Sporting KC is back in action and ready for the season. This year’s Sporting KC roster is looking stacked with newcomers and veteran players. Although the SKC roster may have changed since last year, we can expect another go around
In 2017 Sporting KC took home the Lamar Cup Championship and had themselves a killer year. The players of Sporting KC stepped up and Kansas City was hungry for victory. Familiarize yourself with the great Sporting KC players and take a look at the history behind our favorite teammates. Although some players have come and gone, we will never forget those who have worn the baby blue and battled for us as a Sporting KC athlete.
Sporting KC Roster Highlights
Graham Zusi:
Age: 31
Birthplace: Orlando, FL
Position: Defender/Midfielder #8
Major Achievements:
Selected by Sporting KC in 2009 in the MLS SuperDraft
Courtesy of Sporting KC
MLSSoccer.com’s Breakout Player of the Year 2011
MLS MVP Finalist 2012
U.S. Men’s National Team 2012
MLS All-Star 2013, 2014, 2015
U.S. FIFA World Cup Team 2014
U.S. Men’s National Team for Copa America Centenario 2016
MLS All-Star 2013, 2014, 2015
U.S. FIFA World Cup Team 2014
U.S. Men’s National Team for Copa America Centenario 2016
CONCACAF Gold Cup Title 2017
Matt Besler:
Age: 31
Birthplace: Kansas City, MO
Position: Defender #5
Courtesy of Sporting KC
Major Achievements:
Selected by Sporting KC in 2009 in the MLS SuperDraft
Sporting KC Defender of the Year honors 2011-2013, 2015
MLS Defender of the Year 2012
Honoree of MLS Breakout Player of the Year 2012
MLS Best XI 2012, 2013
KC Sportsman of the Year 2014
MLS All-Star 2011, 2013-2016
CONCACAF Gold Cup Title 2017
Gianluca Busio:
Age: 15
Birthplace: Greensboro, NC
Position: Forward #13
Major Achievements:
Second-youngest player all-time to sign an MLS contract
Sporting KC Academy 2016-2017
U-15 Boys’ National Tea, 2017
International Festival of Futbol Championship 2016
Ilie Sanchez:
Age: 27
Birthplace: Barcelona, Spain
Position: Midfielder #6
Courtesy of Sporting KC
Major Achievements:
Picked up by Sporting KC in 2017
Member of FC Barcelona B 2009-2014
Lead Barcelona to Spanish Segunda Division
Spanish side CF 2015-2016
Part of FC Barcelona’s La Masia youth Academy
Sporting KC Newcomer of the Year 2017
MLS Cup Playoffs 2017
Ike Opara:
Age: 29
Birthplace: Durham, North Carolina
Position: Defender #3
Major Achievements:
Courtesy of Sporting KC
Picked up by Sporting KC 2013
U.S. Men’s FIFA World Cup Team 2009
Drafted by San Jose Earthquakes 2010
U-23 CONCACAF Men’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2012
Sporting KC Newcomer of the Year 2013
MLS Player of the Month nomination 2015
Soccer By Ives Player of the Month 2015
MLS Defender of the Year 2017
Gerso Fernandes:
Age: 26
Birthplace: Bissau, Guinea-Bissau
Position: Forward #7
Courtesy of Sporting KC
Major Achievements:
First campaign with Sporting KC
Spent five seasons in Portuguese first division
Primeira Liga campaign with Belenenses 2016-2017
Started every game with Sporting KC this season
Career-high six goals in one season with Moreirense 2015
Sporting KC’s Offensive Player of the Year 2017
Sporting KC Golden Boot Award 2017
Roger Espinoza:
Age: 31
Birthplace: Puerto Cortes, Honduras
Position: Midfielder #17
Major Achievements:
Courtesy of Sporting KC
Member of Sporting KC from 2008-2012
Honduras National Team 2009
Honduras FIFA World Cup Team 2010
London Summer Olympics 2012
MLS All Star 2012
Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Championship
Joined Wigan Athletic 2013-2014 in English
Honduras FIFA World Cup Team 2014
Return to Sporting KC 2015
MLS Cup Playoffs 2017
Tim Melia:
Age: 31
Birthplace: Great River, New York
Position: Goalkeeper #29
Courtesy of Sporting KC
Major Achievements:
Signed by Sporting KC 2014
Real Salt Lake 2010-2011
Chivas USA 2012-2014
Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Champion 2015
MLS Comeback Player of the Year 2015
Ranked No. 2 in MLS for Shutouts 2017
Allstate MLS Goalkeeper of the Year 2017
Sporting KC Most Valuable Player of the Year 2017
Jimmy Medranda:
Age: 24
Birthplace: Mosquera, Colombia
Position: Defender/Midfielder #94
Courtesy of Sporting KC
Major Achievements:
Signed by Sporting KC in 2013
Loaned to USL PRO affiliate OKC Energy FC
Signed officially with Sporting KC 2014
Deportivo Pereira (Columbia) from age 12 to the Senior Team
CONCACAF Champions League 2016
MLS Cup Playoffs 2016
MLS Cup Playoffs 2017
| Player | Picture | Position | Hometown | Age | Height | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emiliano Amor |
 |
Defender | Buenos Aires, Argentina | 22 | 6′ 0″ | 175 |
| Kharlton Belmar |
 |
Forward | Virginia Beach, VA | 25 | 5′ 11″ | 160 |
| Matt Besler |
 |
Defender | Overland Park, KS | 31 | 6′ 0″ | 170 |
| Gianluca Busio #13 |
 |
Forward | Greensboro, NC | 15 | 5′ 7″ | 135 |
| Yohan Croizet #10 |
 |
Midfielder | Sarrebourg, France | 26 | 5′ 10″ | 170 |
| Eric Dick #18 |
 |
Goalkeeper | Carmel, IN | 23 | 6′ 5″ | 205 |
| Amer Didic #2 |
 |
Defender | Edmonton, Alberta | 23 | 6′ 4″ | 195 |
| Kevin Ellis #4 | Defender | Kansas City, MO | 26 | 5′ 9″ | 160 | |
| Roger Espinoza #17 |
 |
Midfielder | Aurora, CO | 31 | 5′ 11″ | 170 |
| Brad Evans #4 |
 |
Defender/Midfielder | Phoenix, AZ | 32 | 6′ 1″ | 160 |
| Gerso Fernandes #12 |
 |
Forward | Bissau, Guinea-Bissau | 26 | 5′ 8″ | 140 |
| Felipe Gutierrez #21 |
 |
Quintero, Chile | Midfielder | 27 | 5′ 7″ | 145 |
| Matt Lewis |
 |
Defender | Kansas City, MO | 21 | 6′ 2″ | 165 |
| Jaylin Lindsey #26 |
 |
Defender | Charlotte, NC | 17 | 5′ 8″ | 155 |
| Cristian Lobato #19 |
 |
Midfielder | Barcelona, Spain | 28 | 5′ 11″ | 160 |
| Jimmy Medranda #94 |
 |
Defender/Midfielder | Mosquera, Colombia | 24 | 5′ 8″ | 150 |
| Tim Melia #29 |
 |
Goalkeeper | East Islip, NY | 31 | 6′ 1″ | 190 |
| James Musa #41 | Defender/Midfielder | Plymouth, United Kingdom | 25 | 6′ 3″ | 170 | |
| Ike Opara #3 |
 |
Defender | Durham, NC | 29 | 6′ 2″ | 180 |
| Diego Rubio #11 |
 |
Forward | Santiago, Chile | 24 | 5′ 11″ | 170 |
| Johnny Russell #7 |
 |
Forward | Glasgow, Scotland | 27 | 5′ 10″ | 168 |
| Daniel Salloi #20 |
 |
Forward | Budapest, Hungary | 21 | 6′ 1″ | 150 |
| Ilie Sanchez #6 |
 |
Midfielder | Barcelona, Spain | 27 | 5′ 11″ | 170 |
| Khiry Shelton #14 |
 |
Forward | Leander, TX | 24 | 6′ 3″ | 191 |
| Seth Sinovic #15 |
 |
Defender | Leawood, KS | 31 | 5′ 10″ | 170 |
| Graham Smith #16 |
 |
Defender | Highlands Ranch, CO | 22 | 6′ 3″ | 186 |
| Colton Storm #23 |
 |
Defender | Mechanicsburg, PA | 23 | 5′ 10″ | 175 |
| Zach Wright | Forward | Smithville, TX | 22 | 5′ 11″ | 165 | |
| Adrian Zendejas #1 |
 |
Goalkeeper | Chula Vista, CA | 22 | 6′ 5″ | 185 |
| Graham Zusi #8 |
 |
Defender/Midfielder | Longwood, FL | 31 | 5′ 10″ | 160 |
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