Recapping the Sporting KC Offseason
With the start of the 2023 season just weeks away, let’s cover any moves you may have missed.
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
2022. The story of two teams. One that has struggled massively without two designated players and one that has found great success with two newcomers, Erik Thommy and Willy Agada.
The season ended with very mixed feelings for most Sporting Kansas City fans. Most were understandably disappointed that the team had started the year so poorly and failed to make the playoffs. However, there was also anticipation. The team had ended the season very well and fans felt things were in a very good place for 2023.
What has changed in the new season? Do we have reason to believe that the optimism at the end of last season is justified? Let’s recap what’s happened to the team since the end of the 2022 season.
roster movements
- Squad announcements at the end of the season revealed the team had exercised options on midfielder Cam Duke, defender Kortne Ford and goalkeeper Kendall McIntosh. They signed midfielder Felipe Hernandez, forward Khiry Shelton and goalkeeper Tim Melia to new contracts and turned down options for defenders Nicolas Isimat-Mirin and Kaveh Rad (and technically Graham Zusi).
- In October, Sporting announced the signing of defensive midfielder Nemanja Radoja. The Serb native signed a three-year deal until 2025 and an option for 2026. Radoja will take an international spot in the 2023 squad.
- In December, the team announced that Graham Zusi, Roger Espinoza and Andreu Fontas had all been signed. Both Zusi and Espinoza have a one-year contract and an option until 2024, and Fontas has signed a two-year contract.
- In January, Sporting announced the signing of German left-back Tim Leibold. Leibold signed a three-year contract until 2025 with an option for 2026. Leibold will take up an international squad spot in 2023.
- Also in January it was announced that Uri Rosell would be waived by the club.
- Later in January, the team announced the signing of midfielder Danny Flores. Flores has a contract for the 2023 season with options for 2024, 2025 and 2026.
pre-season promotion
As of this writing, the team has played four of Arizona’s five scheduled preseason games.
- Preseason competitions began on January 21 with a game against the Portland Timbers. Sporting lost this duel with 0:1.
- On January 28, the team played Grand Canyon University. In a rather uneven game, Sporting scored eight goals while GCU remained goalless. Willy Agada scored twice, Marinos Tzionis scored twice, Shaun Joash, Danny Flores and Jake Davis all added a goal and one came from a GCU own goal.
- On February 4, Sporting met midweek at Louisville City FC. After Louisville took a 2-0 lead, Sporting were able to bounce back and finish the game 2-2 after two goals from Remi Walter in the second half.
- The team took on Real Salt Lake on February 8th. The game ended 2-2 with goals from Johnny Russell and Willy Agada.
The team will return to Arizona for one more game against Phoenix Rising FC on February 18 before playing the Portland Timbers for the first time of the regular season on Saturday, February 25.
Random extras
- It was previously announced that Sporting Kansas City will participate in the 2023 League’s Cup, a tournament between Major League Soccer and Liga MX. We found out in January that Sporting will play in a group with FC Cincinnati and Chivas Guadalajara. Sporting KC host Chivas and play in Cincinnati. The tournament will take place from July 21st to August 19th.
- The new 2023 main jersey will be released on February 16. The jersey will be available for purchase at 10:00 this morning.
- All MLS action will be shown on Apple TV+ this year via the new MLS Season Pass service. The new MLS platform officially launched on February 1st. Some interesting and very well done content from Sporting KC is already available for viewing. The MLS Season Pass costs $14.99 per month or $99.99 for the season ($12.99 and $79.99 if you already have Apple TV+ or are trying this hack) and broadcasts every MLS game without blackouts.
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