Football Season Guide

Sporting Kansas City salvaged a troubled and injury-riddled 2023 season with a late surge into the play-offs and a surprise run to the Western Conference semi-finals. 2024 looked as though it could follow the same pattern, but the revival never came and they finished a whopping 16 points outside the play-off places. Injuries also weren’t an excuse this time around and even a run to the US Open Cup final didn’t paper over the cracks of what was a pretty wretched campaign. Peter Vermes is the longest-tenured manager in MLS, having been in charge at SKC since 2009, but he is now under huge pressure to deliver in 2025 and tough decisions had to be made in the off-season. A lot of popular players in recent years were allowed to leave like captain Johnny Russell, star striker Alan Pulido, Remi Walter, Tim Melia and Andreu Fontàs. All experienced campaigners and regular starters. The big marquee signing is striker Dejan Joveljić who is a surprise arrival after winning MLS Cup with LA Galaxy last season and finishing as their joint-top scorer with 21 goals across all competitions. Attacking-midfielder Manu García and winger Magomed-Shapi Suleymanov both join from Greek club Aris. García is expected to fill the Number 10 role in Vermes’ 4-2-3-1 system. While the attack has been strengthened, the defence has been neglected thus far. Only two teams in the entire MLS conceded more goals in 2024 than Sporting KC and if they fail to address that area of the pitch, it could be another slog this season.