For the first time in the 25-year history of Major League Soccer, the month of February will mark the start of regular season play. On Feb. 29, clubs across the United States and Canada will step between the white lines with hopes of collecting three points to begin 2020.
A delectable opening day of MLS action will see Sporting Kansas City visit Vancouver Whitecaps FC at 9:30 p.m. CT, giving supporters their first real look at Manager Peter Vermes’ side since last October.
As the anticipated date approaches, SportingKC.com will roll out a 28-day countdown to first kick, offering a comprehensive preview of the season ahead. From key storylines and positional breakdowns to new fan initiatives and perks at Children’s Mercy Park, our Countdown to Kickoff series will highlight the many reasons to be pumped for Sporting’s 2020 campaign. To visit the series homepage as it expands, head to SportingKC.com/countdown.
Before we get reacquainted with the Sporting Kansas City technical staff, please take note: Manager and Sporting Director Peter Vermes has already warranted his very own article in the Countdown to Kickoff series. You can read up on Sporting's legendary head coach by clicking here.
With that in mind, let's get familiar with the rest of the club's technical staff in the space below.
Kerry Zavagnin | Assistant Coach
Like Vermes, Zavagnin has become an institution at Sporting. The 12th-year assistant coach has spent each of the last 20 seasons with the club, serving as a standout midfielder from 2000-2008 before taking his current role in 2009. He is the only individual to have played or coached for the same club in every MLS season this century.
Zoran Savic | Assistant Coach
Savic was named an assistant at the same time Vermes began his managerial stint in 2009. His impressive career as a player and coach spans more than three decades, including a prolific goal scoring ledger with the Kansas City Comets and an assistant role with Chivas USA in 2007.
Alec Dufty | Goalkeeper Coach
A former MLS player who began his professional career with the New York Red Bulls, Dufty arrived in Kansas City in 2016 as the Sporting KC II goalkeeper coach. He was promoted to the first team role in 2017, the same year Tim Melia landed MLS Goalkeeper of the Year honors.
Joey Harty | Director of Sports Performance & Science
As the head fitness coach, Harty manages all aspects of the club’s performance department from the academy to the senior team. He also oversees day-to-day training plans on and off the field, including work in the weight room, soccer session planning, on-field movement training, data analysis and more.
Brian Bliss | Technical Director & Vice President of Player Personnel
A World Cup and Olympic veteran for the United States Men’s National Team, Bliss oversees player personnel matters while assisting in domestic and international scouting. He also shares a player assessment role for Sporting KC II and the Sporting KC Academy. He ended his MLS playing career in 1998 with the Kansas City Wizards and served as an assistant coach for the team from 2000-2006.
Meghan Cameron | Assistant Director of Player Personnel
Entering her third season with the club, Cameron specializes in roster and budget management while also holding a player development and scouting role for the first team, Sporting KC II and the Sporting KC Academy. She brings a wealth of knowledge and professional experience from her previous role as Senior Manager of Player Relations at Major League Soccer.
Ash Wallace | Tactical Analyst
Wallace has served as Sporting's Tactical Analyst since 2012, aiding the first team coaching staff in a variety of roles. The England native helps scout and develop game plans for upcoming opponents, assists in planning and executing training sessions and provides valuable analysis for coaches and players regarding strategy.
Kurt Andrews | Director of Sports Medicine
Andrews arrived in Kansas City ahead of the 2018 season after six years as the LA Galaxy’s assistant athletic trainer, during which time he was part of two MLS Cup championship teams. The Michigan native oversees Sporting’s staff of sports medicine experts and works in tandem with Children's Mercy Hospital on a variety of initiatives from the first team to the Academy.
For a comprehensive look at Sporting's extended technical staff, click here.
