Seth Sinovic will leave Sporting KC this offseason after a 2020 option in his contract was declined. The full-back was a stalwart under Peter Vermes, a man impossible to hate.
Earlier this week, Sporting Kansas City announced that they have declined the option for Seth Sinovic, ending an unforgettable nine-year stint with the club.
Sinovic, born and raised in Leawood, Kansas, graduated from Rockhurst High School, before he attended four years at Creighton University. While at Creighton, Sinovic also played for Chicago Fire Premier, Chicago Fire’s USL Premier Development League.
After having a successful college career as a Bluejay, the New England Revolution drafted him 25th overall in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft but he was waived not even two years into his career, making just 20 appearances. After a failed trial with Real Salt Lake, Sporting Kansas City came calling in May 2011.
It was little more than a punt. Sinovic was largely viewed as a player who lacked the necessary quality to handle MLS and the professional game in North America. But Sporting KC swung for the fences, and they didn’t half connect.
Sinovic’s career took off in Kansas City. He was, funnily enough, left exposed in the 2011 Expansion Draft and selected by the Montreal Impact, but was then traded back to Sporting KC for allocation money and Davy Arnaud. I am sure Montreal are regretting that trade. All in all, Sinovic made 257 appearances for his hometown team, which is seventh-most in club history.
He played a key role in the 2013 MLS Cup-winning team, including playing all 120 minutes in the final and scoring a penalty, and won three U.S. Open Cups during his time under coach Peter Vermes. Sinovic was named Sporting KC’s Defender of the Year for his performances in 2014 and was everpresent in one of the best defenses in MLS for the best part of the last decade.
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Sinovic’s most memorable moment was his first professional goal in Matt Reis’ final game, which happened to be a major turning point for Sporting Kansas City’s 2013 MLS Cup triumph. But it was his overall consistency, work ethic, dependability that made him such a fan favorite at Children’s Mercy Park.
Outside of soccer, Sinovic has been very involved with the community, winning the Neal and Jeanne Patterson Humanitarian of the Year award in 2017 for his work with The Victory Project and Children’s Mercy Hospital. Sinovic is also a huge supporter of Kansas City sports, including Kansas Jayhawks, making multiple radio appearances and talking KU basketball with Nate Bukaty on Sports Radio 810’s ‘The Border Patrol.’
It is safe to say that Vermes got every ounce of talent out of Sinovic, who’s determination and work rate forced him back into the starting XI year after year. He was not the most gifted individual. He had to work for everything he got. But throughout it all, Sinovic acted with class and grace, on and off the pitch.
With Sporting KC choosing not to exercise a 2020 option in the defender’s contract, Sinovic will now depart a legend. He is the man impossible to hate, especially in Kansas City.