In a move that seemed inevitable, yet still shocking, Sporting Kansas City parted ways with longtime manager Peter Vermes, the club announced on March 31.

During his 17 seasons leading the club, Vermes helped Sporting KC to four championships between 2012 and 2017. He made SKC a dominant force within Major League Soccer and the Kansas City sports landscape, coaching through the organization’s rebrand and opening their new stadium in 2011.

Vermes also helped SKC to 11 playoff appearances, but his team had missed the postseason in two of the past three years. Another troubling start, with seven defeats and a draw to begin 2025, prompted the early-season dismissal after more than 600 matches in charge.

“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 said in a press release. “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 had been with the club since 2006, when he rejoined the Wizards as the technical director. Kerry Zavagnin, a longtime player-turned assistant coach, has now been named interim head coach.

The sports scene in Kansas City underwent a dramatic transformation during Vermes’ coaching tenure, which began in 2009. The city hadn’t won a single league championship since Vermes played for the Kansas City Wizards’ MLS Cup championship team in 2000.

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With Vermes leading the MLS franchise as manager from 2009 until 2025, Kansas City professional sports teams won eight league championships across five leagues. Vermes started the trend himself by leading Sporting to the 2013 MLS Cup trophy, following his first of three U.S. Open Cup championships in 2012.

Vermes’ time with Sporting has concluded as the club’s winningest coach. In more than 5,700 days in charge, he tallied over 250 victories.

The 2013 National Soccer Hall of Fame inductee leaves behind a tremendous legacy as one of the most influential figures in the history of Major League Soccer, Kansas City sports and especially the soccer culture of Kansas City.