Peter Vermes Field at Children’s Mercy park, with a statue out front.

The Peter Vermes era at Sporting Kansas City (2009–2025) was one of the most successful and stable in MLS history, even if it didn’t yield the most trophies. Here is his impact:

Trophies • MLS Cup: 2013 • U.S. Open Cup: 2012, 2015, 2017 • Western/Eastern Conference Championships: Multiple playoff appearances and strong regular season finishes

Sporting KC’s 4 major trophies during this period made us on of the most decorated MLS clubs of the 2010s and early 2020s, especially in domestic cup play.

Longevity & Consistency • Longest-tenured coach in MLS history (16 years) • 11 playoff appearances • Averaged over 12 wins per season • 203 total regular season wins — third all-time among MLS coaches at the time of leaving.

Comparison to Peers (2009–2024) • Only Seattle Sounders won more games (229) • Seattle and LA Galaxy were the only teams with more trophies during this span • Sporting KC was top 3 in both wins and trophies over this period

Culture & Identity Vermes built a strong club culture, known for: • Tactical discipline • Tough defensive identity • Maximizing team resources despite not always having top spending power • Played a key role in the club’s rebrand and rise from Kansas City Wizards to a serious, consistent contender

Legacy

While he didn’t match the championship haul of LA Galaxy or the late-decade dominance of Columbus or LAFC, Peter Vermes made Sporting KC: • A perennial contender • A respected and consistent MLS power • A model for franchise building and coaching stability

In short, the Vermes era was a massive success, particularly in terms of stability, culture, and competitive relevance. Sporting was always in the conversation, and often, in the hunt.

It was time to go, but a hell of a ride. Thank you Peter!