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 |
|
|---|---|
<span style="font-size:10px;">Davy Arnaud</span> |
<span style="font-size:10px;">Sporting KC's captain for the last two seasons, Arnaud became the club's all-time leader in regular season appearances in 2011.</span> |
<span style="font-size:10px;">Matt Besler</span> |
<span style="font-size:10px;">2011 team leader in minutes, Besler was selected to appear in his first MLS All-Star game this season. </span> |
<span style="font-size:10px;">Teal Bunbury</span> |
<span style="font-size:10px;">Bunbury notched 11 MLS goals in 2011 and was twice selected for USMNT camps under new manager Jurgen Klinsmann. </span> |
<span style="font-size:10px;">Julio Cesar</span> |
<span style="font-size:10px;">Julio Cesar started 25 matches for Sporting, scoring two goals and contributing two assists during the regular season. </span> |
<span style="font-size:10px;">Aurelien Collin</span> |
<span style="font-size:10px;">Started 21 matches at centerback and scored three goals in debut season. Also ranked fifth in this year's MLS Castrol Index rating system.</span> |
<span style="font-size:10px;">Roger Espinoza</span> |
<span style="font-size:10px;">Key cog in the SKC midfield during the 2011 season after strong performance in Honduras' run to semifinal of CONCACAF Gold Cup. </span> |
<span style="font-size:10px;">Kei Kamara</span> |
<span style="font-size:10px;">Sporting Kansas City's leader in points for 2011, Kamara scored nine goals and contributed four assists in 30 appearances.</span> |
<span style="font-size:10px;">Chance Myers</span> |
<span style="font-size:10px;">Myers enjoyed a breakout season, setting career records for appearances, starts and minutes in 2011. </span> |
<span style="font-size:10px;">Jimmy Nielsen</span> |
<span style="font-size:10px;">Continuing his strong play in goal from the 2010 season, Nielsen was voted team MVP in 2011 by media, coaches and teammates. </span> |
<span style="font-size:10px;">C.J. Sapong</span> |
<span style="font-size:10px;">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. </span> |
<span style="font-size:10px;">Graham Zusi</span> |
<span style="font-size:10px;">The team leader in assists for 2011, Zusi cemented himself as one of the League's most prolific attacking midfielders this season. </span> |
UNPROTECTED LIST |
|---|
<span style="font-size:10px;">Korede Aiyegbusi</span> |
<span style="font-size:10px;">Omar Bravo</span> |
<span style="font-size:10px;">Daneil Cyrus</span> |
<span style="font-size:10px;">Birahim Diop</span> |
<span style="font-size:10px;">Jeferson</span> |
<span style="font-size:10px;">Michael Harrington</span> |
<span style="font-size:10px;">Eric Kronberg</span> |
<span style="font-size:10px;">Scott Lorenz</span> |
<span style="font-size:10px;">Lawrence Olum</span> |
<span style="font-size:10px;">Peterson Joseph</span> |
<span style="font-size:10px;">Craig Rocastle</span> |
<span style="font-size:10px;">Soony Saad</span> |
<span style="font-size:10px;">Luke Sassano</span> |
<span style="font-size:10px;">Seth Sinovic</span> |
<span style="font-size:10px;">Milos Stojcev</span> |
<span style="font-size:10px;">Shavar Thomas</span> |
<span style="font-size:10px;">Konrad Warzycha</span> |
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:
<span style="font-size:10px;"><strong>POS</strong></span> |
<span style="font-size:10px;"><strong>PLAYER</strong></span> |
<span style="font-size:10px;"><strong>YEAR</strong></span> |
<span style="font-size:10px;"><strong>TEAM</strong></span> |
<span style="font-size:10px;">MF</span> |
<span style="font-size:10px;">Diego Gutierrez</span> |
<span style="font-size:10px;">1997</span> |
<span style="font-size:10px;">Chicago Fire</span> |
<span style="font-size:10px;">MF</span> |
<span style="font-size:10px;">Francisco Gomez</span> |
<span style="font-size:10px;">2004</span> |
<span style="font-size:10px;">Chivas USA</span> |
<span style="font-size:10px;">FWD</span> |
<span style="font-size:10px;">Matt Taylor</span> |
<span style="font-size:10px;">2004</span> |
<span style="font-size:10px;">Chivas USA</span> |
<span style="font-size:10px;">GK</span> |
<span style="font-size:10px;">William Hesmer</span> |
<span style="font-size:10px;">2006</span> |
<span style="font-size:10px;">Toronto FC</span> |
<span style="font-size:10px;">DEF</span> |
<span style="font-size:10px;">Tyson Wahl</span> |
<span style="font-size:10px;">2008</span> |
<span style="font-size:10px;">Seattle Sounders FC</span> |
<span style="font-size:10px;">DEF</span> |
<span style="font-size:10px;">Jonathan Leathers</span> |
<span style="font-size:10px;">2010</span> |
<span style="font-size:10px;">Vancouver Whitecaps FC</span> |
