54 Remi Walter vault-AIR MID 5-8 165 04/26/1995 (29) Essey-les-Nancy, France
#STLvSKC:
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Sporting Kansas City (8-16-7, 31 pts.) is set to face off against cross-state rivals St. Louis (6-11-13, 31 pts.) for the third and final regular-season meeting this weekend at Citypark on Saturday night.
The two sides have already met twice in Kansas City earlier this season, first playing out a wild 3-3 draw at Children’s Mercy Park on April 20, 2024. After Alan Pulido gave Sporting an early lead, St. Louis stormed back to take a halftime lead through Joao Klauss and Celio Pompeu. After the break, Sporting equalized through a Roman Burki own goal before Erik Thommy thought he’d given the hosts all three points only for Tomas Totland to equalize deep into second-half stoppage time.
Sporting then hosted St. Louis at the end of a grueling run of seven games in 22 days, settling for a 1-1 draw on July 20, 2024. After St. Louis man Nokkvi Thorisson was spared a red card for a terrible challenge on Nemanja Radoja, the Icelandic forward struck to give the visitors the lead in the 42nd minute. Sporting salvaged a point when William Agada rose highest to head home Pulido’s cross in the 73rd minute.
Sporting is winless at Citypark in the regular season, however Peter Vermes’ side dumped the No. 1 Seed St. Louis out of the MLS Cup Playoffs in dominant dominant fashion last season, sweeping their cross-state foes by winning the first two games in the Best-of-3 series. Sporting first claimed a stunning 4-1 victory at Citypark on Oct. 29, 2023 behind goals from Logan Ndenbe, Remi Walter, Gadi Kinda and Daniel Salloi, before returning home a week later to end St. Louis’ season with further goals from Ndenbe and Salloi in a 2-1 victory on Nov. 5, 2023.
#STLvSKC: Recent Meetings (STL leads 2-1-2 in regular season)
Date Score Result Details
07/20/2024
04/20/2024
09/30/2023
09/02/2023
05/20/2023
KC 1 vs STL 1 T Agada scores equalizer after Thorisson opener in first half
KC 3 vs STL 3 T Pulido, an own goal and Thommy find the net in wild draw
KC 1 at STL 4 L Agada scores late consolation after STL scores 4 in 12 mins
KC 2 vs STL 1 W Pulido tallies brace as Sporting comes back to win at home
KC 0 at STL 4 L Lowen, Vassilev (2) and Gioacchini tally in poorly officiated win
#STLvSKC: PLAYER HISTORY
• Forward Alan Pulido has three goals and one assist against St. Louis, tallying a brace in the 2-1 home win on Sept. 2, 2023 and adding another goal in the 3-3 home draw on April 20, 2024 before tallying an assist in the 1-1 home draw on July 20, 2024.
• Forward William Agada has two goals and one assist against St. Louis, scoring in the 4-1 road loss on Sept. 30, 2023 before assisting in the 3-3 home draw on April 20, 2024 and scoring the equalizer in the 1-1 home draw on July 20, 2024.
• Midfielder Erik Thommy has one goal and two assists vs. St. Louis, tallying two assists in the 2-1 home win on Sept. 2, 2023 before scoring in the 3-3 home draw on April 20, 2024.
• Forward Daniel Salloi has tallied two assists against St. Louis, coming on Alan Pulido’s goal in the 2-1 home win on Sept. 2, 2023 and Willy Agada’s goal in the 4-1 road loss on Sept. 30, 2023.
• Defender Jake Davis has recorded one assist against St. Louis, coming in the 2-1 home win on Sept. 2, 2023.
• Defender Andreu Fontas has one assist against St. Louis, coming in the 3-3 home draw on April 20, 2024.
• Midfielder Remi Walter has one assist against St. Louis, coming in the 1-1 home draw on July 20, 2024.
• Goalkeeper Tim Melia is 1-1-1 all-time against St. Louis, posting a 2.67 goals against average.
#STLvSKC: PLAYER/COACH CONNECTIONS
• Defender Robert Voloder and St. Louis midfielder Tomas Ostrak were teammates in the FC Cologne Academy, second team and first team from 20162021. Voloder was also at Cologne’s Academy and second team while Marcel Hartel and Jannes Horn were playing for the first team.
• Defender Tim Leibold was teammates with St. Louis midfielder Eduard Lowen at FC Nurnberg from 2016-2019 and forward Cedric Teuchert from 2015-2018.
• Midfielder Erik Thommy was playing at Fortuna Dusseldorf from 2019-2020 while current St. Louis Sporting Director Lutz Pfannenstiel was the Managing Director of Sports.
• Goalkeeper coach Alec Dufty played alongside St. Louis assistant coach Elvir Kafedzic at AC St. Louis in 2010.
• St. Louis assistant coach Mitch Hildebrandt spent the 2020 season as a goalkeeper coach and emergency goalkeeper with Sporting KC II.
• St. Louis striker Simon Becher was born in Topeka, Kansas.
#STLvSKC: BY THE NUMBERS
Sporting KC Team Notes
• Sporting suffered a 3-1 extra-time loss to LAFC on Wednesday in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles. It was Sporting’s first cup final defeat since losing the 2004 MLS Cup to D.C. United and dropped Kansas City’s record in cup finals to six wins and two losses.
• Sporting had won each of its previous four Open Cup finals prior to Wednesday, claiming the tournament title in 2004, 2012, 2015 and 2017.
• Last Saturday’s loss to Minnesota eliminated Sporting from playoff contention. It is just the third time Sporting has missed the MLS Cup Playoffs in the last 14 seasons (2019, 2022).
• Sporting ranks eighth in MLS this season in non-penalty goals scored (49).
• 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 won each of its last seven matches in all competitions when scoring at least twice, dating back to June 29.
• 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 22% of the club’s goal scoring (14 of 63).
• Sporting is tied for the MLS lead with 12 goals from outside the box during the 2024 regular season.
• Sporting has fielded 31 different starting lineups in its last 31 matches across all competitions. Sporting has utilized 35 different starting lineups in 39 total matches this season.
• Sporting has 12 MLS losses by a single goal this season, the most in the league.
Sporting KC Player Notes
• Midfielder Erik Thommy scored a 60th-minute equalizer in Wednesday’s Open Cup Final against LAFC. Thommy has three goals in his last three matches across all competitions and is tied with Alan Pulido for second on the team with eight goals this season in all competitions. Thommy has 13 goal contributions (five assists) this season in all competitions, tied with Alan Pulido for third most on the team behind William Agada (15) and Johnny Russell (14).
• Forwards Johnny Russell and Daniel Salloi earned assists on Thommy’s equalizer. In doing so, both players reached 10 career goal contributions for Sporting in the Open Cup, tied for second most in club history behind only Benny Feilhaber (12).
St. Louis Team Notes
• After a first-place finish in the Western Conference last year, St. Louis currently occupies 13th place in the West.
• St. Louis has 11 fewer wins and one fewer losses this season than it did last year. St. Louis finished its inaugural 2023 regular season with a 17-12-5 record.
• St. Louis has just one loss in its last six MLS matches since July 20, a 3-1 home defeat to Minnesota United FC on Sept. 14.
• St. Louis’ six regular season wins are the second fewest in MLS ahead of only San Jose, whom St. Louis has defeated twice this season.
• St. Louis has 13 regular season draws, second most in MLS behind the New York Red Bulls (14).
• St. Louis is one of two Western Conference teams alongside San Jose to have a negative goal differential at home (-3). St. Louis is 5-5-5 in 15 regular season home matches this year.
• St. Louis leads MLS with 20 different goal scorers during the 2024 season.
• St. Louis leads MLS in shots per match (15.8) and fouls per match (14.7).
• St. Louis is 6-3-6 when scoring the first goal this season and 0-8-4 when conceding the first goal. St. Louis has failed to win in nine matches when scoring first, tied for the most in MLS.
• St. Louis is 5-2-3 when leading at halftime and 0-6-3 when trailing at halftime.
St. Louis Player Notes
• Forward Joao Klauss leads St. Louis with five MLS goals this season, while midfielder Eduard Lowen, midfielder Cedric Teuchert and forward Nokkvi Thorisson are tied for second with four goals apiece.
• Midfielder Chris Durkin ranks second in MLS in both fouls committed (58) and yellow cards (10). Durkin leads St. Louis field players in appearances (28) and minutes played (2,261) this season.
NOTEWORTHY MILESTONES
• Forward Daniel Salloi is one shy of his 250th appearance for Sporting in all competitions.
SPORTING KC SOCIAL PROPERTIES
SPORTING KANSAS CITY NEWS AND NOTES
BACK TO MLS ACTION WITH RIVALRY CLASH
Sporting Kansas City won’t have much time to heal their wounds following Wednesday night’s Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final defeat to LAFC at BMO Stadium, as it’s right back to MLS regular-season action with a visit to rivals St. Louis at Citypark on Saturday night.
Sporting played 120 minutes on Wednesday night in California, as Erik Thommy’s strike cancelled out Olivier Giroud’s opener to take the game to extra time. LAFC substitutes Omar Campos and Kei Kamara delivered the dagger in extra time as Sporting lost their first-ever final under Manager Peter Vermes, and just their second ever in club history.
Sporting were officially eliminated from MLS Cup Playoffs contention with the 2-0 defeat to Minnesota United FC at Children’s Mercy Park last weekend. St. Louis currently sits below Sporting in the standings but are yet to be mathematically eliminated from postseason contention since they have a game in hand.
With only three matches left in 2024 for Sporting - at STL, vs. LAFC and at DALSaturday’s match contains the enticing possibility of ending St. Louis’ season as a Sporting win or draw at Citypark will officially terminate any slim hopes John Hackworth’s side has of making the postseason.
LOOKING TO REPLICATE PLAYOFF SUCCESS AT CITYPARK
Sporting Kansas City will look to bounce back quickly this weekend and put the despair of Wednesday night’s U.S. Open Cup Final loss behind them when the team heads east to take on rivals St. Louis at Citypark on Saturday night.
Sporting and St. Louis have already met twice this season, both coming at Children’s Mercy Park. The first matchup resulted in a wild 3-3 draw on April 20, 2024. After William Agada had set up Alan Pulido for a well-taken opener, St. Louis raced into a 2-1 lead before halftime with goals from Joao Klauss and Celio Pompeu. The second half was a different story as Sporting equalized through a Roman Burki own goal before Erik Thommy gave the hosts a late lead, only for it to evaporate as Tomas Totland made it 3-3 in second-half stoppage time.
The next showdown came exactly three months later on July 20, 2024 with the two sides again splitting the points following a 1-1 draw. Moments after being spared a second yellow card by the referee, St. Louis forward Nokkvi Thorisson struck to give the visitors the lead before halftime. Sporting responded in the second half and found an equalizer through Agada’s header off Pulido’s pin-point cross.
Saturday’s match marks Sporting’s first visit back to Citypark since thrashing St. Louis in the MLS Cup Playoffs in 2023. Sporting thumped their rivals 4-1 on Oct. 29, 2023 behind goals from Logan Ndenbe, Remi Walter, Gadi Kinda and Daniel Salloi as Sporting would go on to sweep the Round One Best-of-3 Series.
THOMMY STRIKES IN OPEN CUP FINAL
Sporting Kansas City midfielder Erik Thommy showed up on the biggest stage this week, firing home the equalizing goal in the club’s eventual loss to LAFC in the U.S. Open Cup Final at BMO Stadium on Wednesday night.
With Sporting trailing by a single goal in the 60th minute, Thommy stepped onto Daniel Salloi’s lay-off on the edge of the area and rifled a shot into the top corner to equalize and force the game to extra time.
Thommy now has three goals in his last three matches across all competitions, moving him to eight goals and five assists this season. His 13 goal contributions are tied for third most on the team this year behind only William Agada (15) and Johnny Russell (14).
The German - whose goal on Wednesday was his first goal for Sporting KC outside of the MLS regular season - has 16 goals and 20 assists in all competitions since joining the club midway through the 2022 campaign.
SALLOI BAGS ASSIST IN FINAL
Sporting Kansas City forward Daniel Salloi once again displayed his knack of producing in the U.S. Open Cup during the club’s 3-1 loss in the Final against LAFC on Wednesday night at BMO Stadium.
Salloi recorded the assist on Erik Thommy’s equalizing goal, taking him to eight goals and two assists in 19 career U.S. Open Cup appearances. His 10 U.S. Open Cup goal contributions moves him past Graham Zusi for a share of second on the team’s all-time chart, trailing only Benny Feilhaber (12).
The Hungarian - who scored the game-winning goal in the 2017 U.S. Open Cup Finalhas 103 goal contributions (60 goals, 43 assists) for Sporting in all competitions, fourth most in club history behind only Preki (181), Graham Zusi (125) and Johnny Russell (118).
RUSSELL RISES OPEN CUP CHARTS
Sporting Kansas City captain Johnny Russell was credited with a secondary assist on Erik Thommy’s goal in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final loss to LAFC at BMO Stadium on Wednesday night.
Russell sprayed the ball out wide to Daniel Salloi who in-turn fed Thommy to strike home a lovely goal to make the score 1-1 and take the game to extra time. Russell now has five goals and five assists in 12 career U.S. Open Cup appearances. Russell’s five assists in the U.S. Open Cup are third most in club history behind Graham Zusi (6) and Benny Feilhaber (9).
Russell is also the only player in club history with five goals and five assists in the U.S. Open Cup, while his 10 U.S. Open Cup goal contributions moves him past Graham Zusi for a share of second on the team’s all-time chart, trailing only Benny Feilhaber (12).
Russell - who leads the team with nine assists this season in all competitions - has 14 total goal contributions this season (five goals, nine assists), second most on the team behind William Agada (15).
BATTLING IN EXTRA TIME
When Sporting Kansas City’s Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final against LAFC on Wednesday night went to extra time, it marked the third time this season that the club has gone to extra time, each occasion coming in the U.S. Open Cup.
Sporting survived their Round of 32 clash at Union Omaha in extra time as Alan Pulido struck in the 120th minute to seal advancement to the next round. Sporting again went to extra time in the Quarterfinals against FC Dallas, with Dany Rosero the hero as he headed home the winner in the second half of extra time.
The last time Sporting went to extra time three times in one season was in 2017 when the club beat Dallas in the U.S. Open Cup Quarterfinals and went on to beat San Jose in the Semifinals on penalties on their way to lifting the trophy. Sporting also went to extra time in the MLS Cup Playoffs in 2017, falling on the road to the Houston Dynamo.
SPORTING FALLS IN OPEN CUP FINAL
Sporting Kansas City fell to a heartbreaking extra-time defeat against Los Angeles FC at BMO Stadium on Wednesday night in the 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final.
After falling behind to a contentious Olivier Giroud opener, Erik Thommy finished off a sweeping move with a brilliant finish to take the game to extra time. As Sporting began to tire, LAFC got goals from substitutes Omar Campos and Kei Kamara to claim their first-ever U.S. Open Cup title.
Sporting advanced to the final 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, a 2-1 triumph in extra time against FC Dallas (MLS) in the Quarterfinals and a 2-0 win over Indy Eleven (USL Championship) in the semis.
Sporting has prevailed in 29 U.S. Open Cup matches since 2012, more than any other team in American soccer, during a run that includes an active 16-match home unbeaten streak in U.S. Open Cup play since the start of 2015.
QUOTES: #LAFCvSKC
Sporting KC Manager Peter Vermes
Thoughts on the match…
“I think we did a great job of getting back into the game. I actually thought we were in a good place. We were playing very well. I think on the goal, the second one, there’s not a lot that I can say. I think the third one is completely different. We had a couple opportunities as well. I don’t think the game was a 3-1 game. I think we were in it and I think for us to be able to go away from home and play the way we did, I give the guys a lot of credit. I’m very proud of the effort that the guys put into the game. It never feels good to lose. But I also think that the group did themselves proud in the way they performed tonight.”
On LAFC’s goals…
“Even on the first goal, (Erik) Thommy receives the ball in the middle of the midfield. He receives the ball and he gets hit from behind. He respects the game and tries to stay on his feet, but he’s off balance. Then he goes down. I think 100% the situation is a foul. He was consistent up until that point calling those situations. I don’t think it was fatigue. I think the effort of the players was fantastic in the game. I also think when you play away from home in a situation like this where the other team plays at home, they should be in the front. We should be the underdog because they’re playing at home. I think that we performed very, very well. I think there was just a few minutes that some things happened. The third goal, they scored it sure, but I don’t think it was the third goal. It was the second which kind of changed the game completely at that point.”
MID - Ozzie Cisneros (Loaned to Carolina Core FC - April 16, 2024)
FWD - Marinos Tzionis (Transfered to FK Čukarički - July 26, 2024)
DEF - Kayden Pierre (Transfered to KRC Genk - Sept. 4, 2024)
MID - Felipe Hernandez (Contract Terminated by MLS - Sept. 11, 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).
Sept. 4: OUT Sporting KC transfers defender Kayden Pierre to KRC Genk (Belgium).
Sept. 11: OUT Sporting KC midfielder Felipe Hernandez has contract terminated by Major League Soccer.
CONSTRUCTING SPORTING KANSAS CITY
Johnny Russell (1/31/18)
Andreu Fontas (8/8/18)
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) 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
T 1-1 Thommy
PULIDO SATURDAY, MARCH 23 LA GALAXY
Saturday, March 30 at Toronto FC
SUNDAY, APRIL 7 PORTLAND TIMBERS
SATURDAY, APRIL 13 INTER MIAMI CF
SATURDAY, APRIL 20 ST. LOUIS
Walter, Davis, Vargas
T 3-3 AGADA (2), ROSERO
(2)
THOMMY Saturday, April 27 at Minnesota United FC
Saturday, May 4 at Real Salt Lake
Wednesday, May 8 at Union Omaha
Tzionis, Pulido SATURDAY, MAY 11
May 18 at Austin FC
Davis TUESDAY, MAY 21 FC TULSA
(2), AFRIFA, TZIONIS
May 25 at Portland Timbers
June 1 at Minnesota United FC
JUNE 8
June 15 at LA
Afrifa, Castellanos WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19 REAL SALT LAKE
3-4 AFRIFA, AGADA (2)
June 22 at Columbus Crew
SATURDAY, JUNE 29 AUSTIN FC
AFRIFA Thursday, July 4 at Colorado Rapids
SUNDAY, JULY 7 FC DALLAS
(2), RODRIGUEZ WEDNESDAY, JULY 10 FC DALLAS
ROSERO Saturday, July 13 at San Jose Earthquakes
July 17 at Vancouver Whitecaps FC
JULY 20
JULY 28
AUGUST 5
August 9 at Columbus
AUGUST 24
AUGUST 27 INDY ELEVEN
September 7 at New York Red Bulls
September 15 at
September 25 at Los Angeles
September 28 at St. Louis
OCTOBER 5 LOS
2-1 Thommy, Pulido
GAMES
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.
Aug. 24, 2024 vs. ORL Tim Ford
Chris Penso SKC Second Yellow Card
Overturned - Straight Red Card
William Agada is shown a second yellow card for a challenge on Facundo Torres and is sent off. After reviewing the play, referee Tim Ford overturns his original decision and shows Agada a straight red card for serious foul play.
Sept. 15, 2024 at SEA Drew Fischer
Edvin Jurisevic SEA Goal
Cristian Roldan heads the ball into the back of the net with Jordan Morris screening Tim Melia. After
lows the goal because Morris was offside.
- No Goal
SPORTING KC MISCELLANEOUS STATS
2024 Regular-Season Record When...
Scoring first goal 6-4-5
Conceding first goal 2-12-1
Leading at halftime 5-1-2
Tied at halftime 3-5-3
Trailing at halftime 0-10-2
Scoring 0 goals 0-4-1
Scoring 1 goal 0-7-4
Scoring 2 goals 4-4-0
Scoring 3 goals 3-1-2
Scoring 4+ goals 1-0-0
Allowing 0 goals 2-0-1
Allowing 1 goal 5-1-4
Allowing 2 goals 1-8-0
Allowing 3 goals 0-4-2
Allowing 4+ goals 0-3-0
Wearing Sporting blue 6-8-4
Wearing Argyle 1-6-2
Wearing Wizards 1-2-1
Leading at 75’ 6-0-3
Tied at 75’ 2-6-4
Trailing at 75’ 0-10-0
Outshooting opponent 6-6-3
Outshot by opponent 1-8-3
Shots even 1-2-1
Shutouts 2-4-1
One-goal games 4-11-0
Day games (before 5 p.m.) 0-0-1
Games 5 p.m. CT or later 8-16-6
Temperature 75 & up 5-8-0
Temperature below 75 3-8-7
With SKC red card 2-0-1
With opponent red card 1-0-0
In Pacific time zone 1-4-1
In Mountain time zone 0-2-0
In Central time zone 6-9-5
In Eastern time zone 1-1-1
vs. Western Conference 6-14-5
vs. Eastern Conference 2-2-2
On grass 8-13-7
On turf 0-3-0
With zero subs 0-0-1
With one sub 0-1-1
With two subs 0-1-2
With three subs 1-4-2
With four subs 2-5-0
With five subs 5-5-1
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 1-0-0
Aug. all-time 57-55-22
Sept. 2024 1-2-1
Sept. all-time 44-55-24
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 30-27-19 (1-1-0)
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 11-7-4 (0-3-0)
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 22-22-15 (0-0-1)
vs. Orlando City SC 3-3-2 (1-0-0)
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 12-13-4 (1-1-0)
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 370-348-201
2024 at home 6-6-4
All-time at home 241-124-93
2024 on road 2-10-3
All-time on road
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)
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 Julian Hall (9/7 at NY) - 89th Minute
Red Cards... Zorhan Bassong (7/7 vs. DAL) - 94+ Minute William Agada (8/24 vs. ORL) - 70th Minute Jake Davis (9/7 at NY) - 92+
Red Cards Against... Reed Baker-Whiting (6/8 vs. SEA) - 73rd Minute
Penalty Kicks... William Agada (4/7 vs. POR) - Missed Wide Left Johnny Russell (6/19 vs. RSL) - Saved by Gavin Beavers
William Agada (9/21 vs. MIN) - Missed Hit Woodwork
Penalty Kicks Earned... Foul on Erik Thommy (4/7 vs. POR) - 62nd Minute Foul on Erik Thommy (6/19 vs. RSL) - 20th Minute Foul on Memo Rodriguez (9/21 vs. MIN) - 90th 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
Albert Rusnak (9/15 at SEA) - Saved by Tim Melia
Youngest Goalscorer... Alenis Vargas (3/30 at TOR) - 20 years and
TEAM STATS
SPORTING KC ALL-TIME WIN/LOSS RECORDS IN COMPETITIVE MATCHES
2024 MLS REGULAR SEASON
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
0 2
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 0
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’
SKC – Robert Voloder (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 108’
August 27, 2024: Sporting KC 2-0 Indy Eleven
U.S. Open Cup Semifinals | Children’s Mercy Park | Kansas City, KS Attendance: 10,812 Weather: 79 degrees and cloudy
Eleven
Sporting KC Indy Eleven
GK Melia GK Sulte
D Shelton D Ofeimu
D Rosero D Chapman-Page (Musa 17’)
D Fontas (Voloder 61’) D O’Brien (Guenzatti 88’)
D Ndenbe (Leibold 61’) M Neidlinger (Foster 77’)
M Davis M Quinn (C)
M Walter (Bassong 75’) M Lindley (Wootton 77’)
M Russell (C) (Afrifa 88’) M Blake
M Thommy (Agada 75’) M Stanley
M Salloi F Martinez
F Pulido F Williams (Collier 88’)
Subs not used: Subs not used: Pulskamp (GK) Oettl (GK)
Rodriguez Mines
Scoring Summary:
SKC - Johnny Russell 1 (Jake Davis 2, Erik Thommy 1) 14’
SKC - Dany Rosero 2 (Remi Walter 1, Jake Davis 3) 35’
Misconduct Summary:
IND - Aodhan Quinn (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 19’
SKC - Daniel Salloi (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 68’
Stats Summary SKC IND
Shots (on goal) 18 (7) 10 (5)
Saves 5 5
Fouls 9 11
Offside 3 4
Corner Kicks 5 4
May 21, 2024: Sporting KC 4-0 FC Tulsa
U.S. Open Cup Round of 16 | Children’s Mercy Park | Kansas City, KS Attendance: 10,088 Weather: 69 degrees and sunny
Sporting KC FC Tulsa
GK Pulskamp GK Creek
D Davis D Damm
D Rosero (Castellanos 46’) D Tetteh (Laszo 46’)
D Fontas D Se. Sanchez
D Leibold D Seagrist
M Radoja (C) (Salloi 68’) M Portillo
M Hernandez M Diallo (Pacheco 70’)
M Thommy (Rodriguez 46’) M Dalou (Stojanovic 46’)
F Tzionis (Russell 75’) M Ferri (Yosef 60’)
F Agada M Ponce
F Afrifa (Pulido 76’) F Goodrum (C) (Sa. Sanchez 79’)
Subs not used: Subs not used: Schewe (GK) Roggeveen (GK) Bassong St. Clair
Scoring Summary:
SKC - Felipe Hernandez 1 (Unassisted) 37’
SKC - Stephen Afrifa 1 (Unassisted) 47+
SKC - Felipe Hernandez 2 (William Agada 1) 63’
SKC - Marinos Tzionis 2 (Stephen Afrifa 1) 65’
Misconduct Summary:
TUL - Justin Portillo (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 25’
TUL - Patrick Seagrist (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 30’
TUL - Patrick Seagrist (Yellow Card/Red Card; Unsporting Behavior) 46’
SKC - Stephen Afrifa (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 71’ Stats
September 25, 2024: Los Angeles FC 3-1 Sporting KC U.S. Open Cup Final | BMO Stadium | Los Angeles, CA Attendance: 22,214 Weather: 66 degrees and clear
Sporting KC Los Angeles FC GK Melia GK Lloris
D Shelton D Palencia
D Castellanos D Segura (Campos 67’)
D Voloder D Chanot
D Ndenbe (Leibold 82’) D Long (C) (Ilie 87’)
M Bassong (Rodriguez 106’) D Hollingshead
M Davis (Walter 106’) M O’Brien (Kamara 91’)
M Russell (C) M Tillman (Marlon 112’)
M Thommy (Afrifa 112’) F Bogusz
M Salloi (Agada 82’) F Giroud (Olivera 67’)
F Pulido F Bouanga
Subs not used: Subs not used: Pulskamp (GK) Hasal (GK) Rosero Martinez
TOL -- Jean Meneses (Yellow Card; Delaying a Restart) 93+
(5)
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 (13 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 11
Stephen Afrifa 2
Center forward
William Agada 10
Alan Pulido 3
Attacking midfielder
Alan Pulido 8
Erik Thommy 5
Left-defensive midfielder
Nemanja Radoja 7
Zorhan Bassong 4
Memo Rodriguez 1
Remi Walter 1
Left back
Tim Leibold 11
Logan Ndenbe 1
Zorhan Bassong 1
Left center back
Robert Voloder 7
Andreu Fontas 6
Right midfielder
Johnny Russell 4
Erik Thommy 4
Alenis Vargas 3
Stephen Afrifa 2
Right-defensive midfielder
Remi Walter 6
Jake Davis 4
Memo Rodriguez 3
Right center back
Dany Rosero 8
Robert Castellanos 3
Andreu Fontas 1
Robert Voloder 1
Goalkeeper
Tim Melia 12
John Pulskamp 1
Right back
Khiry Shelton 6
Jake Davis 4
Kayden Pierre 3
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.
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 251 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 203 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 598 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
Hometown: Toronto, Canada
College: Florida International University
Acquired: 2023
Birthday: 2/19/2001
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 1, Aug. 24, 2024, KC vs. ORL
Shots on Goal 1, 5 times, last: Sept. 18, 2024, KC vs. COL
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 sophomore year. As a junior, Afrifa helped FIU make its first of two consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances with eight goals and three assists.
On the international stage, Afrifa has earned two caps for the Canadian Men’s National Team. Afrifa made his international debut in a 2-1 win over the USMNT at Children’s Mercy Park on Sept. 7, 2024 before appearing against Mexico three days later.
#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, 5 times, last: Sept. 18, 2024, KC vs. COL Shots on Goal 5, 2 times, last: July 7, 2024, KC vs. DAL Shots 10, June 19, 2024, KC vs. RSL
Fouls Committed 5, 2 times, last: Sept. 21, 2024, KC vs. MIN
Fouls Suffered 3, 4 times, last: July 20, 2024, KC vs. STL
Last Regular Season... Appearance Sept. 21, 2024, KC vs. MIN
Goal July 20, 2024, KC vs. STL
Assist Sept. 18, 2024, KC vs. COL
2024 Record when: he starts 4-11-3 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, 3 times, last: Sept. 7, 2024, KC at NY
Last Regular Season... Appearance Sept. 18, 2024, KC vs. COL
Goal N/A
Assist June 19, 2024, KC vs. RSL
2024 Record when: he starts 2-9-1 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 Sept. 18, 2024, KC vs. COL Goal June 15, 2024, KC at LA
Assist N/A
2024 Record when: he starts 3-6-1
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.
#25 | M | OZZIE CISNEROS
| @OzzieCisner10
Height: 5-5
Weight: 140 Birthday: 3/13/2004
Hometown: Omaha, Nebraska
Last Club: Sporting KC Academy
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
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
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, 3 times, last: Aug. 24, 2024, KC vs. ORL
Assists 1, 6 times, last: Sept. 7, 2024, KC at NY
Shots on Goal 1, 5 times, last: Aug. 24, 2024, KC vs. ORL
Shots 3, June 19, 2024, KC vs. RSL
Fouls Committed 5, Sept. 7, 2024, KC at NY
Fouls Suffered 2, 3 times, last: May 4, 2024, KC at RSL
Last Regular Season... Appearance Sept. 21, 2024, KC vs. MIN
Goal Aug. 24, 2024, KC vs. ORL
Assist Sept. 7, 2024, KC at NY
2024 Record when: he starts 6-11-6 he scores 2-1-0
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.
#24 | 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 147 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 Sept. 18, 2024, KC vs. COL Goal Aug. 21, 2022, KC vs. POR Assist April 20, 2024, KC vs. STL 2024 Record when: he starts 4-8-4 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.
#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 53 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
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 Sept. 21, 2024, KC vs. MIN
Goal June 29, 2024, KC vs. ATX
Assist July 7, 2024, KC vs. DAL
2024 Record when: he starts 7-8-7 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.
Height: 6-1
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 (107), shutouts (69) and saves (745), and has also played the most games (259) 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 saved 17 of the 39 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.
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 Sept. 21, 2024, KC vs. MIN Shutout Aug. 24, 2024, KC vs. ORL 2024 Record when: he starts 7-13-7
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 56 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, 4 times, last: Sept. 18, 2024, KC vs. COL
Fouls Suffered 4, 2 times, last: July 3, 2022, KC vs. NY
Last Regular Season... Appearance Sept. 18, 2024, KC vs. COL Goal N/A
Assist Oct. 7, 2023, KC at RSL
2024 Record when: he starts 1-0-0 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.
#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 38 goals and 19 assists in 105 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,
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 2, 7 times, last: Sept. 18, 2024, KC vs. COL
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 Sept. 21, 2024, KC vs. MIN
Goal Sept. 18, 2024, KC vs. COL
Assist Aug. 24, 2024, KC vs. ORL
2024 Record when: he starts 6-10-5 he scores 3-1-2
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.
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 Sept. 18, 2024, KC vs. COL Shutout March 11, 2023, KC vs. LA 2024 Record when: he starts 1-3-0
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.
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.
#28 | D | CHRIS RINDOV | @ChrisRindov
Height: 5-8
Weight: 155
Hometown: El Campo, Texas
Last Club: Austin FC (MLS)
#8 | M | MEMO RODRIGUEZ | @40_jrod
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 Sept. 21, 2024, KC vs. MIN
Goal July 7, 2024, KC vs. DAL
Assist July 7, 2024, KC vs. DAL
2024 Record when: he starts 6-7-2 he scores 1-1-0
Birthday: 12/27/1995
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
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 seven goals in 60 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, 12 times, last: Sept. 15, 2024, KC at SEA 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 Sept. 21, 2024, KC vs. MIN Goal April 7, 2024, KC vs. POR
Assist N/A
2024 Record when: he starts 4-11-6 he scores 1-0-1
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 67 goals and 52 assists in 230 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
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 Sept. 21, 2024, KC vs. MIN
Goal July 4, 2024, KC at COL
Assist Aug. 24, 2024, KC vs. ORL
2024 Record when: he starts 4-8-4 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
Height: 6-1
Weight: 160 Birthday: 7/19/1996
Hometown: Budapest, Hungary
Last Club: Sporting KC Academy
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 60 goals and 43 assists in 249 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.
Regular Season Game Highs:
Goals 2, 4 times, last: May 18, 2022, KC vs. COL
Assists 2, 5 times, last: Sept. 18, 2024, KC vs. COL
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 Sept. 21, 2024, KC vs. MIN
Goal Aug. 24, 2024, KC vs. ORL
Assist Sept. 18, 2024, KC vs. COL
2024 Record when: he starts 5-10-7 he scores 1-1-0
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
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
Height: 6-3 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 163 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.
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 Sept. 21, 2024, KC vs. MIN
Goal June 10, 2023, KC vs. ATX
Assist June 8, 2024, KC vs. SEA
2024 Record when: he starts 3-4-2 he scores 0-0-0
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 16 goals and 20 assists in 91 appearances across all competitions for the club.
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
Regular Season Game Highs:
Goals 2, 2 times, last: Sept. 18, 2024, KC vs. COL
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, 5 times, last: Sept. 7, 2024, KC at NY
Last Regular Season...
Appearance Sept. 21, 2024, KC vs. MIN
Goal Sept. 18, 2024, KC vs. COL
Assist Aug. 24, 2024, KC vs. ORL
2024 Record when: he starts 6-12-7 he scores 2-1-2
(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
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
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, 10 times, last: Sept. 18, 2024, KC vs. COL Fouls Suffered 3, June 8, 2024, KC vs. SEA
Last Regular Season... Appearance Sept. 18, 2024, KC vs. COL 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
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.
#4 | D | ROBERT VOLODER
Height: 6-0
Weight: 170 Birthday: 5/9/2001
Hometown: Frankfurt, Germany
Last Club: NK Maribor (Slovenia)
Acquired: Acquired in transfer on 1/19/2022
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 55 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
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, 5 times, last: Sept. 15, 2024, KC at SEA 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 Sept. 21, 2024, KC vs. MIN
Goal Sept. 13, 2022, KC vs. DC
Assist April 7, 2024, KC vs. POR
2024 Record when: he starts 5-8-3 he scores 0-0-0
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 Birthday: 4/26/1995
Hometown: Essey-les-Nancy, France
Last Club: Yeni Malatyaspor (Turkey)
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 10 goals and 13 assists in 134 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, 9 times, last: Aug. 24, 2024, KC vs. ORL
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 Sept. 21, 2024, KC vs. MIN
Goal Aug. 24, 2024, KC vs. ORL
Assist July 20, 2024, KC vs. STL
2024 Record when: he starts 1-6-5 he scores 2-0-1
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)
Ilie Sanchez (2018), Graham Zusi (2018)
Dom Dwyer (2014)
Preki (1997 & 2003)
Arnaud (2004)
Davy Arnaud (2010), Roger Espinoza (2019)
SINGLE SEASON RECORDS (GOALKEEPERS)
Jimmy Nielsen (2012 & 2013), Tim Melia (2018)
Jimmy Nielsen (2012 & 2013), Tim Melia (2018)
Digital Takawira (1998), Preki (1998), Davy Arnaud (2004), Eddie Johnson (twice in 2007),
6. Nick
SPORTING KANSAS CITY INDIVIDUAL ALL-TIME CHARTS (MLS REGULAR SEASON)
ASSISTS
9.
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: 344 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: 745 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)
