Sunday marks the 10-year anniversary of a momentous day in Sporting Kansas City history—a day that has altered the trajectory of the club for the better.
Exactly ten years ago, the Kansas City Wizards appointed technical director Peter Vermes as interim head coach, officially kickstarting what has become one of the most successful managerial stints in MLS.
A decade after taking the reigns, Vermes can claim the title as Major League Soccer’s longest tenured manager at one club and one of the winningest head coaches all-time. His accomplishments in Kansas City have also come with the same two assistant coaches at his side: Kerry Zavagnin and Zoran Savic began their current roles in 2009, helping the club reach heights that seemed unimaginable only 10 years ago.
Now in his 11th season as manager, Vermes’ current tenure with Sporting is the longest uninterrupted head coaching spell in MLS history. His 139 regular-season wins are the fifth-most all-time, ranking third among active coaches, but it just might be his impressive collection of trophies that stand out the most.
Indeed, Vermes has won four major championships at the helm: the 2013 MLS Cup and Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup titles in 2012, 2015 and 2017. Under his leadership, Sporting has become the only American club in MLS to win four major titles since 2012. This decade of excellence includes eight straight appearances in the MLS Cup Playoffs—good for the third-longest active streak in MLS—and first-place finishes in the conference standings in 2011, 2012 and 2018.
In addition to managing the first team, Vermes’ exemplary leadership and strategic vision has translated into several exciting advancements across the organization, including the creation of a player pathway to the professional ranks. Sporting received 2018 MLS Academy of the Year accolades for exemplary player development, while the Rangers have served as an invaluable bridge between the Academy and the first team while remaining a competitive side in the USL Championship.
Vermes also played a pivotal role in the opening of the $75 million Pinnacle National Development Center, a first-of-its-kind collaboration that unites a professional sports team, a national sports federation (U.S. Soccer) and a sports medicine provider (Children’s Mercy).
Vermes was formally honored for his instrumental contributions in January, landing the inaugural MLS Sporting Executive of the Year honor at Major League Soccer’s 2018 Club Executive Awards.
Peter Vermes as Sporting KC Manager (2009-present)
- 2013 MLS Cup champion
- Three-time Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup champion (2012, 2015, 2017)
- Club-record eight straight playoff appearances (2011-2018)
- Longest-tenured coach in MLS history (2009-present)
- 174 wins in all competitions (most in club history)
- 406 games managed in all competitions (most in club history)
- 139 regular season wins (5th most in MLS history)
Vermes and Sporting are in action tonight, visiting Seattle Sounders FC at CenturyLink Field. The Western Conference clash will kick off at 9 p.m. CT with live coverage on FS1, FOX Deportes, the FOX Sports app, Sports Radio 810 WHB and ESPN Deportes KC 1480 AM.
