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On the heels of Sporting Kansas City’s road draw against the Portland Timbers, the club is making moves. They announced on Monday that they’ve extended defender Seth Sinovic’s contract for an additional year through 2019. He was the only player we were 100% sure was out of contract after the season outside of the nine players who have options for 2019. The only questions beyond those option players is Khiry Shelton, who may or may not be under contract or have an option year.
With Sinovic sticking around another year it will give Sporting KC security on the back line. Year after year the team tries to replace him and they very well may try against this offseason — but he just keeps finding a way to get on the field. His appearances are down this year (23 in the regular season — 19 starts) but he’s still a vital cog in the machine. He managed to pry his spot back from rookie Jaylin Lindsey and never look back.
Seth Sinovic SKC Stats
| Year | GP | GS | G | MINS | A | SHTS | SOG | FC | Y | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | GP | GS | G | MINS | A | SHTS | SOG | FC | Y | R |
| 2018 | 23 | 19 | 0 | 1650 | 2 | 13 | 2 | 18 | 4 | 1 |
| 2017 | 32 | 32 | 1 | 2857 | 2 | 17 | 5 | 20 | 6 | 0 |
| 2016 | 9 | 6 | 0 | 532 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 0 |
| 2015 | 11 | 10 | 0 | 902 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 21 | 3 | 0 |
| 2014 | 31 | 31 | 0 | 2755 | 2 | 21 | 7 | 51 | 6 | 0 |
| 2013 | 32 | 31 | 0 | 2773 | 3 | 16 | 5 | 34 | 5 | 0 |
| 2012 | 30 | 30 | 0 | 2621 | 2 | 12 | 1 | 29 | 3 | 0 |
| 2011 | 20 | 20 | 0 | 1737 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 15 | 2 | 0 |
Sinovic just finished his 9th regular season in major league soccer. He’s belonged to four teams, first starting with the New England Revolution who drafted him in the second round (25th overall) back in 2010. After his single season with the Revs he he was waived. In that offseason Real Salt Lake brought him in on trial but he only appeared in the MLS Reserve League and was ultimately let go. He originally joined Sporting KC on May 10, 2011. After that season, he wasn’t protected in the MLS Expansion Draft and was drafted by expansion side Montreal Impact.
Just five days later he was traded back to Kansas City along with Allocation Money in exchange for SKC legend Davy Arnaud. He’s been with the team ever since and he’ll complete it’s 10th year in Major League Soccer in 2019. He’s the third longest tenured player on the roster behind only Graham Zusi and his youth soccer teammate Matt Besler.
Seth is a KC native and played at Rockhurst High School in Kansas City. He went to college at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. Sinovic also has ties to another MLS team. In college, he played for Chicago Fire Premier in the USL PDL (which will be rebranded as USL League Two in 2019). He’ll be 32-years-old at the start of the 2019 season.
Sinovic will likely compete for the starting left back job once again with Jimmy Medranda once he’s healthy from his knee surgery. It’s possible the team will still look to add a left back or they could pick up the option for Cristian Lobato or even experiment more with Yohan Croizet there. But before then, Seth is the assured starter for leg two of the Western Conference Championship against Portland and he would have that spot if SKC made MLS Cup.