Sporting Kansas City hires former MLS general manager Mike Burns as sporting director

Sporting Kansas City announced Mike Burns as the club’s new sporting director on Friday morning.

Burns spent 15 seasons on the New England Revolution’s technical staff in various roles. He became the general manager after the 2011 season.

As the director of soccer from 2005-2007, Burns helped build the New England Revolution roster into a group that made three straight MLS cup appearances and won a U.S. Open Cup title in 2007. He was promoted to vice president of player personnel in 2008 and then general manager in 2011.

The Revolution made the playoffs from 2013-2015 and the U.S. Open Cup final in 2016 before missing the playoffs for three straight years.

As a general manager, Burns was responsible for drafting United States Men’s National Team goalkeeper Matt Turner and Canada Men’s National Team winger Tajon Buchanan. Burns also signed 2021 MLS MVP winner Carles Gil to the Revs ahead of the 2019 season.

Burns was dismissed as general manager in May 2019, days after Brad Friedel was fired as the club’s coach. In 2022 and 2023, Burns served as a consultant with the MLS league office.

The move comes after Sporting KC made an offseason hire to the position — previously announcing former Portland Timbers and Thorns executive Gavin Wilkinson for the same role. However, the club parted ways with Wilkinson eight days later after continued public backlash due to his time in Portland, where he was fired after multiple investigations into the organization’s handling of alleged misconduct by players and coaches.

The club also parted ways with longtime technical director and vice president of player personnel Brian Bliss on Monday.

Burns played as a defender and was a teammate of Sporting KC manager Peter Vermes with the United States National Team and Kansas City Wizards in 2001 and 2002. Burns made 62 appearances in all competitions on the KC back line and was an MLS All-Star in 2002.

He spent the majority of his playing career with his hometown New England Revolution, making 108 appearances.

Sporting KC plans to hold an introductory press conference with Burns on Tuesday.

Daniel Sperry covers soccer for The Star. He can be reached at sperry.danielkc@gmail.com.

This story was originally published June 28, 2024 at 9:58 AM.