Sporting Kansas City Parts Ways with Coach Peter Vermes After 21 Seasons

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Sporting Kansas City announced on Monday that it has mutually parted ways with Manager Peter Vermes, marking the end of his 21-season tenure as the longest-serving head coach in Major League Soccer.

Kerry Zavagnin, who has been an assistant coach at Sporting Kansas City since 2009, will serve as interim head coach starting immediately. The decision comes after a challenging start to the 2025 MLS season, with Sporting currently at the bottom of the Western Conference standings.

“It would be hard to list all of the people I want to thank after 20 seasons in managerial positions at Sporting Kansas City,” Vermes stated. “I am thankful to everyone, especially ownership for giving me the opportunity of being a steward of this club for the past two decades. I wish the club nothing but the best in the future.”

Vermes was initially appointed as the technical director in November 2006 and assumed the head coaching role on August 4, 2009. Under his leadership, Sporting Kansas City evolved into a formidable franchise, claiming the MLS Cup in 2013 and U.S. Open Cup titles in 2012, 2015, and 2017.

During his 17 years as head coach, Vermes led the team to 11 playoff appearances, a feat that included an impressive streak of eight consecutive playoff berths from 2011 to 2018. He remains one of the few individuals within MLS history to win the MLS Cup as both a player and a coach for the same club, having secured the championship with the Wizards in 2000 as a central defender.

With 203 regular season victories, Vermes ranks third on the all-time MLS coaching leaderboard and has managed 609 matches across all competitions, more than any other MLS coach.

Inducted into the U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame in 2013, Vermes was recognized as the inaugural MLS Sporting Executive of the Year in 2019. Under his guidance, Sporting Kansas City saw significant infrastructure developments, including the construction of Children's Mercy Park and the Compass Minerals National Performance Center.

In 2020, Vermes played a crucial role in implementing return-to-play protocols during the COVID-19 pandemic and led Sporting to secure the top spot in the Western Conference standings twice in three seasons.

As the 2025 season progresses, Sporting Kansas City has struggled to find its footing, experiencing a record of 1 draw and 5 losses in the first six matches. Their recent form extends to 12 losses in their last 13 competitive fixtures, leading to the coaching change.

Vermes’ legacy includes not only his titles but also the impact he made on the club’s culture and infrastructure, cementing his role as a transformative figure in Kansas City soccer. Zavagnin, who played 291 matches for Kansas City and also earned accolades during his playing career, will now step into a crucial leadership role as the club looks to regain its competitive edge.

Sporting Kansas City is set to face rivals St. Louis City SC on Saturday, as the team begins a new chapter under interim head coach Kerry Zavagnin.