Sporting Kansas City, Peter Vermes agree to extension

Sporting Kansas City announced on Tuesday morning that they have signed head coach and technical director Peter Vermes to a three-year contract extension.

The extension will keep the 50-year-old in Kansas City through the 2019 MLS Season, whereas his previous contract only ran through 2017.

“I have been extremely fortunate and I am incredibly appreciative for not only being a part of the vision of this ownership group and organization over the last 10-plus years, but also for the opportunity to continue to be a steward for the club,” Vermes said in the press release. “I have been involved with this project from ground zero and am exceptionally proud to be able to build on the foundation that has been created here.”

Known in Kansas City for his high-press, 4-3-3 system, sometimes stubbornly so, Vermes came to Sporting KC as the technical director in 2006 and took over as head coach in 2009. In his tenure as head coach, Sporting Kansas City have won an MLS Cup, two US Open Cup titles and have gone to the playoffs six straight seasons from 2011-2016. He is also a former player for Sporting KC, winning an MLS Cup with the 2000 Wizards.

He was a potential replacement for ex-US men’s national team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann as he was contacted by US Soccer, but the job instead went to Bruce Arena.

Vermes will begin his ninth season with the club in 2017 as Sporting KC goes under a roster overhaul. They currently have 17 players under contract for the next season and can have at least 11 more on the active roster.