Sporting Kansas City have appointed head coach Peter Vermes as the club’s new chief soccer officer and manager ahead of the 2024 season.
Vermes, who’s been with Kansas City since 2009 and has compiled a 238W-119D-184L record in 541 games, is one of the most well-respected coaches in the league and is set to take on a couple of new roles with the Western Conference ream.
Vermes isn’t the only head coach to have another role within a club, as LA Galaxy’s Greg Vanney has held similar roles in year’s past.
As chief soccer officer and manager, Vermes will be responsible for newly appointed sporting director Gavin Wilkinson. Vermes previously served as SKC’s sporting director from 2019-2023.
“In his new position, Wilkinson will play a leading role in the club’s long-term player recruitment strategy, roster building and budgeting, technical staff management, and the continued development of Sporting’s professional player pathway, including MLS NEXT Pro team Sporting Kansas City II and the Sporting Kansas City Academy,” a club statement read.
SKC couldn’t buy a win in their first 10 games of the 2023 MLS season due to long-term injuries and recovering players like Comeback Player of the Year Alan Pulido.
However, Vermes was able to right the ship near the end of the campaign to steer Kansas City to a Wild Card spot as they triumphed over San Jose Earthquakes and St Louis CITY before coming up short against Houston Dynamo in the Western Conference semifinal.
With the 2024 season on the horizon, SKC have brought in full-back Zorhan Bassong while transferring out midfielder Gadi Kinda. Right before the 2023 campaign kicked off, Vermes signed a new long-term deal with Kansas City, keeping him at the club through 2028.
