Sporting Kansas City
Sporting Kansas City is an American football franchise of the Major League Soccer ( MLS) from Kansas City, Kansas. The franchise was founded in 1995 and participated in the inaugural season in 1996 on the game mode. The team colors are blue and white.
- 3.1 fan groups
- 3.2 rivalries
- 6.1 Current squad
- 6.2 Existing Players
- 6.3 Coaching staff
- 6.4 Existing trainer
- 8.1 record this season
- 8.2 Club Records
- 8.3 Visitors section
History
The first years (1996 to 1999)
The club was founded in 1995 under the name Kansas City Wiz. First owner was the entrepreneur Lamar Hunt. Because of a dispute over the copyright of the name was changed after the first season in Wizards. The name refers to the Wizard of Oz
The first game was played on April 13, 1996 against the Colorado Rapids. It ended 3-0 to the Wizards through the gates of Vitalis Takawira and Frank Klopas. The Englishman Ron Newman was the first coach of the team. Under him, the team was able to complete the first season successfully qualifying for the play-offs. There, the team met with Dallas Burn and won after three games. In the semifinals, the Wiz subject, however, against Los Angeles Galaxy.
The success of the first season continued in 1997. Kansas City could win the Western Conference and re-qualify for the play- offs. There, the team was defeated, however, against the Colorado Rapids. The scorer Preki was named the best player in Major League Soccer. The 1998 MLS season for the Wizards to a disaster. The team reached the last place in the Western Conference, and thus not qualifying for the play-offs. 1999 continued this downward trend and even during the season, the previous coach Ron Newman was replaced by the former U.S. national team coach Bob Gansler. Despite the change of coach the team landed again in last place in the Western Conference.
MLS Cup 2000
In the 2000 MLS season, the team returned to her form of 1996 and 1997. Great share of the total, alongside trainer Gansler, players Tony Meola and Miklos Molnar. Meola was 681 minutes long without conceding a goal. At the end of the regular season, Kansas City set a record with 16 wins and only 7 losses in 32 games and won on the best team in both repartee, the MLS Supporters' Shield. In the play-offs, the team was able to beat the Colorado Rapids and Los Angeles Galaxy. The MLS Cup match, the team secured a 1-0 victory victory over the Chicago Fire SC and thus the championship. The goal was scored by Molnar in the 11th minute.
Years after the victory (2001 to 2010)
For the 2001 season, the scorer Preki left the team to Miami Fusion. As a replacement of the former U.S. international striker Roy Lassiter was committed. The Wizards were indeed to qualify for the MLS playoffs, but lost in the quarterfinals against Miami Fusion. This was repeated in 2002, but was called the play-off opponents Los Angeles Galaxy. Because the gain of the MLS Cup 2000, the team for the CONCACAF Champions ' Cup qualifying 2002. Kansas City managed to prevail to the semifinals, but was defeated there Monarcas Morelia from Mexico. Also participating in the U.S. Open Cup was more successful than in the league. After victories against Rochester Rhinos and Milwaukee Rampage, the team reached the semi-finals. There, however, won the Columbus Crew.
2004 you missed the Supporter 's Shield just barely. After victories over the San Jose Earthquakes and the Los Angeles Galaxy, the Wizards reached the MLS Cup for the second time. In Carson they lost D.C. United 3-2. After the season, the Wizards were transferred to the Eastern Conference. August 31, 2006 it was announced that Lamar Hunt sold the team to a group of local businessmen. Hunt wanted to sell the Wizards since the end of 2004, but found no takers.
After a disappointing 2006 season, Curt Onalfo took over the post of coach. Previously, the previous coach Bob Gansler, who supervised the team for six years, dismissed. In the following season, the team was able to reach the semi-finals of the play-offs. A large proportion of this was the new signing Kevin Hartman, who took care of the necessary security in the gate.
For the 2008 season the team moved to the Community America Ballpark and was again able to reach the play -offs. This they managed no longer 2009 and 2010. Since August 2009, the former U.S. national team coach Peter Vermes is the Wizs.
Sporting (2011 - )
After the 2010 season, one named to the team in Sporting Kansas City. According to the team owners you wanted to create a new identity, which has a closer relationship with the fans as the target. On June 9, the team moved into the new stadium, Livestrong Sporting Park, a.
The first season under the new name was successful. the team secured the first place in the Eastern Conference. Successful scorers in the Reagular Season were Teal Bunbury, Omar Bravo and Kei Kamara, each with nine gates. In the play-offs to Sporting sat against the Colorado Rapids in the quarter- finals. In the semifinals, the Conference finals, but they lost to Houston Dynamo 0-2. In U.S. Open Cup, the team made it to the quarterfinals, but against the Richmond Kickers could not exist.
Crest and colors
The logo of Sporting Kansas City consists of the colors dark indigo and " Sporting " blue. The coat of arms has the shape of a shield. On this the state line between Kansas and Missouri is shown, this represents the fan base on both sides of the border. The eleven different lines that summarize the six stripes on the right side, symbolizing eleven players who are on the field for a team. The interlocking "SC" is on the staff of the Greek Asklepios, god of healing, back. This also stands for health and fitness. More symbolization of this are the Greek statue Nike of Samothrace and the Spanish architecture of the Country Club Plaza in Kansas City 's.
Logo Kansas City Wizards (1997 - 2006)
Logo Kansas City Wizards (2006 - 2010)
Logo Sporting Kansas City Wizards ( since 2011 )
Fans and rivals
Fan groups
Sporting has a fan club named " The Cauldron ".
Rivalries
There is no rivalry to another MLS club. Just as New England Revolution Sporting participates in any " MLS Rivalry Cup".
Stadium
- Arrowhead Stadium Kansas City (Missouri ) ( 1996-2007 )
- Blue Valley Sports Complex: Overland Park (Kansas ) (2001, 2004, 2006 ) - 5 games in U.S. Open Cup
- Julian Field: Parkville (Missouri ) (2005 ) - 2 games in U.S. Open Cup
- Community America Ballpark Kansas City (Kansas ) ( 2008-2011)
- Stanley H. Durwood Stadium: Kansas City (Missouri ) (2010 ) - 1 game in U.S. Open Cup
- Livestrong Sporting Park Kansas City (Kansas ) (2011 - )
From 1996 to 2007, the Wizards wore their home games at Arrowhead Stadium. This was built for American football stadium was also used by the Kansas City Chiefs. In 2007, the stadium was renovated, so that the Wizards had to look for a new venue.
From 2008 to 2011, the Wizards Community America Ballpark use the in Kansas City, Kansas. This resulted from an agreement with baseball team Kansas City T-Bones of the Northern League. The stadium is located in Kansas City, Kansas, and not like the Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. Hence the move of the team came about. Both cities are located but in the immediate neighborhood.
For some time the club owner planned to build their own soccer -specific stadium. 2007, announced plans by which Sporting is a terrain in southeastern Kansas City's (Missouri ) tried. End of 2007, the building plans were approved by the City Council in late 2008, the financing with the state of Missouri has been clarified. Once the Bannister Mall, a former shopping center, was demolished in the construction of the stadium, which was known under the name " Trails Stadium" should start. Because of the economic crisis, the plans were rejected and they were looking instead for a location in Kansas City (Kansas ). This was found with the location near the " Village West " and after all approvals were obtained, finally began on 20 January 2010, the construction work on the stadium. The $ 180 million Livestrong Sporting Park expensive offers 18,500 spectators. On 9 June 2011, the stadium was opened. The first game took place on the same day and ended in a 0-0 draw against Chicago Fire.
Since August 31, 2006 is the Sporting Club owner of Sporting Kansas City. Previously owned the franchise Lamar Hunt. The Sporting Club is a group of investors from Kansas City and consists of five people: Neal Patterson (CEO and co-founder of Cerner Corporation), Clifford Illig (co-founder and Vice - Chairman of the Cerner Corporation), Pat Curran (founder of C3 Holdings), Greg Maday (CEO of SpecChem ), Robb Heineman (CEO of OnGoal, partner of rock Iceland Capital). Heinemann is also owner of the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the NBA Development League.
Players and staff
Current squad
As of November 1, 2012.
Existing players
→ Main article: List of players from Sporting Kansas City
Coaching staff
As of November 1, 2012.
- United States Peter Vermes ( Trainer)
- United States Kerry Zavagnin (assistant coach )
- Yugoslavia Socialist Federal Republic of Zoran Savic (assistant coach )
- United States John Pascarella ( Goalkeeper Coach )
- United States Mateus Manoel ( Fitness Trainer)
Previous coach
- England Ron Newman (1996-1999)
- England Ken Fogarty (1999; interim coach )
- United States Bob Gansler (1999-2006)
- United States Brian Bliss (2006; interim coach )
- United States Curt Onalfo (2006-2009)
- United States Peter Vermes (2009 -)
Achievements
- MLS Cup Winner ( 2): 2000, 2013
- Finale ( 1): 2004
- MLS Supporters' Shield Winner (1 ): 2000
- Second ( 3): 1997, 2004, 2012
- Winner ( Playoff) ( 1): 2004
- Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Winner ( 2): 2004, 2012
Statistics
Record this season
Club Records
These records relate to the regular season up to and including the 2010 season:
- Most Games: United States Kerry Zavagnin, 225
- Top goals: United States Preki, 71
- Most Assists: United States Preki, 98
- Most clean sheets: United States Tony Meola, 37