Forward Johnny Russell named captain of Sporting KC

Sporting Kansas City Manager Peter Vermes has appointed forward Johnny Russell as the club’s captain heading into the 2021 season.

One of the most electrifying attacking players in MLS, Russell has helped lead Sporting on and off the field since joining the club in 2018. The 30-year-old Scottish international has amassed 27 goals and 30 assists in 96 competitive matches for Sporting, guiding the team to first-place finishes in the Western Conference in 2018 and 2020. He is one of only five MLS players with a combined 20 goals and 20 assists over the last three regular seasons.

Off the field, Russell has endeared himself to supporters and teammates while also engaging with the Kansas City community through The Victory Project—the club’s charitable foundation that helps children through all of life’s challenges—and a number of other fan events and youth clinics.

Russell has worn Sporting’s armband for select matches in the past, but never as the club’s full-time skipper.

“I said it last year when I was given the armband temporarily, it’s a massive honor,” Russell said this week. “To be officially named captain is an (important) thing for me and something I won’t take lightly. Everyone knows by now what you’re going to get from me and that’s not going to change.”

Russell will follow in the legendary footsteps of former Sporting defender Matt Besler, retired goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen and retired midfielder Davy Arnaud as players who have served as Sporting’s designated captain during the Children’s Mercy Park era.

“The players know I’m a very open guy,” he said. “Mainly with the younger guys, they know they can come to me with any questions or any problems that they’ve got. I’m probably more of a physical leader—I’m vocal and I try to lead with actions. The manager has obviously seen something that he thinks I can bring to the team, so again, it’s a massive honor.”

Vermes also spoke this week about his decision to give Russell the captaincy.

“As we finished last year, Johnny was captain in a lot of games and I thought he did a tremendous job,” Vermes said. “He’s shown an incredible amount of leadership last year and since we’ve been back (for preseason). Personality-wise and the way he goes about his business every day, he’s the perfect guy to rely on.”

He continued: “We need a strong personality in that position—a guy who isn’t going to break in the tough moments. He’s got the personality where he’ll bend but he’ll come right back strong. We need a leader like that, and I think he’s a perfect example of what we’re looking for in the team. I’m excited that he’s responded the way he has thus far.”