Sigi Schmid, the all-time winningest head coach in MLS history, passed away on Dec. 25 at the age of 65. Below are remarks from Sporting Kansas City Manager Peter Vermes on Schmid's passing and his incredible impact on the sport of soccer.
"I had the tremendous privilege of being coached by Sigi with the U.S. national team prior to the 1994 World Cup. Then to have coached with him with the U-20's before the 2005 World Championship was a fantastic experience, but most of all we became friends. He was a class person through and through.
"We always kept in touch and I knew he was ill, and to hear that he passed was nothing less than devastating. I had asked him a couple of times over the years if he was ever going to retire and enjoy the fruits of his labor, but I realized it was a silly question. He was not the type to retire. His love and passion for the game of soccer was his life.
"Sigi gave so much to the sport and influenced all the people who came across his path from players to coaches to management and more. I am going to miss him and our long conversations. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family, and Sigi will never be forgotten."
