Roger Espinoza is back in Sporting blue. After a two-year stint in England with Wigan Athletic, the Honduran international midfielder has returned to the MLS club for which he played from 2008-2012. Following the club's announcement, Espinoza and Sporting KC Manager Peter Vermes spoke to the media on Tuesday.
Vermes on Espinoza returning to Sporting KC...
Roger, who a few years back went and tried a new adventure overseas, has now returned back to the same club he was with before. It's an exciting day for us. I'm not sure if Roger recalls this or not, but I remember when we were talking about his opportunity to go over to England (in late 2012) that the door would remain open here for him to come back someday if he ever was in position to do that. The tremendous thing is we're sitting here before you today with the opportunity to do this. We went through very difficult and hard negotiations, but this morning Roger signed his contract and (MLS) approved it, so we're good to go: he's officially part of our roster. Congratulations to Roger, and congratulations to us because we're excited. (He) was a great and important part of the team when (he) left and (he) will be going forward.
Espinoza on his return to Sporting KC...
I do remember speaking to (Vermes) about that [before leaving for England]. I loved Kansas City. I wanted to stay here, but I also wanted to try England. I had a dream to play there in the Premier League. It definitely came true. I always knew I was going to come back to Kansas City, I just didn't know when it was going to be. When I was ready to come back, I spoke with Peter. He obviously wanted me back, and like I said, I'm really happy to be here in Kansas City.
Espinoza on his experience playing in England...
It's changed me a lot. Obviously (I left) two years ago to play in the Premier League. While I was there, I had the opportunity to win the FA Cup. Honestly, that changed my career. You win that type of game -- in that type of atmosphere with all the media -- it changes you as a player, it gives you more responsibility. I had experience in the Premier League and the League Championship, which was a very tough league. It wasn't easy for me but I learned a lot from the managers, and I think that helps you as a player.
Espinoza on when he wanted to rejoin Sporting KC...
This summer. My contract was coming to an end and I had a year left. I had to think about what I wanted to do. I already had the experience of playing in Europe; I wanted to know what it was like to play there. I had a year left and I looked for somewhere to go. I spoke to Peter about coming back and to see if there was room at the club, and he wanted me back.
Vermes on Espinoza's affinity for Sporting KC...
He found out what it was like over there and he wanted to come back to Sporting Kansas City because of the way things are done here. I seriously mean that. I'm not answering for him, I'm answering for myself. I know that this club is special, this is a special environment. When you're here your whole life, it's hard to understand. But when you go to other places -- not to say that those places are bad -- it's just a different experience. This is a great club and a great organization. When players have the experience of being somewhere else and then have a chance to come here, they really see the value of being part of this organization.
Vermes on staying in contact with Espinoza during his time in England...
Roger and I had kept in touch this whole time that he was in England, whether it was talking over the phone or texting each other. We had steady communication. We have always thought about bringing him back, and if there was an opportunity, we would make a spot open for him one way or another. He's here and we're excited to have him.
Vermes on Sporting KC's current roster...
This isn't the final piece. The roster is fluid. It's always breathing; it has to have new opportunity; it has to have new life in it; it has to have fresh bodies in it. In a salary cap environment, things are always going to change. In regards to Roger being here in January, it was huge for both of us. He was mentally ready to leave there, and for us it was important to have a preseason with him so he can get used to the way we do things again. The good thing is he's been here and he understands how we do things. He was one of the main components in building the culture and the ethos of this club, so for him to get back into that is going to be pretty quick. He understands the way we play, he knows what's expected of him, and he's coming back with a wealth of experience that will lend itself to the club. He's going to take on a leadership role that he was necessarily ready for when he left. He's going to have a major impact on helping the team grow in the locker room and on the field.
Espinoza on having a full preseason with Sporting KC...
I'm very happy. Obviously I got drafted by Kansas City, and I know what it is like to be in a preseason with Peter. I know how important it is to have a preseason. When I showed up in England the first time I did not have a preseason there and it became really tough for me. So I was pushing hard to get here and take a little vacation, because obviously I was tired after the World Cup and didn't get much vacation. In the preseason you get to meet new players, fit into the team and see what the season will bring to you.
Vermes on how Espinoza fits in well at Sporitng KC...
A lot of it has to do with the way that he plays. We wanted to play a certain style here. You know what our style is like. It's very different from other teams in the league, and Roger was a big part of that. The way that he plays, his aggressive mentality, his never-give-up attitude on the field -- all of that is a big piece of who we are and a big reason we have (53) sellouts in a row. He was a big contributor to that style of play. I think he's coming into the best years of his career at the age he's at. We look for big things from him, and it's not just his play, it's his leadership. We don't want to just maintain who we are. We want to become something better than what we are, and he is a big piece of where this evolution is going.
Espinoza on entering the prime of his career...
With all the experience I have -- two World Cups and an Olympics -- this is the age where the majority of players hit their peak. With all the experience I had in England and knowing what Kansas City is all about, I think I have a lot to give these next few years. I enjoy soccer now more than I have at any time. When you're younger, you have a lot of pressure. But now I know what is expected of me and what it's like to play in a professional environment. This is definitely a time for me to do better things.
Vermes on the strength of Sporting KC's midfield...
I'm a big believer that the best way to develop players and get the best out of players is to have competition at every position. It was a big point of emphasis in the offseason to not only add players of Roger's caliber, but to have guys that are going to push for every position and give us the competitiveness we need. It keeps us at our best and fresh over the course of an entire season. Our midfield is good, and there will be a lot of competition in that area of the field.
Espinoza on whether Kansas City could be the final stop in his career...
Definitely. I knew I was coming back to Kansas City, I didn't know when. I've never played at any other club in MLS. Since I got to the league, the team hasn't changed completely. It's just getting better. I've always liked it here. If I hadn't left for England, I would have stayed in Kansas City. We were very close to MLS Cup before I left and I wish it would have happened while I was here. It didn't but I'm ready to win an MLS Cup with Kansas City. This is the only place I've known. This is the place that drafted me, the only team that wanted to draft me. This is where I want to be -- I love the city, no traffic, perfect.
Espinoza on his departure from England...
I obviously wanted to play in the Premier League the whole time. That didn't happen, but my goal was always to succeed. I thought I did succeed -- I won the FA Cup, which a small team winning it is unheard of. A lot of stuff did not go well this past year. I did like it there -- I liked it a lot. The club welcomed me well and they liked me. But like I said, it was the end of my contract and I needed to see where my career was going. Kansas City is the only place I've known, but I don't regret anything I did in the past. I made the right decision by going over there, and that just helped me a lot to become a better person and a better player.
Vermes on negotiations with Wigan...
We almost got this done last summer. We were trying really hard, and then Wigan came back and finaly said they weren't going to release Roger. Both Roger and I tried to make that happen and it didn't. In early October, we spoke on the phone and Roger said he really wanted to come and make it happen. We started working towards that...and it worked out for the best. We got a fair deal in the end.
