UPDATE (Jan. 19) – Sporting Kansas City principal owner Michael Illig released the following statement, confirming the departure of sporting director Gavin Wilkinson eight days after he was formally hired.
We want to share with the Sporting Kansas City community that we have mutually agreed with Gavin Wilkinson to release him from his recently-announced role with our club.
In making this difficult decision, we want to first acknowledge the passion of our fans, our community of supporters, our partners and our stakeholders. Together, they comprise our deeply valued Sporting family. Our action today demonstrates our longstanding, unequivocal respect for their voices, and the belief that we are all stronger when we listen to one another.
We ran a diligent and exhaustive process to identify our new sporting director. It was grounded in the deeply-held principles and standards we have adhered to since the day we acquired the team.
That said, the impassioned response from our fans reinforced to us a fundamental philosophy that has driven us since day one: To honor and protect our valued relationships. It is in that spirit that we take this action today, reflective of our abiding appreciation for our unrivaled SKC fans and our Kansas City community.
ORIGINAL (Jan. 11) – Sporting Kansas City have named Peter Vermes chief soccer officer and manager, the club announced Thursday. As head of the club’s soccer operations, Vermes will oversee newly hired sporting director Gavin Wilkinson.
Vermes elevates to CSO after serving as the club’s technical director from 2006-18 and their sporting director from 2019-23. He'll stay on as the team's coach as well, with the 2013 MLS Cup winner and three-time US Open Cup champion (2012, '15, '17) continuing his record as the longest-tenured manager in MLS history.
As sporting director, Wilkinson will play a leading role in the club’s long-term player recruitment strategy, roster building and budgeting, technical staff management, and the continued development of Sporting’s professional player pathway, including MLS NEXT Pro team Sporting Kansas City II and the Sporting Kansas City Academy.
