Sporting KC unveils protected list for Wednesday's expansion draft
Major League Soccer announced on Monday that Sporting Kansas City has protected the following 11 players ahead of Wednesday's 2012 MLS Expansion Draft. Additionally, Sporting Kansas City's two Home Grown Players -- goalkeeper Jon Kempin and defender Kevin Ellis -- are automatically protected...
| PROTECTED PLAYERS | |
|---|---|
| Davy Arnaud |
Sporting KC's captain for the last two seasons, Arnaud became the club's all-time leader in regular season appearances in 2011. |
| Matt Besler |
2011 team leader in minutes, Besler was selected to appear in his first MLS All-Star game this season. |
| Teal Bunbury |
Bunbury notched 11 MLS goals in 2011 and was twice selected for USMNT camps under new manager Jurgen Klinsmann. |
| Julio Cesar |
Julio Cesar started 25 matches for Sporting, scoring two goals and contributing two assists during the regular season. |
| Aurelien Collin |
Started 21 matches at centerback and scored three goals in debut season. Also ranked fifth in this year's MLS Castrol Index rating system. |
| Roger Espinoza |
Key cog in the SKC midfield during the 2011 season after strong performance in Honduras' run to semifinal of CONCACAF Gold Cup. |
| Kei Kamara |
Sporting Kansas City's leader in points for 2011, Kamara scored nine goals and contributed four assists in 30 appearances. |
| Chance Myers |
Myers enjoyed a breakout season, setting career records for appearances, starts and minutes in 2011. |
| Jimmy Nielsen |
Continuing his strong play in goal from the 2010 season, Nielsen was voted team MVP in 2011 by media, coaches and teammates. |
| C.J. Sapong |
The 2011 MLS Rookie of the Year, Sapong led all rookies in points, scoring five goals and adding five assists during the MLS regular season. |
| Graham Zusi |
The team leader in assists for 2011, Zusi cemented himself as one of the League's most prolific attacking midfielders this season. |
| UNPROTECTED LIST |
|---|
| Korede Aiyegbusi |
| Omar Bravo |
| Daneil Cyrus |
| Birahim Diop |
| Jeferson |
| Michael Harrington |
| Eric Kronberg |
| Scott Lorenz |
| Lawrence Olum |
| Peterson Joseph |
| Craig Rocastle |
| Soony Saad |
| Luke Sassano |
| Seth Sinovic |
| Milos Stojcev |
| Shavar Thomas |
| Konrad Warzycha |
The Montreal Impact, who will begin play in the Eastern Conference in 2012 as Major League Soccer's 19th team, will select 10 players during the 10-round draft, which will be held via conference call on Wednesday. Once a player has been claimed from a team’s non-protected roster, that team is eliminated from the expansion draft and may not lose any further players.
Visit MLSSoccer.com for the 2012 Expansion Draft rules and watch the announcement of the 10 players selected live at 2 p.m. CT on Wednesday via MLSSoccer.com and ImpactMontreal.com.
Sporting Kansas City have had six players taken all-time in MLS expansion drafts, including the selection of Jonathan Leathers by the Vancouver Whitecaps FC last year.
History of Sporting Kansas City Players Taken in Expansion Drafts:
| POS | PLAYER | YEAR | TEAM |
| MF | Diego Gutierrez | 1997 | Chicago Fire |
| MF | Francisco Gomez | 2004 | Chivas USA |
| FWD | Matt Taylor | 2004 | Chivas USA |
| GK | William Hesmer | 2006 | Toronto FC |
| DEF | Tyson Wahl | 2008 | Seattle Sounders FC |
| DEF | Jonathan Leathers | 2010 | Vancouver Whitecaps FC |