German Bundesliga matches at the end of the
2019-20 campaign. Voloder featured regularly for FC Cologne II in 2020-21, starting all 26 appearances.
On the youth international stage, Voloder represented Bosnia and Herzegovina at the U-17 through U-19 levels from 2017-2019 before switching his national team allegiance to Germany in September 2019, debuting for the country’s U-19s in a friendly against England. He played his first of five matches for the German U-20s in the fall of 2020 and recently captained the team in an Under 20 Elite League matchup against Norway on Sept. 6, 2021.
#54 | M | REMI WALTER | @remi_walter
Height: 5-8
Weight: 165
Hometown: Essey-les-Nancy, France
Last Club: Yeni Malatyaspor (Turkey)
Birthday: 4/26/1995
Acquired: Signed as Free Agent on 12/22/2020
Remi Walter signed with Sporting KC in December 2020, having amassed nearly 200 professional appearances since 2012 while playing in his native France and one season in Turkey. Walter has been an integral part of the Sporting KC squad since 2021, tallying nine goals and 12 assists in 127 appearances, and was the only Sporting player to start all 34 regular-season matches in 2022.
Walter developed in Nancy’s youth academy before joining the first team as an 18-year-old in 2013. He became a regular starter in the early stages of the 2013-14 season and spent the next two and a half years as an integral midfield contributor for the side before being transferred to French title contender Nice in early 2016. Walter helped
Regular Season Game Highs:
Goals 1, 8 times, last: March 30, 2024, KC at TOR
Assists 1, 10 times, last: July 20, 2024, KC vs. STL
Shots on Goal 2, June 17, 2023, KC vs. LAFC
Shots 3, 4 times, last: June 17, 2023, KC vs. LAFC
Fouls Committed 3, March 5, 2022, KC vs. HOU
Fouls Suffered 3, Nov. 7, 2021, KC vs. RSL
Last Regular Season...
Appearance July 20, 2024, KC vs. STL
Goal March 30, 2024, KC at TOR
Assist July 20, 2024, KC vs. STL
2024 Record when: he starts 1-4-5 he scores 1-0-1
the club to a fourth-place finish as well as qualification to the 2016-17 UEFA Europa League. The following season, Walter and Nice took another step forward by placing third in Ligue 1 and booking a spot in the 2017-18 UEFA Champions League. Walter split the 2017-18 campaign between Nice and Troyes on loan, before returning to Nice in the summer of 2018. Walter transferred to Turkish first division outfit Yeni Malatyaspor in January of 2020 before departing later that summer.
On the international stage, Walter was a French youth international who participated in a number of high-profile tournaments, namely the 2012 UEFA U-17 Championship in Slovenia and qualifying for the 2017 UEFA U-21 Championship in Poland.
SINGLE SEASON RECORDS (FIELD
Games C.J. Sapong (2011), Ilie Sanchez (2018), Graham Zusi (2018), Luis Martins (2021), Felipe Hernandez (2022), Remi Walter (2022)
Sanchez (2018), Graham Zusi (2018)
Dom Dwyer (2014)
Preki (1997 & 2003)
Committed Chris Henderson (2000)
Davy Arnaud (2004)
(2007)
Davy Arnaud (2010), Roger Espinoza (2019)
SINGLE SEASON RECORDS (GOALKEEPERS)
Jimmy Nielsen (2012 & 2013), Tim Melia (2018)
Jimmy Nielsen (2012 & 2013), Tim Melia (2018) 3060
Takawira (1998), Preki (1998), Davy Arnaud (2004), Eddie Johnson (twice in
1. Graham Zusi
6.
SPORTING KANSAS CITY INDIVIDUAL ALL-TIME CHARTS (MLS REGULAR SEASON)
ASSISTS
SHOTS
SPORTING KANSAS CITY INDIVIDUAL SINGLE-SEASON CHARTS (MLS REGULAR SEASON)
Year Player GP SV
2000 Tony Meola 31 129
2003 Tony Meola 30 121
2008 Kevin Hartman 30 117
2005 Bo Oshoniyi 32 112 2019 Tim Melia 32 111 SHUTOUTS
Year Player GP SO
2000 Tony Meola 31 16
2012 Jimmy Nielsen 34 15
2013 Jimmy Nielsen 34 13
2018 Tim Melia 34 13
2008 Kevin Hartman 30 10 2010 Jimmy Nielsen 29 10 2017 Tim Melia 31 10 GOALKEEPER WINS Year Player GP GW 1997 Mike Ammann 29 21 2012 Jimmy Nielsen 34 18 2018 Tim Melia 34 18
2013 Jimmy Nielsen 34 17
2000 Tony Meola 31 15
1996 Garth Lagerwey 23 12
2011 Jimmy Nielsen 31 12
2017 Tim Melia 31 12 GOALS AGAINST AVERAGE Year Player GP GA GAA
2017 Tim Melia 31 24 0.78
2012 Jimmy Nielsen 34 27 0.79
2013 Jimmy Nielsen 34 30 0.88
2000 Tony Meola 31 29 0.92
2004 Tony Meola 21 22 1.05
*Minimum 1,000 minutes played
SPORTING KANSAS CITY INDIVIDUAL HIGHS (MLS REGULAR SEASON)
GOALS
Career: 71 Preki
Season: 22 Dom Dwyer (2014)
Game: 3 10 times
Half: 3 Vitalis Takawira (05/16/1998 at NE, 2nd)
Half: 3 Eddie Johnson (06/02/2007 vs. NY, 2nd)
Half: 3 Gerso Fernandes (05/17/2017 vs. SEA, 2nd)
ASSISTS
Career: 98 Preki
Season: 17 Preki (1997)
Season: 17 Preki (2003)
Game: 4 Chris Henderson (06/20/1999 vs. MET)
Half: 3 Chris Henderson (06/20/1999 vs. MET, 1st)
Half: 3 Preki (06/21/2003 vs. CHI, 1st)
SHOTS
Career: 693 Preki
Season: 140 Preki (1996)
Game: 12 Preki (04/12/1997 at TB)
Half: 8 Preki (04/12/1997 at TB, 2nd)
Half: 8 Onandi Lowe (08/12/2001 at COL, 2nd)
Half: 8 Preki (07/06/2002 vs. DAL, 2nd)
GOALS
Season: 65 in 2018
Game: 7 03/30/2019 vs. MTL
2-Tms: 10 05/02/1996 vs. CLB
Half: 5 05/02/1996 vs. CLB (2nd)
Half: 5 06/21/1997 vs. DC (2nd)
ASSISTS
Season: 69 in 2018
Game: 10 06/20/1999 vs. MET
2-Tms: 12 07/04/2001 vs. CHI
Half: 8 06/20/1999 vs. MET (1st)
SHOTS
Season: 583 in 2018
Game: 34 05/15/2016 vs. ORL
Game: 34 04/20/2018 vs. VAN
Game: 34 10/06/2018 vs. LA
2-Tms: 44 4 times
Half: 23 04/20/2018 vs. VAN (2nd)
SHOTS ON GOAL
Career: 283 Preki
Season: 61 Preki (1996)
Game: 6 Preki (05/19/1996 at LA)
Game: 6 Eddie Johnson (06/02/2007 vs. NY)
Game: 6 Alan Pulido (10/24/2020 vs. COL)
Half: 4 10 times
FOULS COMMITTED
Career: 517 Roger Espinoza
Season: 79 Chris Henderson (2000)
Game: 8 Davy Arnaud (05/29/2010 at RSL)
Game: 8 Oriol Rosell (07/27/2013 at MTL)
Half: 7 Scott Uderitz (05/11/1996 vs. DAL, 1st)
FOULS SUFFERED
Career: 528 Davy Arnaud
Season: 111 Davy Arnaud (2004)
Game: 10 Davy Arnaud (10/14/2006 at NY)
Half: 6 8 times
CORNER KICKS
Career: 800 Graham Zusi
Season: 150 Graham Zusi (2012)
Game: 12 Alex Zotinca (07/22/2006 at NY)
Half: 8 Chris Henderson (04/10/1999 vs. SJ, 2nd)
Half: 8 Chris Henderson (05/20/2000 vs. SJ, 1st)
Half: 8 Johnny Russell (08/14/2019 at ORL, 2nd)
GOALS ALLOWED
Career: 339 Tim Melia
Season: 60 Tim Melia (2019)
Game: 7 Bo Oshoniyi (07/04/2001 vs. CHI)
Game: 7 Tim Melia (09/15/2019 at LA)
Game: 7 Tim Melia (05/14/2022 at POR)
Half: 6 Tim Melia (09/15/2019 at LA, 2nd)
Half: 6 Tim Melia (05/14/2022 at POR, 2nd)
SAVES
Career: 739 Tim Melia
Season: 129 Tony Meola (2000)
Game: 10 Tim Melia (04/08/2018 at LA)
Half: 7 4 times
SPORTING KANSAS CITY TEAM HIGHS (MLS REGULAR SEASON)
