Though its name has changed, the club now known as Sporting Kansas City has long been a flagship franchise in Major League Soccer. Sporting KC was one of the league’s charter members in 1996, and ever since, Kansas City has been a major hotbed for soccer in the United States, helping to grow the game’s popularity both locally and nationwide.

Meet the Wiz

When Sporting KC was first founded in 1995 – one year before the inaugural MLS season – they were known as the Kansas City Wiz, though they later rebranded to the Wizards. With the addition of players like Miklos Molnar, Peter Vermes, and star goalkeeper Tony Meola, Kansas City won both the MLS Cup and Supporters’ Shield for the first time in club history in 2000.

The Prodigal Son Returns

Vermes finished his playing career with the Wiz following the 2002 season, only to return in the middle of the 2009 season as the club’s new manager. He’s been with the team ever since, overseeing their move to Children’s Mercy Park and their simultaneous name change from the Wizards to Sporting Kansas City. As of 2019, he’s the longest-tenured coach in the MLS and has set the league's all-time record for most games coached with one team.

More importantly, Vermes has led Kansas City to plenty of on-field success. In 2013, he guided Sporting KC to their second MLS Cup with help from U.S. internationals like Matt Besler, Benny Feilhaber, and Graham Zusi. Under Vermes, Kansas City has also won the U.S. Open Cup on three occasions, giving the Wizards four total champions in that competition.