When World Cup veteran and MLS All-Star Peter Vermes joined the Wizards in 2000, he never would have guessed that he’d end up spending the next 20 years in Kansas City.
As fate would have it, that is exactly what has happened—and Vermes couldn’t be more pleased with the journey thus far. The Sporting Kansas City Manager and Sporting Director has coached the club to four major championships in addition to winning the 2000 MLS Cup and Supporters’ Shield as a player.
All the while, he has become one of the most accomplished coaches in MLS history, built an entire club culture and put Sporting on the map as a perennial title contender.
Vermes joined sports journalist and author David Smale last week as a new guest on the Sports Connections podcast, discussing a wide array of topics as Sporting prepares for the 2021 MLS campaign.
Why did Vermes transition from a forward to a defender during his playing career? What is his recruiting pitch to prospective recruits? Who are some of the favorite players he has coached? What is the key to sustained growth in MLS? Just how bright is the future of the U.S. Men’s National Team, and how much does Kansas City mean to him as both a home and a soccer city?
Vermes discusses all of that and more in the podcast above.
Sporting is scheduled to begin preseason training on March 8, giving the club six weeks of preparation before Major League Soccer’s 26th regular season kicks off the weekend of April 17.
