Sporting KC: Who is on Sporting’s Mount Rushmore?
By Nathan Dunn
As one of MLS’ original franchises, Sporting KC has had a good variety of talent but defensively and offensively. But who is on their Mount Rushmore?
American history brought about a great sculpture depicting what is known as ‘Mount Rushmore’ in Keystone, South Dakota. This sculpture depicts four iconic U.S. presidents: Theodore Roosevelt, Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson.
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Sporting Kansas City is built on innovativeness and originality around a city of soccer that really didn’t begin until indoor soccer hit in the 1980s. Four decades later and Kansas City has been home to one of the most successful clubs in the nation.
From signings like Mo Johnston and Omar Bravo, the club has been able to pull in big signings only when absolutely necessary. But who is on SKC’s Mount Rushmore? Find out below.
Peter Vermes
Peter Vermes is a no-doubter for many obvious reasons. His vision, passion, and attitude along with the support of an ambitious ownership group have made Sporting KC what it is today. The New Jersey native was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2013. As the longest-tenured manager in MLS, Vermes was also named the 2019 MLS Sporting Executive of the Year.
Vermes originally joined the Kansas City Wizards as a player in 2000, where he was named an MLS All-Star and the 2000 MLS Defender of the Year as he anchored the club’s first-ever MLS Cup-winning defense. Vermes’ last two seasons didn’t go as well, struggling with injury before his retirement in 2002. He ended his playing career with 78 appearances and two goals for the Wizards.
After his playing days, the former American international briefly joined the San Jose Earthquakes broadcast team before returning to the Kansas City Wizards as the club’s technical director. Upon the firing of Wizards manager Curt Onalfo in 2009, Vermes took over and carried the organization through a complete rebrand, which included a new crest, uniform, name, and stadium. Vermes has been at the helm of Sporting Kansas City ever since, serving as the manager for four major trophies. Vermes held the sporting director position from 2006-2018 when he was replaced by Brian Bliss. Vermes currently serves as the manager and sporting director.
Vermes is the only person to win MLS Cup as a player and as a manager with the same club. While he wasn’t apart of the Wizards 2004 U.S. Open Cup win, he has guided Sporting KC to three Open Cup triumphs as a manager. He is an absolute legend of soccer in Kansas City.