Sporting Kansas City announced today the club's roster for the 2019 preseason, presented by Children's Mercy.
The preseason squad currently consists of 39 players, including the 26 signed to MLS contracts, four members of the Swope Park Rangers, five Sporting KC Academy players, three unsigned MLS SuperDraft selections and one trialist.
The Rangers quartet joining Sporting KC in Arizona consists of Justin Bilyeu and Academy products Felipe Hernandez, Wilson Harris and Will Little. The five other current Academy players on the trip include Mo Abualnadi, Jake Davis, Sean Karani, Tucker Lepley and Brooks Thompson.
Kamar Marriott, Franky Martinez and Camden Riley represent the MLS SuperDraft contingent, while Daniel Johnson — a midfielder who has spent the last two seasons with the Chicago Fire — has joined the group as a trialist.
Sporting will spend both legs of preseason in Arizona, training in Scottsdale through Jan. 31 and again from Feb. 6-19 before facing Deportivo Toluca FC in the first leg of the Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League Round of 16 on Feb. 21 at Children's Mercy Park.
Sporting will play seven friendlies in Arizona, including a doubleheader against USL Championship outfit Phoenix Rising FC on Feb. 7 and split-squad fixtures against the Houston Dynamo and FC Tucson, respectively, on Feb. 13. Their first preseason tune-up is slated for Friday against Sporting Arizona FC.
Sporting KC 2019 Preseason Schedule
<strong>DATE</strong> |
<strong>OPPONENT</strong> |
<strong>TIME (CT)</strong> |
<strong>VENUE</strong> |
Friday, Jan. 18 |
Sporting Arizona FC |
11:30am |
Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex (Scottsdale) |
Wednesday, Jan. 23 |
Phoenix Rising FC Trialists |
11:30am |
Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex (Scottsdale) |
Wednesday, Jan. 30 |
FC Tucson Trialists |
12pm |
Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex (Scottsdale) |
Thursday, Feb. 7 |
Phoenix Rising FC<br>
(two 75-minute matches) |
7pm |
Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex (Scottsdale) |
Wednesday, Feb. 13 |
Houston Dynamo <strong>*</strong> |
5pm |
Kino Sports Complex (Tucson) |
Wednesday, Feb. 13 |
FC Tucson <strong>*</strong> |
5pm |
Kino Sports Complex (Tucson) |
*Matches to be played concurrently
Sporting KC 2019 Preseason Roster
<strong>NO.</strong> |
<strong>PLAYER</strong> |
<strong>POSITION</strong> |
<strong>AGE</strong> |
1 |
Adrian Zendejas |
Goalkeeper |
23 |
2 |
Botond Barath |
Defender |
26 |
3 |
Ike Opara |
Defender |
29 |
4 |
Andreu Fontas |
Defender |
29 |
5 |
Matt Besler |
Defender |
31 |
6 |
Ilie Sanchez |
Midfielder |
28 |
7 |
Johnny Russell |
Forward |
28 |
8 |
Graham Zusi |
Defender |
32 |
9 |
Krisztian Nemeth |
Forward |
30 |
10 |
Yohan Croizet |
Midfielder |
26 |
11 |
Kelyn Rowe |
Midfielder |
27 |
12 |
Gerso Fernandes |
Forward |
27 |
13 |
Gianluca Busio |
Midfielder |
16 |
15 |
Seth Sinovic |
Defender |
31 |
16 |
Graham Smith |
Defender |
23 |
17 |
Roger Espinoza |
Midfielder |
32 |
18 |
Eric Dick |
Goalkeeper |
24 |
19 |
Erik Hurtado |
Forward |
28 |
20 |
Daniel Salloi |
Forward |
22 |
21 |
Felipe Gutierrez |
Midfielder |
28 |
22 |
Rodney Wallace |
Defender |
30 |
26 |
Jaylin Lindsey |
Defender |
18 |
28 |
Tyler Freeman |
Forward |
16 |
29 |
Tim Melia |
Goalkeeper |
32 |
75 |
Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal |
Midfielder |
20 |
94 |
Jimmy Medranda |
Defender |
24 |
Justin Bilyeu * |
Defender |
24 |
|
Felipe Hernandez * |
Midfielder |
20 |
|
Wilson Harris * |
Forward |
19 |
|
Will Little * |
Midfielder |
20 |
|
Mo Abualnadi ^ |
Defender |
17 |
|
Jake Davis ^ |
Midfielder |
17 |
|
Tucker Lepley ^ |
Midfielder |
16 |
|
Sean Karani ^ |
Midfielder |
18 |
|
Brooks Thompson ^ |
Goalkeeper |
16 |
|
Kamar Marriott ** |
Midfielder |
22 |
|
Franky Martinez ** |
Defender |
23 |
|
Camden Riley ** |
Midfielder |
22 |
|
Daniel Johnson ^^ |
Midfielder |
23 |
* Swope Park Rangers
^ Sporting KC Academy
** Unsigned MLS SuperDraft pick
^^ Trialist
