The job of a Technical Director is not much different than a college recruiter. You scour the country (or globe) for talent and use your best pitch to secure that players’ services. In a recent interview with SPORT (Spanish language publication), midfielder Ilie Sanchez said it was Peter Vermes’ recruiting pitch that helped secure his signature for Sporting KC.
“I had several offers, but the call of Peter Vermes was decisive, he convinced me,” Sanchez said. “He called me personally, told me what he wanted from the team and what he thought my role should be. He explained how I looked as a player, what I had to contribute in Kansas. He also told me that I should improve some things and that if I came to the team wanting to work and with humility, it would help me.”
Sanchez is the latest in a slew of offseason signings for Sporting KC. In total, Vermes has acquired nine new players for the squad. A product of FC Barcelona’s youth academy, Sanchez featured extensively for FC Barcelona B from 2009-2014 and most recently played for Spanish side Elche CF during the 2015-16 season.
“We’ve known him for a long time, tried a few years back to get him – just financially we couldn’t do it,” Vermes told reporters on Friday from the MLS SuperDraft. “He understands the position really well, number six for us, defensive midfielder type player. I’m really excited to be able to add him to the roster.”
Sanchez is the third player with ties to the FC Barcelona Academy to join Sporting KC. Oriol Rosell joined Sporting KC in 2012 and was an impact player for the 2013 team that won MLS Cup. Jordi Quintilla joined the club in 2015 and converted the game-winning penalty kick in the 2015 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup championship. The 26-year-old midfielder said that relationship was part of the reason he decided to join Sporting KC.
“I asked people from Barcelona who knew [Peter] in Figueres and they corroborated my good impression,” Sanchez said. “I also spoke with Oriol Rosell, who played in Kansas, and he told me that it was a very serious project with good facilities and a good proposal.”
Although Vermes is quick to preach caution with regard to the prospect of any new signing, the U.S. Soccer and Sporting KC legend is excited about Sanchez’s potential and the qualities he will bring to the club.
“He’s like any other player that we’re bringing in,” Vermes said. “They all have an adaptation period and just because they’re coming in doesn’t mean that they’re going to be the guy, but I’m very confident – he’s a professional person, great character – I think we’re adding a really good player to our team and a really good person, and that part always makes the adaptation period a lot easier.”
