Peter Vermes out as Sporting Kansas City manager. What we know & what comes next
After nearly two decades, Peter Vermes’ tenure with Sporting Kansas City has concluded.
Vermes and the club have agreed to part ways.
Kerry Zavagnin has been appointed the interim coach of the Major League Soccer team. The Sporting KC players were informed of the move Monday morning; staff was informed during a brief meeting.
The club announced the move later Monday and Vermes offered his gratitude for his time in the job.
“I wish the club nothing but the best in the future,” he said in a statement.
Sporting KC ownership has been talking throughout the month about a potential change, and the team’s owners have been at practice more regularly in recent weeks, sources told The Star. The team has struggled out of the gate in the 2025 season with an 0-5-1 record.
Vermes, a former Kansas City Wizards player, was hired as a consultant in 2006 before taking over as technical director and then eventually head coach — manager.
It was a magical run, but that run had slowed to a crawl in recent years.
Vermes led Sporting KC to the MLS Cup in 2013 and three U.S. Open Cups titles (in 2012, 2015 and 2017). But the club has not finished higher than eighth in the league standings since 2021, and the onset of 2025 has trended in a similar direction despite a handful of offseason moves.
Vermes was the longest-tenured MLS coach — with his current club — by nearly seven years, and one of the longest-tenured coaches in the world. He assumed the job in August 2009.
This story was originally published March 31, 2025 at 9:09 AM.