Sporting Club announced on Tuesday the five nominees for the 2014 Sporting Legend: Jimmy Conrad, Mo Johnston, Chris Klein, Peter Vermes and Kerry Zavagnin.
Sporting Legends, an initiative launched by Sporting Club that pays tribute to club icons and provides a platform for inductees to re-engage with the local soccer community, will induct one new Legend annually beginning this year.
The 2014 Legend will be selected on a weighted vote through social media and SportingKC.com. Fan voting will take place from June 17-30, and the leading vote getter will be unveiled as the newest member of the Sporting Legends in a halftime induction ceremony at a Sporting Kansas City match later this summer at Sporting Park.
In August 2013, Sporting Kansas City and Sporting Club selected Predrag “Preki” Radosavljevic, Tony Meola and Bob Gansler as members of the inaugural Sporting Legends class to recognize their integral roles within the organization and in the growth of soccer in Kansas City.
See how each of the 2014 nominees contributed to the club, then vote for your selection online and on Twitter using the hashtag #VoteSporting.
Jimmy Conrad
Conrad made 204 appearances for the club from 2003-2010 and scored 17 goals, the most by a defender in team history. He guided Kansas City to the 2004 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and an appearance in MLS Cup later that season. The centerback was a six-time MLS All-Star (2004-2009), a four-time MLS Best XI selection (2004-2006, 2008) and the 2005 MLS Defender of the Year.
Conrad earned 27 caps for the U.S. Men’s National Team, winning the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2005 and competing at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany. He won MLS Cup in 2001 with the San Jose Earthquakes.
Mo Johnston
Johnston played for Kansas City from 1996-2001, making 164 appearances and scoring 32 goals. The Scottish forward, who earned 38 caps for his country, was a three-time MLS All-Star (1996-1998), the team’s top goal scorer (11) in 1998 and played an integral role in Kansas City’s run to the MLS Cup and MLS Supporters’ Shield in 2000.
“MoJo” stayed attached to MLS after his playing career ended. He coached the New York Red Bulls from 2005-2006 and became Toronto FC’s first manager in 2007. He was Toronto FC’s Director of Football from 2008-2010.
Chris Klein
Klein was a vital contributor in the Kansas City midfield from 1998-2005, registering 42 goals and 45 assists in 216 games. He won MLS Comeback Player of the Year in 2002 and 2005 and was a four-time MLS All-Star (2002-2005). Klein’s run of 118 consecutive starts – spanning from June 2005 with Kansas City to April 2009 with the Los Angeles Galaxy – remains an MLS record.
Klein scored five goals in 22 appearances for the U.S. Men’s National Team from 2000-2006 and represented the country at the 2003 Confederations Cup.
Peter Vermes
Sporting Kansas City’s manager for the past six seasons, Vermes is the second-longest serving head coach in team history. He has won two major trophies – the 2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and the 2013 MLS Cup championship – as well as two MLS Eastern Conference regular season titles (2011, 2012). He owns a franchise-best .557 winning percentage as manager.
As a player, Vermes was one of the club’s most imposing defenders. He anchored the backline from 2000-2002, starting 78 games and garnering MLS Defender of the Year honors in 2000. Kansas City allowed just 29 goals in 32 regular season games that year en route to winning the MLS Cup and MLS Supporters’ Shield. He earned 67 caps for the U.S. Men’s National Team from 1988-1997 and competed at the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy.
Vermes is the only person to ever win the MLS Cup as both a player and a coach with the same team.
Kerry Zavagnin
An assistant coach since 2009, Zavagnin has helped transform Sporting Kansas City into one of the League’s most successful franchises. Like Vermes, Zavagnin’s Kansas City playing career began in 2000 when he became a regular starter at the defensive midfield position. He was a 2004 MLS All-Star and Best XI selection, leading the team to the finals of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and MLS Cup that season.
Zavagnin made 205 appearances from 2000-2008, and his 20,515 minutes played rank first in franchise history among field players. He received 21 caps for the U.S. Men’s National Team from 2000-2006.
In the days surrounding the induction ceremony later this summer, the 2014 Legend will partake in several activities to reconnect with the club’s growing fan base, assist the effort to develop soccer on a regional and national level, and leave a philanthropic impact on the community.
Last August, Preki and Meola participated in a futsal mini-clinic at the brand new Wyandotte High School futsal courts and appeared at Children's Mercy Hospital to support The Victory Project by visiting with children. They attended the Sporting Kansas City Academy Affiliate All-Star Game at the Sporting Club Training Center in Swope Park for a Q&A with players and coaches, and were officially recognized at halftime of Aug. 3’s match between Sporting Kansas City and the New York Red Bulls at Sporting Park. Immediately following the match, Preki and Meola visited the Boulevard Members Club for interaction with supporters.
