As momentum builds toward Major League Soccer’s 26th season in 2021, Sporting Kansas City players and coaches will look to lay the foundations for another successful campaign when preseason training unfolds this month in Arizona.
With newcomers joining familiar faces for the 2021 preseason presented by Children’s Mercy, SportingKC.com has launched the “Sporting Preseason Spotlight” web series to acquaint supporters with the goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders and forwards who will help Sporting Kansas City compete for silverware in 2021. To read up on every player and visit the series archive as it expands, head to SportingKC.com/Spotlight.
The fact that Roberto Puncec was named Sporting Kansas City's defensive player of the year following one of the best regular seasons in club history should tell you something about the center back's quality.
The 29-year-old Croatian quietly pieced together a strong MLS debut in 2020, serving as Sporting's most reliable defender over the course of an abridged campaign. And with a full 34-game slate awaiting, Puncec will look to take another upward step in 2021.
Career Overview
Puncec has amassed upwards of 300 professional appearances across 13 professional seasons in Croatia, Israel, Germany and the U.S.. The center back arrived in Kansas City at the end of 2019 after spending two and a half seasons with Croatian first-division club HNK Rijeka, where he won the 2019 Croatian Cup.
After developing at hometown club NK Varazdin and spending one season with Israeli side Maccabi Tel Aviv, Puncec began a five-year stint with German side Union Berlin of the second-division 2. Bundesliga in 2012. He featured regularly during his time in the German capital, starting 118 of 128 appearances in all competitions as Union Berlin finished in the top half of the table in each of his five seasons with the club. He returned to Croatia by signing for HNK Rijeka and anchored the club’s defense from 2017-2019.
2020 Review
Puncec appeared in all but one of Sporting’s 21 regular season matches last year, starting 18, and went the full 90 minutes in each of the club’s seven shutout efforts. He started 22 off 24 games in all competitions and finished with a team-high 2,065 minutes among field players. Puncec wasted no time endearing himself to Sporting fans, recording an assist 17 minutes into his MLS debut by setting up Alan Pulido’s goal in a season-opening win at Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Feb. 29, 2020.
2021 Outlook
If Puncec can replicate or even improve upon his form from last season, the Croatian will almost certainly have an important role to play as Sporting navigates a busy campaign from April to November.
Number Crunch
Last season, Puncec finished with regular season team-highs in passes (910), successful passes (793), interceptions (25), clearances (59) and blocks (11).
He Said It
"He’s great and I think he’s grown in quality every game. He’s getting more comfortable, his presence on the field is great, his communication – we’re all just getting to know one another. Robi’s been very impressive and we’re happy to have him here."
Sporting goalkeeper Tim Melia remarking on Puncec's performance in a 2-0 win at Real Salt Lake on Nov. 8, 2020.
Did You Know?
As a youth, Puncec represented Croatia at the U-14 through U-21 levels and garnered significant experience in international competitions. He made five appearances at the 2010 UEFA European Under-19 Championship, leading Croatia to the semifinals, then played all three games at the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Colombia. Puncec also featured in qualifying matches for the 2011 and 2013 editions of the UEFA Under-21 Championship.
On Social Media
Supporters can follow Puncec on Instagram at @puncec_roberto.
