League

Captain climbing the charts: Matt Besler sets club records in Friday's historic win

A resounding 6-0 win over Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Friday saw Sporting Kansas City set single-game team records in goals, margin of victory, shots, shots on target and possession.


The match proved to be a routine exercise for Sporting KC's backline, but it didn't stop captain and center back Matt Besler from making club history of his own â€” history that spanned much longer than the course of 90 dominant minutes.


The 31-year-old Kansas City native climbed to the summit of two regular season statistical categories on Friday, tying current assistant coach Kerry Zavagnin for most starts all-time and passing him for minutes played.


MOST STARTS FOR SPORTING KC
(MLS REGULAR SEASON, ALL-TIME)

<strong>Player</strong>
<strong>Starts</strong>
<strong>Years in KC</strong>
Matt Besler<br> Kerry Zavagnin
228
2009-present<br> 2000-2008
Nick Garcia
224
2000-2007
Davy Arnaud
213
2002-2011
Jimmy Conrad
203
2003-2010
Preki
199
1996-2000;<br> 2002-2005
Graham Zusi
186
2009-present
Chris Klein
183
1998-2005
Roger Espinoza
178
2008-2012;<br> 2015-present
Seth Sinovic
163
2011-present

MOST MINUTES PLAYED FOR SPORTING KC
(MLS REGULAR SEASON, ALL-TIME)

<strong>Player</strong>
<strong>Minutes</strong>
<strong>Years in KC</strong>
Matt Besler
20,551
2009-present
Kerry Zavagnin
20,515
2000-2008
Nick Garcia
20,157
2000-2007
Davy Arnaud
19,399
2002-2011
Jimmy Conrad
18,194
2003-2010
Preki
17,817
1996-2000;<br> 2002-2005
Graham Zusi
17,160
2009-present
Chris Klein
16,380
1998-2005
Roger Espinoza
15,795
2008-2012;<br> 2015-present
Seth Sinovic
14,401
2011-present

Besler's next major milestone will come with his 240th regular season appearance, which will tie him with Davy Arnaud for the most in Kansas City history. Should Besler play every game for Sporting KC between now and then, the record-tying appearance would come when the side faces Minnesota United FC on June 3 at Children's Mercy Park.


MOST GAMES PLAYED FOR SPORTING KC 
(MLS REGULAR SEASON, ALL-TIME)

<strong>Player</strong>
<strong>Games</strong>
<strong>Years in KC</strong>
Davy Arnaud
240
2002-2011
Kerry Zavagnin
237
2000-2008
Matt Besler
234
2009-present
Graham Zusi
226
2009-present
Nick Garcia
224
2000-2007
Preki
218
1996-2000;<br> 2002-2005
Jimmy Conrad
204
2003-2010
Chris Klein
200
1998-2005
Roger Espinoza
198
2008-2012;<br> 2015-present
Jack Jewsbury
195
2003-2010