4 months ago
Sporting Kansas City named Raphaël Wicky arsenic nan 5th imperishable caput coach successful franchise history connected Monday.
Wicky, 48, coached nan Chicago Fire from 2020-21 earlier managing BSC Young Boys successful his autochthonal Switzerland from 2022-24. He signed a statement done nan 2027-28 MLS play pinch an action for nan 2028-29 campaign.
He becomes nan club’s first full-time coach since Peter Vermes, who parted ways pinch Sporting KC aft 17 seasons connected 31 March. Interim coach Kerry Zavagnin vanished retired a difficult play that ended pinch nan worst grounds (7-20-7, 28 points) successful nan Western Conference.
“We are thrilled to invited Raphaël arsenic nan adjacent caput coach of Sporting Kansas City,” president and wide head David Lee said. “Rapha’s acquisition some domestically and internationally, on pinch his occurrence astatine nan highest levels of nan game, made him nan standout campaigner during our search.
“He is simply a leader and a proven victor who will bring a humble, collaborative and hard-working attack to his domiciled and strive to build beardown relationships pinch our players and staff. Rapha’s teams are attack-minded, high-energy and possession-oriented – each qualities that correspond nan style of play we want to instrumentality present successful Kansas City.“
Wicky, who besides coached nan United States’ U-17 squad successful 2019, compiled a 12-25-14 grounds pinch nan Fire.
“I americium very proud to beryllium nan caller caput coach of Sporting Kansas City,” said Wicky, who played for now defunct MLS broadside Chivas USA successful 2008.
“I americium really excited to get started and get to cognize nan team, nan unit and nan players. In my talks pinch David, we instantly had a bully relationship and felt very aligned successful position of civilization and style of play.
“Sporting KC has ever been a squad that competed to triumph trophies and I consciousness that nan nine has each nan ingredients to get backmost to wherever it belongs – awesome ownership, astonishing facilities, a talented academy and a beautiful stadium pinch awesome fans.“
The hiring comes little than 7 weeks earlier Sporting KC opens nan 2026 MLS play connected 21 February astatine nan San Jose Earthquakes.
