The 2016 MLS season kicks off with a bang as all 20 clubs will be in action Sunday. Among the marquee matchups on opening day is Sporting Kansas City’s road test with Seattle Sounders FC at 6 p.m. CT on FS1 and FOX Deportes.
As Sporting Kansas City’s 21st season unfolds, the club and several of its players are within reach of noteworthy milestones. While the ultimate goal for Peter Vermes’ men is to win championships, there are a variety of other statistical narratives to keep an eye on.
TITLE CHASERS
Sporting KC has won three major trophies over the last four years, lifting the 2012 and 2015 U.S. Open Cups and the 2013 MLS Cup. Another championship in 2016 and Sporting KC would join LA Galaxy (2011-14) as the only clubs to win four titles in a five-season span since 2005.
PLAYOFF CONTENDERS
Sporting KC has earned five straight postseason appearances, tied for the longest streak in club history. A sixth consecutive trip to the MLS Cup Playoffs would lift the club into rarefied air. Since the dawn of the MLS expansion era in 2005, only Seattle (2009-15), LA Galaxy (2009-15), Real Salt Lake (2008-14) and New York Red Bulls (2010-present) have accomplished that feat.
TABLE TOPPERS
With a 257-240-132 regular season record, Sporting KC (903 points) is joined by Columbus (909), D.C. United (907) and FC Dallas (902) in a remarkably close race for second place in the all-time MLS table behind leaders LA Galaxy (1,008).
PETER PREPPED FOR HISTORY
As the winningest coach in club history (113-79-61), Peter Vermes has managed 253 games for Sporting KC in all competitions. That’s 18 shy of passing Bob Gansler’s 270-game record. Assuming Vermes is on the sidelines for every game this year, he will coach his 271st game on June 19 vs. FC Dallas at Children’s Mercy Park, becoming the team’s longest-tenured manager.
It’s also worth noting that Vermes’ 90 regular season wins rank eighth on the all-time MLS list. He’s 11 victories shy of passing Jason Kreis, while a remarkable 23-win campaign would move him past Steve Nicol for sixth place.
DWYER DOMINANT
Just two and a half years ago, Dom Dwyer scored his first-ever goal for Sporting KC. Now he ranks fourth in club history with 45 goals in all competitions. If he scores at least eight times in 2016, he will move into second place ahead of Josh Wolff (46) and Davy Arnaud (52). Preki’s perch atop the list (81 goals) appears secure in 2016.
With 22 goals in 2014 and 12 more in 2015, Dwyer could join Preki in 2016 as the only Kansas City players to hit double-digits in three straight regular seasons.
MATT A MAINSTAY
Sporting KC’s run of success this decade has been spearheaded by its captain. Ever-present center back Matt Besler ranks seventh in team history with 219 games played in all competitions. He is 11 appearances shy of tying Jimmy Conrad for sixth, 16 shy of tying Chris Klein for fifth, and 35 shy of tying Preki for fourth. An injury-free campaign could see the Overland Park, Kansas, native climb to No. 4.
ZUSI A STREAKING STAR
One of the club’s all-time great playmakers will tie Chris Klein for second in team history with 45 regular season assists. More impressively, however, Graham Zusi is the only player to appear in each of the last four MLS All-Star Games. If the winger continues to perform at a high level, that streak could extend to five. Since 2012, only Javier Morales (430) and Brad Davis (415) have created more chances than Zusi (410).
DAVIS EYEING THE SUMMIT
Now that we’ve mentioned Sporting KC’s newly acquired midfielder, how about a rundown of the MLS milestones Brad Davis is approaching? His current regular season totals and all-time MLS ranks are below, in addition to what he must do to climb each list.
- 122 assists (3rd) — behind Steve Ralston’s 135 and Landon Donovan’s 136.
- 40 game-winning assists (3rd) — one shy of tying Steve Ralston and Landon Donovan for the lead.
- 368 games played (5th) — 11 shy of passing Steve Ralston for No. 4. Active players Nick Rimando (394) and Kyle Beckman (379) rank second and third, respectively.
- 28,277 minutes played (11th) — 195 shy of passing Davy Arnaud, 390 shy of passing Landon Donovan and 2,456 shy of passing Joe Cannon. Davis could pass others if active players log limited time in 2016.
- 1,213 corner kicks (1st) — well ahead of second-place Marco Etcheverry (963) and more than twice the total of seventh-place Graham Zusi (596).
BENNY AIMING BIG
Another monster year from Benny Feilhaber could lift the midfielder into third on the club’s all-time assist chart in all competitions. Currently fifth with 36, Feilhaber is 19 assists shy of passing Chris Klein. At the very least, he’s well-positioned to overtake Davy Arnaud (40) for No. 4.
OTHERS ASCENDING
Chance Myers (136), Roger Espinoza (130) and Seth Sinovic (124) will make a push for the top 10 in club history for regular season games played. Michael Harrington and Mo Johnston are currently tied for 10th at 149. The same trio will contend for a top-10 spot on the appearances list in all competitions.
