SPORTING KANSAS CITY vs. PHILADELPHIA UNION
Saturday, March 2, 2024
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. CT
Children’s Mercy Park (Kansas City, KS)
Sporting Kansas City
0-0-1, 1 point (0-0-0 home; 0-0-1 away)
MLS Regular Season Game 2
T-5th in MLS Western Conference
Philadelphia Union
0-0-1, 1 point (0-0-1 home; 0-0-0 away)
T-5th in MLS Eastern Conference
Apple TV: MLS Season Pass
English Radio: Sports Radio 810 WHB
Spanish Radio: La Grande 1340 AM
Referee: TBA
Assistant ref: TBA
Assistant ref: TBA
4th official: TBA
VAR: TBA
SPORTING KANSAS CITY PRONUNCIATION GUIDE
No. Pos. Name Pronunciation
1 GK John Pulskamp
3 DEF Andreu Fontas ahn-DRAY-oo
4 DEF Robert Voloder VOLO-derr
5 DEF Dany Rosero danny roh-CERO
6 MID Nemanja Radoja nem-AHN-ya RAHD-oy-ah
7 FWD Johnny Russell
8 MID Memo Rodriguez
9 FWD Alan Pulido ah-LAHN pooh-LEE-doh
10 FWD Daniel Salloi shallow-EE
11 FWD Khiry Shelton KY-ree
14 DEF Tim Leibold LIE-bold
17 DEF Jake Davis
18 DEF Logan Ndenbe en-DEN-bay
19 DEF Robert Castellanos CASS-tee-YAH-nos
20 FWD Alenis Vargas uh-LEN-iss
21 MID Felipe Hernandez feh-LEE-pay
22 DEF Zorhan Bassong ZOR-uhn bah-SONG
23 FWD Willy Agada ah-GAH-dah
24 DEF Kayden Pierre
25 FWD Ozzie Cisneros sis-NAIR-oce
26 MID Erik Thommy tommy
28 DEF Chris Rindov rin-DOVE
29 GK Tim Melia MEE-lia
30 FWD Stephen Afrifa uh-FREE-fuh
31 MID Danny Flores
36 GK Ryan Schewe SHAY-way
54 MID Remi Walter vault-AIR
77 FWD Marinos Tzionis ma-REE-noss JOHN-eese
2024 REGULAR SEASON TEAM STATS
SPORTING KANSAS CITY PHILADELPHIA UNION
0-0-1 (1 pt.)
T-5th in West
RECORD POINTS PER GAME GAMES PLAYED
CONFERENCE POSITION GOALS GOALS/GAME ASSISTS
GOALS ALLOWED ALLOWED/GAME
GOAL DIFFERENTIAL SHOTS (ON GOAL) ON GOAL %
FOULS COMMITTED FOULS SUFFERED CAUTIONS EJECTIONS
0-0-1 (1 pt.)
in East
(5)
2024 REGULAR SEASON INDIVIDUAL
LEADERS
SPORTING KANSAS CITY PHILADELPHIA UNION
Erik Thommy 1 N/A 0
Memo Rodriguez 2 Salloi, Thommy 1 N/A 0 N/A 0
Erik Thommy 3 Four Players 2 Russell, Thommy 1 N/A 0
Tim Melia 90
Tim Melia 1.00 N/A 0 N/A 0
Tim Melia 4
GOALS ASSISTS SHOTS SHOTS ON GOAL
GAME-WINNING GOALS
GAME-WINNING ASSISTS
FOULS COMMITTED FOULS SUFFERED CAUTIONS EJECTIONS
GK MINUTES PLAYED GOALS AGAINST AVG. WINS SHUTOUTS SAVES
1 Gazdag, Uhre
1 Three Players
5 Quinn Sullivan
5 Julian Carranza
4 Julian Carranza 1 Jose Martinez
90 Oliver Semmle
2.00 Oliver Semmle
2 Oliver Semmle
COACHES - REGULAR SEASON PETER VERMES JIM CURTIN
season
MLS
132-101-81 (.549) 11th Eastern Conference Pts W L T GD GP 1. Inter Miami CF 4 1 0 1 +2 2 2. D.C. United 3 1 0 0 +2 1 3. Columbus Crew 3 1 0 0 +1 1 4. Charlotte FC 3 1 0 0 +1 1 5. Philadelphia Union 1 0 0 1 0 1 6. Chicago Fire FC 1 0 0 1 0 1 7. CF Montreal 1 0 0 1 0 1 8. New York Red Bulls 1 0 0 1 0 1 9. FC Cincinnati 1 0 0 1 0 1 10. Orlando City SC 1 0 0 1 0 1 11. Nashville SC 1 0 0 1 0 1 12. Toronto FC 1 0 0 1 0 1 13. Atlanta United FC 0 0 1 0 -1 1 14. New York City FC 0 0 1 0 -1 1 15. New England Revolution 0 0 1 0 -2 1 Western Conference Pts W L T GD GP 1. Portland Timbers 3 1 0 0 +3 1 2. FC Dallas 3 1 0 0 +1 1 3. Minnesota United FC 3 1 0 0 +1 1 4. Los Angeles FC 3 1 0 0 +1 1 5. Houston Dynamo FC 1 0 0 1 0 1 6. Sporting Kansas City 1 0 0 1 0 1 7. St. Louis 1 0 0 1 0 1 8. LA Galaxy 1 0 0 1 0 1 9. Real Salt Lake 1 0 1 1 -2 2 10. Vancouver Whitecaps FC 0 0 0 0 0 0 11. Seattle Sounders FC 0 0 1 0 -1 1 12. Austin FC 0 0 1 0 -1 1 13. San Jose Earthquakes 0 0 1 0 -1 1 14. Colorado Rapids 0 0 1 0 -3 1
season 132-101-81 (.549)
1 John
3
4
5
6 Nemanja Radoja nem-AHN-ya
7 Johnny
8
9
11
14
17
18
SPORTING KANSAS CITY 2024 NUMERICAL ROSTER
SPORTING KANSAS CITY 2024 ALPHABETICAL ROSTER
#SKCvPHI: HEAD-TO-HEAD
Sporting Kansas City (0-0-1, 1 pt.) is set to host the club’s 2024 home opener this weekend when the team faces off against the Philadelphia Union (0-0-1, 1 pt.) on Saturday night at Children’s Mercy Park. Both teams kicked off the 2024 campaign with a draw, as Sporting earned a 1-1 draw on the road against Houston while the Union salvaged a point late on following a 2-2 draw at home against Chicago.
The two teams met once last season in a 0-0 draw at Subaru Park on April 1, 2023 - their first regular-season meeting in four years. The game was initially delayed due to inclement weather before the two sides played out a scoreless draw.
Sporting last hosted the Union on March 10, 2019, claiming a comfortable 2-0 victory at Children’s Mercy Park. Ilie Sanchez buried a first-half penalty kick before a late own goal from Jack Elliott sealed the points for SKC.
Across all competitions, Sporting and the Union did face off against one another in the MLS is Back Tournament during the COVID-19 impacted 2020 season. The two sides met in the Quarterfinal stage on July 30, 2020 with the Union advancing 3-1. Jamiro Monteiro opened the scoring before Sergio Santos tallied a brace, while Alan Pulido pulled a consolation goal back in a free-scoring first half.
The regular-season series between the two sides is dead even at 6-6-6, though Sporting did beat Philadelphia in the 2015 U.S. Open Cup Final at Subaru Park. Following a 1-1 draw, Tim Melia made two saves in the penalty shootout to allow Jordi Quintilla to fire home his penalty and clinch the third of SKC’s four Open Cup titles.
#SKCvPHI: Recent Meetings (Series tied 6-6-6 in regular season)
Date Score Result Details
04/01/2023 KC 0 at PHI 0 T Two teams see out weather-delayed stalemate
03/10/2019 KC 2 vs PHI 0 W Ilie scores penalty early before late own goal seals the points
09/23/2018 KC 0 at PHI 2 L Simpson scores second-half brace to sink Sporting KC
07/06/2017 KC 1 vs PHI 1 T Rubio opens the scoring before Alberg penalty kick 08/27/2016 KC 0 at PHI 2 L Alberg & Barnetta score as Medranda & Espinoza are sent off
#SKCvPHI: PLAYER HISTORY
• Forward Daniel Salloi has recorded one assist versus the Union, coming in the 1-1 home draw on July 6, 2017.
• Forward Khiry Shelton recorded his first career assist against Philadelphia, coming in a 1-1 home draw with New York City FC on April 16, 2015.
• Goalkeeper Tim Melia is 1-1-2 against the Union, with a 0.75 goals against average and two shutouts - coming in the 2-0 home win on March 10, 2019 and the 0-0 road draw on April 1, 2023.
• Midfielder Memo Rodriguez has tallied one assist against Philadelphia, coming in a 2-1 road loss while playing for the Houston Dynamo on Aug. 11, 2019.
#SKCvPHI: BY THE NUMBERS
Sporting KC Team Notes
• Sporting are 16-3-9 all-time in regular season home openers, including a 5-1-7 record at Children’s Mercy Park. The club’s last home-opening loss, and its only home-opening loss at Children’s Mercy Park, came against New York City FC on March 4, 2018.
• In last Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Houston, Sporting held the Dynamo to an expected goal total of 1.19 (per Sportec). That was the fifth-lowest expected goal total among the 15 home teams during the first week of the regular season.
• In Saturday’s 1-1 draw, Sporting held Houston to seven penalty area entries from the run of play, the third fewest in MLS during week one of the season.
• All 11 starters from Sporting’s opener at Houston were returning players from the previous season in 2023. That had happened only three times prior in club history (2014, 2019, 2023).
• Sporting’s opener in Houston on Feb. 24 was the earliest regular season match in club history and the second earliest competitive match behind Sporting’s 3-0 win over Toluca in the Concacaf Champions Cup on Feb. 21, 2019.
• Sporting reached the conference semifinals last year for the fourth time since 2018, tied for the most in MLS over the last six seasons (New York City FC, Philadelphia Union, Seattle Sounders FC).
• From the start of May to the end of the 2023 regular season, Sporting led the Western Conference in points (41), wins (12) and goals per game (1.88) while ranking second in goal differential (+10). Sporting’s seven losses during that time were also tied for the fewest in the conference.
Sporting KC Player Notes
• Midfielder Erik Thommy scored Sporting’s go-ahead goal in the second half of last Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Houston. He has now scored goals in back-to-back regular season road appearances dating back to last season. Thommy led Sporting last season with 13 assists in all competitions and ranked third on the team with 18 total goal contributions. He became the fifth player in club history to hit 11 assists in a single regular season alongside Preki (six times), Matt McKeon (11 in 2000), Graham Zusi (15 in 2012) and Benny Feilhaber (15 in 2015, 13 in 2016). Sporting are unbeaten at 8-0-1 when Thommy scores in the regular season.
• Three Sporting players made their club debuts last Saturday in Houston: defender Zorhan Bassong, midfielder Memo Rodriguez and forward Alenis Vargas. All three were second-half substitutes. Rodriguez was a 74th-minute substitute last Saturday and the only Sporting player to record two shot attempts. In last Saturday’s match, Vargas hit a top speed of 9.9 meters per second, 0.8 m/s higher than any other Sporting player.
• Defender Jake Davis has started in each of Sporting’s last 28 matches in all competitions dating back to May 28, 2023.
Philadelphia Union Team Notes
• Since the start of 2019, Philadelphia leads MLS in regular season wins (78), points (279) and points per match (1.75) with a 78-37-45 record.
• Philadelphia’s first three matches this season in all competitions have produced 15 total goals, an average of five per game.
• Philadelphia has scored and conceded at least two goals apiece in each of their first three matches this season in all competitions.
• Philadelphia has conceded the first goal in all three matches this season. In 300 minutes of action this season, the Union have led for only 16 minutes.
• Philadelphia has conceded two or more goals in three straight matches in all competitions for the first time since October 2019.
• Philadelphia used a total of 23 players during the 2023 regular season, the fewest in MLS.
Philadelphia Union Player Notes
• Forward Julian Carranza leads Philadelphia with four goals this season in all competitions, all coming in the Union’s 6-5 aggregate win over Deportivo Saprissa in the Concacaf Champions Cup first round.
• Attacking midfielder Daniel Gazdag has tallied 41 goals and 26 assists in 90 regular season appearances since joining the club in 2021. His goal total includes a perfect 19-19 conversion rate on penalty kicks. During the 2023 regular season, 11 of Gazdag’s 14 MLS goals were penalty kicks. His 11 penalty kick goals were more than any other MLS team’s total last year.
• Center backs Jack Elliott and Jakob Glesnes have made at least 31 regular season starts apiece in each of the last three seasons since 2021.
NOTEWORTHY MILESTONES
• Midfielder Erik Thommy has appeared in 51 straight MLS matches for Sporting (including playoffs) since making his league debut on July 23, 2022.
#SKCvPHI: PLAYER/COACH CONNECTIONS
• Midfielder Danny Flores spent time in the Philadelphia Union Academy and also played for Philadelphia Union II from 2019-2020.
• Forward Daniel Salloi and Union midfielder Daniel Gazdag have played together on the Hungary National Team.
• Philadelphia defender Isaiah LeFlore came through the Sporting KC Academy and spent three seasons with Sporting KC II from 2020-2022.
SPORTING KC SOCIAL PROPERTIES
Web Twitter Other Social Media
SportingKC.com @SportingKC Facebook.com/SportingKC
SportingKC.com/News @SKCMatchday Instagram.com/SportingKC
SportingKC.com/Videos @SportingKCII Facebook.com/SportingKCII
SportingKC.com/Media @CMPark Instagram.com/SportingKCII
SportingKCAcademy.com @SKCAcademy Instagram.com/SKCAcademy
SportingKCYouth.com @SportingKCYouth Facebook.com/SportingKCYouth
VictoryKC.org @VictoryKC Facebook.com/VictoryProjectKC
SportingStyle.com @SportingStyle Instagram.com/SportingStyle
SportingAthletics.com @SportingKC_PR TikTok: @SportingKC
NoOtherPubKC.com @NoOtherPub Facebook.com/NoOtherPub
SportingClubEventsKC.com @SportingKCSTM Facebook.com/SKCSeasonTicketMembers
CompassMineralsNPC.com @SoySporting YouTube.com/SportingKansasCity
SPORTING KANSAS CITY NEWS AND NOTES
29th HOME OPENER ON THE DOCKET
Sporting KC is set to welcome fans back to Children’s Mercy Park for the first time in 2024 when the club hosts the Philadelphia Union in the home opener on Saturday night. Both teams began the season with a point, as Sporting earned a 1-1 draw on the road in Houston while Philadelphia salvaged a 2-2 draw late at home against the Chicago Fire.
Sporting has gone 16-3-9 in regular-season home openers throughout the club’s history, including a 5-1-7 mark at Children’s Mercy Park with the lone loss coming in 2018 to New York City FC. Over the last five seasons, Sporting are 3-0-2 in home openers having defeated the Philadelphia Union (2019) and Houston Dynamo FC twice (2020 & 2022), while also playing to draws with Orlando City SC (2021) and the LA Galaxy (2023).
Coming out of 2023, Sporting is currently riding a four-match unbeaten streak at Children’s Mercy Park, going 3-0-1 to close out the season. Over their last 11 home games, Sporting has posted a 7-2-2 since the start of July 2023.
The regular-season series against the Union is deadlocked at 6-6-6, though Sporting holds a 4-2-3 edge at home.
HOSTING PERENNIAL EASTERN POWER
Sporting Kansas City returns home for the first time in 2024 when the club plays host to the Philadelphia Union at Children’s Mercy Park on Saturday night in the club’s highlyanticipated home opener. The match marks just the second regular-season matchup between Sporting and the Union over the last five years, having broken a four-year drought in 2023.
Sporting visited Philadelphia early last season, playing out a 0-0 draw on April 1, 2023. Following a 61-minute delay due to inclement weather that rolled through Chester, Pennsylvania, the two teams battled out a nervy draw as Sporting saw new center back Dany Rosero make his debut for the club.
The last time Sporting hosted Philadelphia at Children’s Mercy Park was on March 10, 2019 at Children’s Mercy Park. Ilie Sanchez gave Sporting an early lead from the spot before Tim Melia stoned Marco Fabian’s penalty kick early in the second half. A late own goal from Jack Elliott sealed the points for Sporting with a 2-0 victory.
In the meantime, Sporting also faced the Union in the MLS is Back Tournament during the COVID-19 derailed 2020 season. The two sides met at the Quarterfinal stage on July 30, 2020, with the Union cruising to a 3-1 victory.
Sporting and Philly are tied 6-6-6 in the all-time regular-season series, with Sporting holding a 4-2-3 mark at home.
THOMMY STRIKES FIRST IN 2024
Sporting Kansas City midfielder Erik Thommy did the honors of bagging the first goal of the new season for the club when he slalomed through the Houston midfield before rifling home a low effort to open the scoring in last Saturday’s 1-1 draw against the Dynamo in the club’s season opener.
Thommy, who has appeared in 51 straight MLS matches for Sporting since making his league debut on July 23, 2022, has now scored goals in back-to-back regular season road appearances dating back to last season.
The German attacking midfielder led Sporting last season with 13 assists in all competitions and ranked third on the team with 18 total goal contributions. He became the fifth player in club history to hit 11 assists in a single regular season alongside Preki (six times), Matt McKeon (11 in 2000), Graham Zusi (15 in 2012) and Benny Feilhaber (15 in 2015, 13 in 2016).
Sporting are unbeaten at 8-0-1 when Thommy scores in the regular season, with last Saturday’s match the sole occasion that he hasn’t led his team to victory when scoring.
SPORTING ROSTER COMPOSITION FOR 2024
Last Friday, Sporting Kansas City announced the composition of the club’s roster for the 2024 MLS season. Entering the 2024 campaign, Sporting Kansas City has 28 rostered players and two open roster slots. The club has filled 18 of 20 spots on its Senior Roster and all 10 on its Supplemental Roster.
Sporting has four players occupying international roster slots in 2024: Willy Agada, Zorhan Bassong, Tim Leibold and Alenis Vargas. Three Sporting players have received their green cards and no longer occupy international slots: Nemanja Radoja, Dany Rosero and Robert Voloder. The club currently has one international spot available.
Sporting’s Designated Players for 2023 are Radoja, Alan Pulido and Daniel Salloi. Its U22 Initiative Players are Voloder, Logan Ndenbe and Marinos Tzionis.
TRIO OF DEBUTS
Sporting Kansas City saw three newcomers make their debuts for the club during last Saturday’s 1-1 draw against the Houston Dynamo at Shell Energy Stadium in the season opener. Left back Zorhan Bassong, midfielder Memo Rodriguez and forward Alenis Vargas all earned their first minutes in Sporting Blue during the match.
Bassong replaced Tim Leibold in the 74th minute and earned his first minutes after joining Sporting as a free agent after spending the last year playing in Romania. Bassong was developed at Belgian clubs Mouscron and Anderlecht before moving to Lille in France and Cercle Brugge back in Belgium. In a previous stint in MLS, Bassong made 43 appearances in all competitions for his hometown team CF Montreal from 2021-2022.
Rodriguez also came on for Erik Thommy in the 74th minute to make his debut at his hometown club. The MLS veteran arrives in Kansas City with a wealth of experience, mostly with Houston from 2015-2022 where he came up through their academy. Rodriguez has scored 34 goals in 227 professional appearances and helped the Dynamo win the 2018 U.S. Open Cup before spending the 2023 season with the LA Galaxy and Austin FC.
Vargas subbed on for the closing stages after replacing Daniel Salloi in the 86th minute. The 20-year-old signed with Sporting’s first team from Costa Rican side Futbol Consultants Desamparados after impressing while on loan with SKC II in 2023. Last season, 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 West.
SPORTING UNVEILS KEY STADIUM ENHANCEMENTS
Sporting Kansas City is set to open the club’s home slate of matches in the 2024 MLS season on Saturday night against the Philadelphia Union with a host of upgrades and enhancements for fans to experience around Children’s Mercy Park.
Key upgrades took place during the offseason to augment the fan experience, highlighted by the installation of new LED technology designed, manufactured and installed by Daktronics at three different locations – including the main display atop the Price Chopper South Stand. In addition, fans will be treated to new state-of-the-art LED sports lighting, allowing the club to create lighting movement and effects before, during and after matches.
A brand-new concessions initiative sees “Dotte Dogs” available throughout Children’s Mercy Park via a portable cart. Featuring foot-long hot dogs and chili cheese dogs, this concept pays homage to Wyandotte County and its significance and history to the people of Kansas City. In addition, Carnitas Tacos, Junk Yard Dogs, an updated menu in the Huhtamaki Shield Club and a Self-Pouring Drink Command System will also be introduced for the new season.
QUOTES: #HOUvSKC
Sporting KC Manager Peter VermesOn looking ahead…
“It’s building blocks. You’re just always putting layers on when you start a season. And today was good. We’re at a home opener of another team and so they’re going to put the pressure on you. And we did a good job of withstanding the pressure. We got five guys into the game as well and they all contributed. It was good for a couple of those guys to get their feet wet and then experience what that’s like to have to hold on to a result and maybe steal two more points at the end if possible. So I thought it was a good overall performance.”
On the substitutes…
“I thought Stephen (Afrifa) did really well in preseason. I thought today coming into the game, maybe he was a little nervous. He was a little rushed where a couple of times he served the ball way too early when he probably could have went to goal or he could have at least gotten into the box. With his ability to dribble somebody or his speed, I think he could have created a little bit more. But again, I think this was a good introduction for him. I thought Willy (Agada) was good up front, getting in good positions, laying balls off. That part was excellent by him. I would also say the same for Memo (Rodriguez). I think for (Zorhan) Bassong, getting into a game with us and understanding the responsibility that he had at the end of the game to really try to close down that left side. That’s important. And then finally when Alenis (Vargas) got on, again, for him to get into the game and at least get some minutes, the next time he goes in, it’ll be different and it’ll be different in a good way. He won’t have to worry about, ‘Hey, this is my first game. That is now over with. I can concentrate and go do my thing that I do well.’”
10/24/2012 KC 2 vs PHI 1 W Livestrong Sporting Park
03/02/2013 KC 3 at PHI 1 W PPL Park
09/27/2013 KC 0 vs PHI 1 L Sporting Park 10/26/2013 KC 2 at PHI 1 W PPL Park 05/14/2014 KC 1 vs PHI 2 L Sporting Park
KC 1 vs PHI 1 T Sporting Park
KC 1 at PHI 2 L PPL Park
KC 3 vs PHI 2 W Sporting Park 08/27/2016 KC 0 at PHI 2 L Talen Energy Stadium
07/06/2017 KC 1 vs PHI 1 T Children’s Mercy Park
09/23/2018 KC 0 at PHI 2 L Talen Energy Stadium
03/10/2019 KC 2 vs PHI 0 W Children’s Mercy Park
04/01/2023 KC 0 at PHI 0 T Subaru Park
4 Graham Zusi
3 Kei Kamara
26 Dom Dwyer
10 Graham Zusi
14 Aurelien Collin
21 Feilhaber, Zusi
4 Jimmy Nielsen
2 Kronberg, Nielsen
2 Melia, Nielsen
26 Jimmy Nielsen
10 Jimmy Nielsen
GOALS ASSISTS SHOTS SHOTS ON GOAL FOULS COMMITTED FOULS SUFFERED
WINS
LOSSES SHUTOUTS SAVES GOALS ALLOWED
MacMath 2
Zac MacMath 30
Zac MacMath 11
ALL-TIME REGULAR SEASON GAME HIGHS
SPORTING
1 19 Players
2 Four Players
KANSAS CITY PHILADELPHIA UNION
GOALS ASSISTS
7 Dom Dwyer (9/27/13)
4 Dom Dwyer (4/5/15)
4 Four Players
6 Graham Zusi (10/26/13)
7 Jimmy Nielsen (6/22/11)
4 Jimmy Nielsen (6/23/12)
SHOTS
SHOTS ON GOAL
FOULS COMMITTED
FOULS SUFFERED
SAVES
GOALS ALLOWED
McInerney, Simpson 2 Bedoya, Maidana 2 (6/22/11) Carlos Ruiz 7 Barnetta, Simpson 4
Six Players 4 (10/24/12) Michael Farfan 6 (twice) John McCarthy 6 MacMath, Mbolhi 3
GOALS SCORED IN SERIES BY INTERVAL
SPORTING KANSAS CITY TRANSACTION TRACKER
Players In Players Out
DEF - Zorhan Bassong (Signed as Free Agent - Dec. 12, 2023)
FWD - Alenis Vargas (Acquired from Futbol Consultants Desamparados - Dec. 15, 2023)
MID - Memo Rodriguez (Signed as Free Agent - Feb. 1, 2024)
GK - Ryan Schewe (MLS SuperDraft Selection - Feb. 5, 2024)
GK - Kendall McIntosh (Out of Contract - Dec. 1, 2023)
DEF - Kortne Ford (Option Declined - Dec. 1, 2023)
DEF - Graham Zusi (Option Declined - Dec. 1, 2023)
MID - Cam Duke (Out of Contract - Dec. 1, 2023)
MID - Roger Espinoza (Option Declined - Dec. 1, 2023)
MID - Felipe Gutierrez (Option Declined / Retired - Dec. 1, 2023)
MID - Gadi Kinda (Out of Contract - Dec. 1, 2023)
DATE IN/OUT DETAILS
SPORTING KANSAS CITY TRANSACTION TIMELINE
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.
2015
2016
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023 Stephen Afrifa (1st Round - #8)
Chris Rindov (2nd Round - #37)
2024 Ryan Schewe (1st Round - #22)
CONSTRUCTING SPORTING KANSAS CITY
Tim Melia (12/23/14)
Johnny Russell (1/31/18)
Andreu Fontas (8/8/18)
Khiry Shelton (12/9/19)
Alan Pulido (12/10/19)
Remi Walter (12/22/20)
Logan Ndenbe (1/14/22)
Robert Voloder (1/19/22)
Marinos Tzionis (1/24/22)
Willy Agada (6/23/22)
Erik Thommy (6/23/22)
Nemanja Radoja (10/26/22)
Tim Leibold (1/12/23)
Robert Castellanos (2/17/23)
Dany Rosero (3/2/23)
Zorhan Bassong (12/12/23)
Alenis Vargas (12/15/23)
Danny Flores (1/13/23)
Memo Rodriguez (2/1/24)
Daniel Salloi (1/13/16)
Felipe Hernandez (8/30/19)
John Pulskamp (2/24/20)
Ozzie Cisneros (1/20/21)
Kayden Pierre (5/4/21)
Jake Davis (8/19/21)
2024 REFEREE LOG (MLS REGULAR SEASON)
2024
ASSISTANT REFEREE LOG (MLS REGULAR SEASON)
2024
SPORTING KC MISCELLANEOUS STATS
Scoring
Scoring
Scoring
Wearing
With
With opponent red card 0-0-0
In Pacific time zone 0-0-0
In Mountain
vs. Western Conference 0-0-1
Eastern Conference 0-0-0
On grass 0-0-1
On turf 0-0-0
With zero subs 0-0-0
With one sub 0-0-0
With two subs 0-0-0
With three subs 0-0-0
With four subs 0-0-0
With five subs 0-0-1
With six subs 0-0-0
April
May
June
June
July 2024
July
Aug. 2024
Aug.
Sept. 2024
Sept.
Oct. 2024
Oct.
Nov. 2024
Nov.
Regular Season Team-By-Team (in 2024)
vs. Atlanta United FC 1-2-1 (0-0-0)
vs. Austin FC 2-4-1 (0-0-0)
vs. Charlotte FC 0-0-0 (0-0-0)
vs. Chicago Fire FC 19-28-12 (0-0-0)
vs. Colorado Rapids 29-26-19 (0-0-0)
vs. Columbus Crew 26-22-9 (0-0-0)
vs. D.C. United 22-22-13 (0-0-0)
vs. FC Cincinnati 1-0-1 (0-0-0)
vs. FC Dallas 28-30-14 (0-0-0)
vs. Houston Dynamo FC 14-13-16 (0-0-1)
vs. Inter Miami CF 0-1-0 (0-0-0)
vs. Los Angeles FC 4-6-1 (0-0-0)
vs. LA Galaxy 26-26-18 (0-0-0)
vs. Minnesota United FC 11-4-4 (0-0-0)
vs. CF Montreal 8-5-3 (0-0-0)
vs. Nashville SC 2-2-0 (0-0-0)
vs. NE Revolution 25-20-12 (0-0-0)
vs. New York City FC 2-3-1 (0-0-0)
vs. New York Red Bulls 22-22-14 (0-0-0)
vs. Orlando City SC 2-3-2 (0-0-0)
vs. Philadelphia Union 6-6-6 (0-0-0)
vs. Portland Timbers 9-7-6 (0-0-0)
vs. Real Salt Lake 13-16-9 (0-0-0)
vs. St. Louis 1-2-0 (0-0-0)
vs. SJ Earthquakes 30-26-10 (0-0-0)
vs. Seattle Sounders FC 11-12-4 (0-0-0)
vs. Toronto FC 14-4-8 (0-0-0)
Regular
SPORTING KC IN 2024 (MLS REGULAR SEASON)
Quickest Goal...
Quickest Goal Against...
Game-winning goals after 75’...
Game-tying goals after 75’...
Game-winning goals against after 75’...
Game-tying goals against after 75’...
Red Cards...
Red Cards Against...
Penalty Kicks...
Penalty Kicks Earned...
Penalty Kicks Against...
Youngest Goalscorer...
Oldest Goalscorer...
Youngest Starter...
Erik Thommy (2/24 at HOU) - 61st Minute
Gabe Segal (2/24 at HOU) - 69th Minute
Erik Thommy (2/24 at HOU) - 29 years and 188 days
Erik Thommy (2/24 at HOU) - 29 years and 188 days
Jake Davis (2/24 at HOU) - 22 years and 52 days
Youngest to play in a game... Alenis Vargas (2/24 at HOU) - 20 years and 82 days
Oldest Starter... Tim Melia (2/24 at HOU) - 37 years and 285 days
Oldest to play in a game... Tim Melia (2/24 at HOU) - 37 years and 285 days
SPORTING KC ALL-TIME WIN/LOSS RECORDS IN COMPETITIVE MATCHES
SPORTING KC 2024 MLS REGULAR SEASON BOX SCORES
Feb. 24, 2024: Houston Dynamo 1-1 Sporting KC MLS Regular Season | Shell Energy Stadium | Houston, TX
Attendance: 18,818
Weather: 69 degrees and clear
1 2 F
Sporting KC (0-0-1, 1 point) 0 1 1
Houston Dynao (0-0-1, 1 point) 0 1 1
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)
Castellanos Awodesu
Voloder Sargeant
Hernandez Steres Gonzalez Sylla Gyamfi
Scoring Summary:
SKC - Erik Thommy 1 (Unassisted) 61’
HOU - Gabe Segal 1 (Ibrahim Aliyu 1, Coco Carrasquilla 1) 69’
Misconduct Summary:
SKC - Johnny Russell (Yellow Card; Dissent) 57’
SKC - Erik Thommy (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 67’
HOU - Ben Olsen (Yellow Card; Dissent) 89’
SPORTING KC STARTERS BY POSITION (2024 REGULAR SEASON)
Formation: 4-3-3 (1 game)
Left forward
Center forward
Right forward
NOTE: Charts do not account for players interchanging and/ or switching positions over the course of a match. Substitute players are not listed.
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.
February
March 2 vs. Philadelphia Union
March 9 at Los Angeles FC
March 16 vs. San Jose Earthquakes
March 23 vs. LA Galaxy
March 30 at Toronto FC
April 7 vs. Portland Timbers
April 13 vs. Inter Miami CF
April 20 vs. St. Louis
April 27 at Minnesoota United FC
May 4 at Real Salt Lake
May 11 vs. Houston Dynamo FC
May 18 at Austin FC
May 25 at Portland Timbers
May 29 vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC
June 1 at Minnesota United FC
June 8 vs. Seattle Sounders FC
June 15 at LA Galaxy
June 19 vs. Real Salt Lake
June 22 at Columbus Crew
June 29 vs. Austin FC
July 4 at Colorado Rapids
July 7 vs. FC Dallas
July 13 at San Jose Earthquakes
July 17 at Vancouver Whitecaps FC
July 20 vs. St. Louis
August 24 vs. Orlando City SC
September 7 at New York Red Bulls
September 15 at Seattle Sounders FC
September 18 vs. Colorado Rapids
September 21 vs. Minnesota United FC
September 28 at St. Louis
October 5 vs. Los Angeles FC
October 19 at FC Dallas
AFRIFA SUB-31
AGADA SUB-31
BASSONG SUB-16
CASTELLANOS DNP
CISNEROS INJ
DAVIS RB-90
FLORES INJ
FONTAS CB-90
HERNANDEZ DNP
LEIBOLD LB-74
MELIA GK-90
NDENBE INJ
PIERRE SKCII
PULIDO CF-59
PULSKAMP DNP
RADOJA DM-90
RINDOV SKCII
RODRIGUEZ SUB-16
ROSERO CB-90
RUSSELL RW-59
SALLOI LW-86
SCHEWE SKCII
SHELTON INJ
THOMMY CM-74
TZIONIS SKCII
VARGAS SUB-4
VOLODER DNP
WALTER CM-90
AFRIFA
AGADA
BASSONG
CASTELLANOS
CISNEROS
DAVIS
FLORES
FONTAS
HERNANDEZ
LEIBOLD
MELIA
NDENBE
PIERRE
PULIDO
PULSKAMP
RADOJA
RINDOV
RODRIGUEZ
ROSERO
RUSSELL
SALLOI
SCHEWE
SHELTON
THOMMY
TZIONIS
VARGAS
VOLODER
WALTER
MANAGER & SPORTING DIRECTOR | PETER VERMES
Peter Vermes is in his 16th season as Sporting Kansas City Manager in 2024 and is the longest-tenured active head coach in MLS. He is the team’s longest-serving manager and his 238 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 195 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 560 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.
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.
DIRECTOR, SPORTS PERFORMANCE & SCIENCE | JOEY HARTY
2023
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.
Height: 5-10
Weight: 155
Hometown: Toronto, Canada
College: Florida International University
Birthday: 2/19/2001
Acquired: 2023 MLS SuperDraft 1st Round (#8)
Forward Stephen Afrifa was selected by Sporting Kansas City as the eighth overall pick of the 2023 MLS SuperDraft before signing with the team at the conclusion of his senior year in April. He enjoyed a standout career at Florida International, 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.
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 United Soccer Coaches Second Team All-American honors. He guided the Panthers to the 2022 American Athletic Conference regular season and tournament titles and was
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals 0 Assists 0
Shots on Goal 0 Shots 0
Fouls Committed 1, 2 times, last: Feb. 24, 2024, KC at HOU
Fouls Suffered 0
Last Regular Season...
Appearance Feb. 24, 2024, KC at HOU
named the AAC Championship Most Outstanding Offensive Player. Afrifa ended his senior season as a 2022 MAC Hermann Trophy Semifinalist and a member of the USC All-East Region Team.
As a freshman, Afrifa tallied three goals and three assists, and added two goals and an assist during his COVID-shortened sophomore year. As a junior, Afrifa helped FIU make its first of two consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances with a team-best eight goals and three assists. Afrifa competed for USL League Two side One Knoxville SC in 2022, scoring 10 goals and leading the club to a first-place finish in the South Central Division and a run to the national quarterfinals.
#23 | F | WILLY AGADA
Height: 5-9
Weight: 185
Hometown: Bauchi, Nigeria
Last Club: Hapoel Jerusalem (Israel)
Acquired: Acquired in transfer on 6/23/2022
Birthday: 9/17/1999
Willy 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, 3 times, last: Sept. 17, 2022, KC vs. MIN
Assists 1, 2 times, last: Sept. 4, 2022, KC at LA
Shots on Goal 5, Oct. 2, 2022, KC vs. SEA
Shots 7, Oct. 2, 2022, KC vs. SEA
Fouls Committed 5, Aug. 6, 2022, KC vs. LA
Fouls Suffered 3, 3 times, last: March 18, 2023, KC at DAL
Last Regular Season...
Appearance Feb. 24, 2024, KC at HOU
Goal Sept. 30, 2023, KC at STL
Assist Sept. 4, 2022, KC at LA
2024 Record when: he starts 0-0-0 he scores 0-0-0
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.
Height: 6-1
Weight: 195
Hometown: Palmdale, California
Last Club: KuPS (Finland)
Regular Season Game Highs:
Goals 0
Assists 1, May 29, 2021, MTL at CHI (w/ MTL)
Shots on Goal 1, July 31, 2021, MTL at MIA (w/ MTL)
Shots 1, 7 times, last: May 22, 2022, MTL vs. RSL (w/ MTL)
Fouls Committed 3, 2 times, last: Sept. 19, 2021, MTL vs. CHI (w/ MTL)
Fouls Suffered 2, 2 times, last: July 7, 2021, MTL vs. MIA (w/ MTL)
Last Regular Season...
Appearance Feb. 24, 2024, KC at HOU
Goal N/A
Assist May 29, 2021, MTL at CHI (w/ MTL)
2024 Record when: he starts 0-0-0 he scores 0-0-0
He joined Belgian outfit Cercle Brugge in January 2019 and left the club in July 2020. Bassong enjoyed a two-year MLS stint with CF Montreal that began in early 2021. Following his time with Montreal, Bassong spent 2023 with two Romanian clubs, Arges Pitesti and Farul Constanta.
On the international stage, Bassong represented the Belgium U-19s for two friendlies in 2017 before switching his allegiance to Canada. He earned two caps for Canada’s senior national team in January 2020, including a 90-minute outing in a 4-1 friendly win over Barbados. In March 2021, Bassong played three matches for Canada at the 2020 Concacaf Men’s Olympic Qualifying Championship in Mexico, reaching the semifinals.
#19 | D | ROBERT CASTELLANOS | @rc4official
Regular Season Game Highs:
Goals 1, 2 times, last: June 10, 2023, KC vs. ATX
Assists 0
Shots on Goal 1, 2 times, last: June 10, 2023, KC vs. ATX
Shots 2, Aug. 1, 2021, NSH at TOR (w/ NSH)
Fouls Committed 3, April 1, 2023, KC at PHI
Fouls Suffered 2, June 17, 2023, KC vs. LAFC
Last Regular Season...
Appearance Oct. 7, 2023, KC at RSL
Goal June 10, 2023, KC vs. ATX
Assist N/A
2024 Record when: he starts 0-0-0 he scores 0-0-0
Birthday: 5/11/1998
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
and scored two goals. Castellanos jumped to MLS by signing for Nashville in February 2021 where he scored an equalizing goal in a 1-1 draw at Toronto FC in his lone appearance for the club. Nashville loaned Castellanos to the Tampa Bay Rowdies for the 2022 season where he played 13 matches, including starts in all three playoff games as the Rowdies reached the Conference Final. Castellanos then ventured abroad by joining KuPS, where he started three matches before leaving the club.
Castellanos is a former U.S. youth international, having made two appearances for the U.S. U-20 Men’s National Team in 2016.
Height: 5-5
Weight: 140
Hometown: Omaha, Nebraska
Last Club: Sporting KC Academy
#25 | F | OZZIE CISNEROS | @OzzieCisner10
Regular Season Game Highs:
Goals N/A
Assists N/A
Shots on Goal N/A
Shots N/A
Fouls Committed N/A
Fouls Suffered N/A
Last Regular Season... Appearance N/A
Birthday: 3/13/2004
Acquired: Signed as Homegrown Player on 1/20/2021
Forward Ozzie Cisneros, who has competed for the Sporting KC Academy at the U-13 through U-19 levels, became the fourth-youngest signing in club history when he inked an MLS contract at age 16 in early 2021. He scored his first professional goal for Sporting KC II against Louisville City FC on July 28, 2021 before making his debut for Sporting KC in a Leagues Cup match against Club Leon on Aug. 10, 2021.
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 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 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 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.
Regular Season Game Highs:
Goals 0
Assists 1, 2 times, last: Sept. 2, 2023, KC vs. STL
Shots on Goal 1, March 25, 2023, KC vs. SEA
Shots 2, Sept. 20, 2023, KC vs. NSH
Fouls Committed 3, 2 times, last: July 15, 2023, KC at ATX
Fouls Suffered 2, May 20, 2023, KC at STL
Last Regular Season...
Appearance Feb. 24, 2024, KC at HOU
Goal N/A
Assist Sept. 2, 2023, KC vs. STL
2024 Record when: he starts 0-0-1 he scores 0-0-0
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.
Davis earned international recognition in November 2019 when he was selected to the United States U-17 National Team for the 19th annual Nike International Friendlies.
Regular Season Game Highs:
Goals 0
Assists 0
Shots on Goal 0
Shots 0
Fouls Committed 0
Fouls Suffered 0
Last Regular Season...
Appearance March 25, 2023, KC vs. SEA
Goal N/A
Assist N/A
2024 Record when: he starts 0-0-0 he scores 0-0-0
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 seaosn 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.
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 127 appearances in all competitions for Sporting KC, tallying three goals and two 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, 2 times, last: July 8, 2023, KC at HOU
Shots on Goal 1, 9 times, last: July 8, 2023, KC at 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 2, 10 times, last: Feb. 24, 2024, KC at HOU
Last Regular Season...
Appearance Feb. 24, 2024, KC at HOU
Goal Aug. 21, 2022, KC vs. POR
Assist July 8, 2023, KC at HOU
2024 Record when: he starts 0-0-1 he scores 0-0-0
Europa League. The defender developed in FC Barcelona’s famed La Masia youth academy, playing nearly 100 matches combined for FC Barcelona B and FC Barcelona from 2008-2012. Fontas advanced from Barcelona’s B team to the first team in 2009 and played in 16 games for the Spanish giants, including a sub appearance in the 2011 FIFA Club World Cup Final. Fontas spent the 2012-13 season on loan at Mallorca before signing with Celta Vigo in June 2013.
Internationally, Fontas has represented Spain at the Under-19, Under-20 and Under-21 levels and has also played for the Catalonia National Team.
#21 | M | FELIPE HERNANDEZ | @Fe1ipe98
Height: 5-7
Weight: 140 Birthday: 6/8/1998
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee
Last Club: Sporting Kansas City II (USL Championship)
Acquired: Signed as Homegrown Player on 8/30/2019
Felipe Hernandez signed with Sporting KC as a Homegrown Player in August 2019. Hernandez is the first Sporting player to progress from an Academy Affiliate club to the SKC Academy to Sporting KC II before signing with the senior team. He signed with the first team following a breakout 2019 with SKC II in the USL Championship, where he started 24 of 26 appearances, scored a team-best eight goals and recorded four assists.
Hernandez scored his first MLS goal for the club in a June 23, 2021 victory over the Colorado Rapids and also tallied the opener against his hometown club Nashville SC in a 2-1 Sporting victory on June 19, 2022.
Regular Season Game Highs:
Goals 1, 4 times, last: May 28, 2023, KC vs. POR
Assists 2, May 14, 2022, KC at POR
Shots on Goal 2, May 28, 2023, KC vs. POR
Shots 4, 4 times, last: Sept. 10, 2022, KC at HOU
Fouls Committed 3, 4 times, last: July 23, 2022, KC vs. LAFC
Fouls Suffered 4, 2 times, last: April 8, 2023, KC vs. COL
Last Regular Season...
Appearance June 10, 2023, KC vs. ATX
Goal May 28, 2023, KC vs. POR
Assist May 14, 2022, KC at POR
2024 Record when: he starts 0-0-0 he scores 0-0-0
Hernandez played for Sporting Nashville Heroes, a former Academy Affiliate, and moved to Kansas City in the summer of 2014 to join the Academy. At age 16, Hernandez earned a preseason training stint with the first team in January 2015, before signing an Academy contract with SKC II in August 2016, two months prior to earning Bob Gansler Academy Player of the Year honors that then led to a professional SKC II contract in early 2017.
On the international stage, Hernandez played for the U.S. U-19 and U-20 National Teams in 2016 and 2017.
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 three assists in 22 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 0
Assists 1, 3 times, last: July 1, 2023, KC vs. VAN
Shots on Goal 1, 3 times, last: Sept. 9, 2023, KC at MIA
Shots 2, Sept. 9, 2023, KC at MIA
Fouls Committed 3, June 21, 2023, KC at LA
Fouls Suffered 1, 4 times, last: Feb. 24, 2024, KC at HOU
Last Regular Season...
Appearance Feb. 24, 2024, KC at HOU
Goal N/A
Assist July 1, 2023, KC vs. VAN
2024 Record when: he starts 0-0-1 he scores 0-0-0
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.
Great River, New York
Signed as Free Agent on 12/23/2014
Tim Melia leads Sporting KC in regular-season wins (100), shutouts (66) and saves (672), and has also played the most games (233) of any goalkeeper in club history. Melia claimed the 2017 Goalkeeper of the Year crown with career-highs in wins (12), shutouts (10), saves (91), starts (31) and minutes (2,759) before surpassing each of those stats in 2018.
Melia has an unbelievable knack for saving penalty kicks, having only conceded 19 of the 34 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 Feb. 24, 2024, KC at HOU
Shutout Sept. 16, 2023, KC at MIN
2024 Record when: he starts 0-0-1
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.
Height: 5-8
Weight: 180
Hometown: La Louviere, Belgium
Last Club: EA Guingamp (France)
Acquired: Acquired in transfer on 1/14/2022
#18 | D | LOGAN NDENBE | @Ndenbe22
Regular Season Game Highs:
Goals 0
Assists 1, Oct. 7, 2023, KC at RSL
Shots on Goal 1, 3 times, last: Oct. 7, 2023, KC at RSL
Shots 3, April 30, 2022, KC vs. DAL
Fouls Committed 3, 2 times, last: Sept. 30, 2023, KC at STL
Fouls Suffered 4, 2 times, last: July 3, 2022, KC vs. NY
Last Regular Season...
Appearance Oct. 21, 2023, KC vs. MIN
Goal N/A
Assist Oct. 7, 2023, KC at RSL
2024 Record when: he starts 0-0-0 he scores 0-0-0
Birthday: 2/9/2000
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 50 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 is set to be out until the summer of 2024.
Ndenbe developed in the Royal Excel Mouscron academy before joining KV Oostende as a 17-year-old in 2017. Ndenbe left Belgium in July 2020, signing for Guingamp to mark the start of a successful stint in the French Ligue 2.
On the youth international stage, Ndenbe rose through the Belgian U-17 and U-18 teams before earning his Belgium U-21 debut in June 2021 for his first of six matches in 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying. He started in four games during qualifying, helping the team go 3-0-1.
#24 | D | KAYDEN PIERRE | @KaydenPierre5
Height: 5-9 Weight: 155 Birthday: 2/16/2003
Hometown: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
Last Club: Sporting KC Academy
Acquired: Signed as Homegrown Player on 5/4/2021
Kayden Pierre signed with Sporting as a Homegrown player early in the 2021 season after impressing at preseason camp in Arizona with the Sporting KC first team. He made his debut for the club against Club Leon in the Leagues Cup on Aug. 10, 2021 before making his MLS debut at Colorado on March 12, 2022. He enjoyed a breakout spell over the summer of 2022 with senior right back Graham Zusi sidelined through injury, as Pierre made 12 of his 19 appearances on the season between June 25-Sept. 17.
Pierre joined the Sporting KC Academy in 2018 from Vardar SC in his native Michigan. He represented Sporting at the U-15, U-17 and U-19 levels and helped guide the U-17s to
Height: 5-10
Regular Season Game Highs:
Goals 0
Assists 1, July 13, 2022, KC at MIN
Shots on Goal 0
Shots 1, Sept. 13, 2022, KC vs. DC
Fouls Committed 3, Sept. 4, 2022, KC at LA
Fouls Suffered 4, July 3, 2022, KC vs. NY
Last Regular Season...
Appearance March 18, 2023, KC at DAL
Goal N/A
Assist July 13, 2022, KC at MIN
2024 Record when: he starts 0-0-0 he scores 0-0-0
the Academy Playoffs in 2019. Capable of playing at left back and right back, Pierre gained his first professional experience in 2020 when he signed an amateur academy contract with SKC II. Pierre enjoyed a breakout season for Sporting in 2022, making 22 appearances in all competitions.
On the international stage, Pierre has competed for the U.S. U-14, U-16 and U-20 national teams.
#9 | F | ALAN PULIDO | @alanpulido
Regular Season Game Highs:
Goals 2, 6 times, last: Sept. 2, 2023, KC vs. STL
Assists 2, July 22, 2020, KC at RSL
Shots on Goal 6, Oct. 24, 2020, KC vs. COL
Shots 8, May 22, 2021, KC at SJ
Fouls Committed 3, June 19, 2021, KC at POR
Fouls Suffered 5, 2 times, last: Aug. 4, 2021, KC at LAFC
Last Regular Season...
Appearance Feb. 24, 2024, KC at HOU
Goal Oct. 7, 2023, KC at RSL
Assist June 10, 2023, KC vs. ATX
2024 Record when: he starts 0-0-1 he scores 0-0-0
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 tallied 30 goals and 14 assists in 71 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,
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.
Height: 6-4 Weight: 210 Birthday: 4/19/2001
Hometown: Bakersfield, California
Last Club: Sporting Kansas City II (USL Championship)
Acquired: Signed as a Homegrown Player on 2/24/2020
John Pulskamp joined Sporting KC as a Homegrown Player ahead of the 2020 season after acquiring his Homegrown rights from the LA Galaxy where he spent two seasons in the club’s Academy. He made his MLS debut in the 2021 season opener, helping the side to a 2-1 victory at the New York Red Bulls.
Pulskamp became the youngest goalkeeper in Sporting KC history to record a shutout following a 2-0 win over the LA Galaxy on Oct. 27, 2021 at the age of 20 years and 191 days. He enjoyed a breakout year in 2022 when he deputized for an injured Tim Melia to make 15 starts in all competitions, posting an 8-3-4 record.
Regular Season Game Highs:
Goals Allowed 4, 2 times, last: March 25, 2023, KC vs. SEA
Saves 7, July 17, 2022, KC at RSL
Last Regular Season...
Appearance March 25, 2023, KC vs. SEA
Shutout March 11, 2023, KC vs. LA
2024 Record when: he starts 0-0-0
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. 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
Hometown: Novi Sad, Serbia
Last Club: Levante (Spain)
Birthday: 2/6/1993
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 three assists in 31 appearances across all competitions since joining Sporting KC.
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 0
Assists 2, Aug. 26, 2023, KC vs. SJ
Shots on Goal 1, May 31, 2023, KC vs. DAL
Shots 2, 3 times, last: June 21, 2023, KC at LA
Fouls Committed 3, 2 times, last: Sept. 23, 2023, KC vs. HOU
Fouls Suffered 3, 2 times, last: July 15, 2023, KC at ATX
Last Regular Season...
Appearance Feb. 24, 2024, KC at HOU
Goal N/A
Assist Aug. 26, 2023, KC vs. SJ
2024 Record when: he starts 0-0-1 he scores 0-0-0
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.
Regular Season Game Highs:
Goals 0
Assists 0
Shots on Goal 0
Shots 0
Fouls Committed 0
Fouls Suffered 0
Last Regular Season...
Appearance April 22, 2023, KC at NE
Goal N/A
Assist N/A
2024 Record when: he starts 0-0-0 he scores 0-0-0
Sporting Kansas City singed center back Chris Rindov ahead of the 2023 season after selecting the defender in the Second Round (37th overall) of the 2023 MLS SuperDraft out of Maryland. Rindov became Sporting’s first MLS SuperDraft selection to sign for the first team since 2018. Rindov made his MLS debut as a late substitute on April 22, 2023 at New England.
Rindov was a defensive mainstay for perennial powerhouse Maryland, starting in each of the program’s 38 matches over his final two seasons and finishing his college career with four goals and five assists in 58 appearances. Rising from freshman walk-on to team captain as a senior, he had a banner year in 2022 as an All-Big Ten First Team honoree
and an MLS College Showcase participant. Rindov played every minute in all 20 matches for the Terrapins in 2022, pushing Maryland to the Big Ten regular season title with an unbeaten 4-0-4 conference record. A two-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week, Rindov guided the Terps to their 22nd consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance in the fall of 2022.
Rindov won four consecutive state championships at Rockville High School. He also played for youth club OBGC, where he competed at two national championships and won an Eastern Regional title in 2018.
#8 | M | MEMO RODRIGUEZ | @40_jrod
Height: 5-8
Weight: 155
Hometown: El Campo, Texas
Last Club: Austin FC (MLS)
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
Regular Season Game Highs:
Goals 2, 2 times, last: July 13, 2020, HOU at LAFC (w/ HOU)
Assists 1, 16 times, last: Aug. 30, 2023, ATX vs. SEA (w/ ATX)
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 Feb. 24, 2024, KC at HOU
Goal May 31, 2023, LA at RSL (w/ LA)
Assist Aug. 30, 2023, ATX vs SEA (w/ ATX)
2024 Record when: he starts 0-0-0 he scores 0-0-0
with the Charleston Battery in the USL Championship before joining the Rio Grande Valley FC Toros, Houston’s then-USL affiliate, for a breakout 2016 season. Rodriguez rejoined Houston in 2017 and made his MLS debut on April 8, 2017. In 2018, Rodriguez and Houston collected silverware as champions of the prestigious U.S. Open Cup before being named the Dynamo Young Player of the Year in 2019.
The Galaxy signed Rodriguez as a free agent in January 2023. He scored his first goal for the club in a thrilling 3-2 road win over Real Salt Lake on May 31 before moving to Austin FC in a trade on Aug. 1. He played nine MLS matches for Austin and finished the year with 21 league appearances, notching one goal and two assists.
Height: 6-2
SPORTING
#5 | D | DANY ROSERO
Regular Season Game Highs:
Goals 1, 2 times, last: July 15, 2023, KC at ATX
Assists 0
Shots on Goal 1, 7 times, last: Sept. 30, 2023, KC at STL
Shots 3, April 1, 2023, KC at PHI
Fouls Committed 3, June 17, 2023, KC vs. LAFC
Fouls Suffered 2, 3 times, last: Oct. 21, 2023, KC vs. MIN
Last Regular Season...
Appearance Feb. 24, 2024, KC at HOU
Goal July 15, 2023, KC at ATX
Assist N/A
2024 Record when: he starts 0-0-1 he scores 0-0-0
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 three goals in 34 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
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
Hometown: Glasgow, Scotland
Last Club: Derby County FC (England)
Acquired: Acquired in transfer on 1/31/2018
Birthday: 4/8/1990
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 62 goals and 43 assists in 197 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 Feb. 24, 2024, KC at HOU
Goal Oct. 21, 2023, KC vs. MIN
Assist Aug. 26, 2023, KC vs. SJ
2024 Record when: he starts 0-0-1 he scores 0-0-0
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.
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 58 goals and 37 assists in 215 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.
Height: 6-3
Weight: 195
Hometown: Marietta, Georgia
College: Georgetown
Birthday: 3/8/2002
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 2, 4 times, last: May 18, 2022, KC vs. COL
Assists 2, 4 times, last: Oct. 21, 2023, KC vs. MIN
Shots on Goal 4, 3 times, last: July 13, 2019, KC at VAN
Shots 8, May 5, 2018, KC vs. COL
Fouls Committed 4, June 7, 2019, KC at TOR
Fouls Suffered 5, July 31, 2021, KC vs. DAL
Last Regular Season...
Appearance Feb. 24, 2024, KC at HOU
Goal Sept. 9, 2023, KC at MIA
Assist Oct. 21, 2023, KC vs. MIN
2024 Record when: he starts 0-0-1 he scores 0-0-0
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.
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.
Height: 6-3
#11 | F | KHIRY SHELTON | @KhiryShelton
SPORTING KC STATS GP GS MIN G A MLS Regular Season 119 79 7286 12 13 MLS Postseason 9 6 580 1 2 MLS is Back KO Stage 1 1 80 0 0 U.S. Open Cup 6 3 302 2 2 International 3 3 209 0 0 ALL COMPETITIONS 138 92 8457 15 17
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 17 assists across 138 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
Assists 3, Sept. 23, 2016, NYC vs. CHI (w/ NYC)
Shots on Goal 4, July 17, 2020, KC vs. COL
Shots 6, May 5, 2018, KC vs. COL
Fouls Committed 4, 2 times, last: Oct. 21, 2018, KC at FCD
Fouls Suffered 4, April 11, 2015, NYC at PHI (w/ NYC)
Last Regular Season...
Appearance Oct. 21, 2023, KC vs. MIN
Goal June 10, 2023, KC vs. ATX
Assist July 9, 2022, KC at MTL
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.
MLS CAREER STATS GP GS MIN G A SHT SOG FC FS OFF CK C E GWG GWA KC - Regular Season 119 79 7286 12 13 116 44 104 96 21 1 9 0 4 8 MLS - Regular Season 173 102 9771 18 23 153 56 128 127 24 1 9 0 4 11 KC - Postseason 9 6 580 1 2 7 3 9 8 3 0 0 0 0 0 MLS - Postseason 11 6 637 1 2 7 3 9 9 3 0 0 0 0 0 MLS - TOTAL 184 108 10408 19 25 160 59 137 136 27 1 9 0 4 11
#26
Height: 5-8
SPORTING KC STATS GP GS MIN G A MLS Regular Season 47 43 3561 9 13 MLS Postseason 4 1 132 0 0 U.S. Open Cup 2 1 113 0 1 International 3 2 211 0 1 ALL COMPETITIONS 56 47 4017 9 15
Weight: 155
Hometown: Wettenhausen, Germany
Last Club: VfB Stuttgart (Germany)
Birthday: 8/20/1994
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 nine goals and 15 assists across 56 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 1, 9 times, last: Feb. 24, 2024, KC at HOU
Assists 2, Sept. 2, 2023, KC vs. STL
Shots on Goal 4, 2 times, last: March 11, 2023, KC vs. LA
Shots 8, March 11, 2023, KC vs. LA
Fouls Committed 3, 2 times, last: Feb. 24, 2024, KC at HOU
Fouls Suffered 5, 2 times, last: Oct. 21, 2023, KC vs. MIN
Last Regular Season...
Appearance Feb. 24, 2024, KC at HOU
Goal Feb. 24, 2024, KC at HOU
Assist Oct. 7, 2023, KC at RSL
(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.
MLS CAREER STATS GP GS MIN G A SHT SOG FC FS OFF CK C E GWG GWA KC - Regular Season 47 43 3561 9 13 120 46 41 79 3 93 9 0 1 3 KC - Postseason 4 1 132 0 0 2 1 2 3 1 3 0 0 0 0 MLS - TOTAL 51 44 3693 9 13 122 47 43 82 4 96 9 0 1 3
#77 | F | MARINOS TZIONIS
Height: 5-7
Weight: 155 Birthday: 7/16/2001
Hometown: Nicosia, Cyprus
Last Club: Omonia Nicosia (Cyprus)
Acquired: Acquired in transfer on 1/24/2022
Marinos Tzionis signed with Sporting KC in a transfer from Omonia Nicosia in Cyprus in late January 2022. Tzionis scored 15 goals in 88 appearances for hometown club Omonia Nicosia since turning professional as a 15-year-old in 2017. Appearing mostly as a substitute during his time with Sporting, Tzionis has tallied three goals and one assists in 53 appearances across all competitions.
Tzionis scored his first goal for the club with a last-gasp equalizer in the 98th minute of the club’s U.S. Open Cup Round of 32 clash with FC Dallas on May 10, 2022 and scored his first MLS goal four days later in a loss at Portland.
Regular Season Game Highs:
Goals 1, May 14, 2022, KC at POR
Assists 1, May 28, 2023, KC vs. POR
Shots on Goal 2, 2 times, last: Sept. 10, 2022, KC at HOU
Shots 3, 3 times, last: Aug. 26, 2023, KC vs. SJ
Fouls Committed 2, 5 times, last: Sept. 20, 2023, KC vs. NSH
Fouls Suffered 5, April 17, 2022, KC at LAFC
Last Regular Season...
Appearance Oct. 7, 2023, KC at RSL
Goal May 14, 2022, KC at POR
Assist May 28, 2023, KC vs. POR
2024 Record when: he starts 0-0-0 he scores 0-0-0
Tzionis developed in Omonia Nicosia’s academy, signed for the first team in 2017 and made his senior debut for the club in May 2018. In a breakout 2020-21 campaign, Tzionis guided Omonia to the club’s first league title in 11 years by tallying seven goals in 43 games. He landed his UEFA Champions League debut in the qualifying rounds and started all six of Omonia’s games in the UEFA Europa League group stage.
Tzionis represented Cyprus at the U-17 and U-19 youth levels, before breaking into the senior national team in September 2020. To date, Tzionis has two goals in 25 caps for the Cyprus National Team, scoring his first goal in a 2-0 win over Estonia on March 29, 2022.
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:
Last Regular Season...
Feb. 24, 2024, KC at HOU
reserve team at Honduran powerhouse C.D. Olimpia in December 2020 at age 17. Vargas left his home country in 2022, signing for Futbol Consultants in Costa Rica’s second division. During the latter half of the year, he trained with reigning top-flight champion Cartaginés, where he was coached by former striker and Costa Rican World Cup veteran Paulo Wanchope.
Vargas excelled on loan with SKC II in 2023, scoring a sensational scissor-kick goal to spark a 4-0 home win over first-place Colorado Rapids 2 before scoring a hat trick in a 6-1 win over Portland Timbers 2 in Aug. 13, 2023.
Height: 6-0
Weight: 170
Hometown: Frankfurt, Germany
Last Club: NK Maribor (Slovenia)
Acquired: Acquired in transfer on 1/19/2022
Birthday: 5/9/2001
#4 | D | ROBERT VOLODER
Regular Season Game Highs:
Goals 1, Sept. 13, 2022, KC vs. DC
Assists 1, June 10, 2023, KC vs. ATX
Shots on Goal 1, Sept. 13, 2022, KC vs. DC
Shots 1, 4 times, last: June 3, 2023, KC at VAN
Fouls Committed 2, 2 times, last: June 10, 2023, KC vs. ATX
Fouls Suffered 2, 2 times, last: June 3, 2023, KC at VAN
Last Regular Season...
Appearance Oct. 7, 2023, KC at RSL
Goal Sept. 13, 2022, KC vs. DC
Assist June 10, 2023, KC vs. ATX
2024 Record when: he starts 0-0-0 he scores 0-0-0
Robert Voloder arrived in Kansas City in a transfer from NK Maribor in the Slovenian first division ahead of the 2022 MLS season. Voloder had played every minute for Slovenian powerhouse Maribor during the 2021-22 season before making the move to MLS. Since joining Sporting KC, Voloder has made 30 appearances in all competitions and tallied his first MLS goal against D.C. United on Sept. 13, 2022.
Prior to joining Maribor, Voloder began his professional career at heralded German side FC Cologne. He developed in the club’s academy from 2016-2020 before being selected to Cologne’s first team squad for three German Bundesliga matches at the end of the
2019-20 campaign. Voloder featured regularly for FC Cologne II in 2020-21, starting all 26 appearances.
On the youth international stage, Voloder represented Bosnia and Herzegovina at the U-17 through U-19 levels from 2017-2019 before switching his national team allegiance to Germany in September 2019, debuting for the country’s U-19s in a friendly against England. He played his first of five matches for the German U-20s in the fall of 2020 and recently captained the team in an Under 20 Elite League matchup against Norway on Sept. 6, 2021.
| 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 seven goals and nine assists in 112 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, 6 times, last: Oct. 21, 2023, KC vs. MIN
Assists 1, 8 times, last: Aug. 26, 2023, KC vs. SJ
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 Feb. 24, 2024, KC at HOU
Goal Oct. 21, 2023, KC vs. MIN
Assist Aug. 26, 2023, KC vs. SJ
2024 Record when: he starts 0-0-1 he scores 0-0-0
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.
SPORTING KANSAS CITY INDIVIDUAL SINGLE-SEASON CHARTS (MLS REGULAR SEASON)