Sporting KC Game Notes | May 1, 2016 vs. LA Galaxy | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes SPORTING KANSAS CITY NEWS AND NOTES (CONTINUED) NUNO THRIVING IN DEFENSE
THREE TITLES IN FOUR YEARS
When Sporting KC lifted the 2015 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup last September, it became the fifth MLS club to win three major trophies in a four-year span since 2005, joining Seattle, D.C. United, LA Galaxy and Columbus Crew SC. Should Sporting KC add to its trophy haul in 2016, it would join LA as the only MLS clubs to win four titles in a five-year span since 2005. Sporting KC Seattle Sounders FC D.C. United LA Galaxy Columbus Crew SC
Sporting KC center back Nuno Andre Coelho has been one of the club’s best performers through nine games of the 2016 campaign. In addition to being the club’s only field player to feature in all 810 minutes of action, Coelho ranks first in MLS with 535 passes, second with 35 interceptions, sixth with seven blocked shots and ninth with 38 clearances. The 2016 season opener saw Coelho score on his MLS debut, firing a 30-yard attempt that skipped across the wet surface and under the mitts of Sounders keeper Stefan Frei in a 1-0 win at Seattle.
MLS Cup (2013), Open Cup (2012, 2015) Open Cup (2009, 2010, 2011, 2014), Supporters’ Shield (2014) Open Cup (2008), Supporters’ Shield (2006, 2007) MLS Cup (2011, 2012, 2014), Supporters Shield (2010, 2011) MLS Cup (2008), Supporters’ Shield (2008, 2009)
A native of Penafiel, Portugal, Coelho has played more than 160 matches during a 12-year professional career in Europe, including seven appearances in the UEFA Champions League with Portuguese clubs SC Braga and FC Porto. He most recently played for Balikesirspor of the Turkish Super Lig during the 2014-15 season. He signed for Sporting KC in January to bring another defensive option for a back line that has lost center back Ike Opara to long-term injuries in each of the last two seasons.
DEFENDING THE OPEN CUP
Sporting KC enters the 2016 season as defending champions of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Peter Vermes’ side defeated the Philadelphia Union in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw through regulation to win the 2015 final on Sept. 30, effectively securing a spot in the 2016-17 CONCACAF Champions League.
SPORTING KC LOANS JORDI QUINTILLA TO RANGERS
Sporting KC loaned midfielder Jordi Quintilla to the Swope Park Rangers ahead of Wednesday’s USL match against Vancouver Whitecaps 2 at Children’s Mercy Victory Field at Swope Soccer Village. The Spanish midfielder started and played 89 minutes in the Rangers’ 2-1 defeat to Vancouver Whitecaps 2. Quintilla has started five matches for Sporting KC this year, recording the game-winning assist in the 2016 season opener at Seattle Sounders FC.
The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup has been held annually since 1914 and is open to all amateur/professional soccer teams affiliated with U.S. Soccer. The knockout-style tournament is the oldest ongoing national soccer competition in the U.S. and the world’s third-longest running open soccer tournament. This year’s winner will earn $250,000 and a berth into the 2017-18 CONCACAF Champions League. Sporting KC has won the tournament on three occasions (2004, 2012, 2015), third-most among MLS clubs behind Seattle and Chicago who have four titles apiece. All 17 American MLS clubs will enter the 2016 Open Cup in the round of 32 in June.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE ON THE HORIZON
Courtesy of the club’s 2015 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup championship, Sporting KC will compete in the group stage of the 2016-17 CONCACAF Champions League, set to begin in August. 2016 marks the third time in four years that Sporting KC has featured in the international competition, which involves the top clubs from North America, Central America and the Caribbean. The tournament winner will qualify as CONCACAF’s representative at the 2017 FIFA Club World Cup. Sporting KC joins the Portland Timbers (2015 MLS Cup winner), New York Red Bulls (2015 Supporters’ Shield winner), FC Dallas (2015 Western Conference first place finisher) and Vancouver Whitecaps FC (2015 Canadian Championship winner) as MLS representatives in the 2016-17 CONCACAF Champions League.
PETER THE GREAT
Last season Peter Vermes passed Bob Gansler as the winningest coach in Sporting KC history, ending 2015 with 90 regular season wins and 113 victories across all competitions. Vermes has coached 262 matches for Kansas City in all competitions with a 117-83-62 record, eight games shy of tying Gansler’s 270game record. Vermes’ 94 regular season victories are eighth most in MLS history and fourth most among active coaches behind Sigi Schmid (224), Bruce Arena (194) and Dominic Kinnear (156). Now in his eighth MLS season, Vermes ties Bob Gansler (1999-2006) as the club’s longest-tenured manager.
Coach Sigi Schmid Bruce Arena Dominic Kinnear Frank Yallop Bob Bradley Steve Nicol Jason Kreis Peter Vermes Bob Gansler Thomas Rongen
Wins
Seasons
Active in MLS
224 194 156 130 124 112 100 94 86 83
17 14 13 13 9 11 8 8 8 7
Yes (SEA) Yes (LA) Yes (SJ) No No No No Yes (SKC) No No
(including 2016)
4