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Sporting Kansas City and longtime coach Peter Vermes have mutually parted ways, the team announced Monday.
Vermes, 58, was the longest-tenured skipper in MLS, having originally taken over as interim coach in 2009.
Kerry Zavagnin was named the interim coach for Sporting KC, which is winless (0-5-1) through six matches to start the 2025 season.
"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 statement.
"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 guided Sporting KC to an MLS Cup championship in 2013 and U.S. Open Cup titles in 2012, 2015 and 2017. His teams made the playoffs 11 times, including eight straight from 2011-18. He was named the MLS Sporting Executive of the Year in 2019.
Vermes ranks third all-time among MLS coaches with 203 wins in the regular season.
He played for the franchise from 2000-02 and is the only person to win the MLS Cup as a player and a coach with the same team.
Vermes became the club's technical director in 2006.
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Arsenal’s €50m Man Has a Point to Prove and Arteta Is Counting on It
Whilst all eyes may be on Arsenal’s new signings, a few familiar faces will also be looking to make their mark this season. One such Gunner is Riccardo Calafiori, a player many fans hope can finally showcase his true ability in the fight for the Cannon. Injuries halted his debut campaign Calafiori did not enjoy the smoothest of debut seasons at Arsenal. Injuries disrupted his rhythm, and he missed 23 games in total, preventing him from finding any real consistency in red and white. Despite making 29 appearances across all competitions, scoring three goals and providing two assists, his stop-start form left many feeling short-changed, especially after the club invested €50 million in the Italian defender. That said, there were clear glimpses of his potential. His performance against Newcastle, when he came on for William Saliba at half-time and partnered Jakub Kiwior, stood out as a highlight. In that penultimate match of the 2024-25 season, Calafiori delivered a composed, technically sound display that reflected the qualities he showed at Bologna and with the Italian national team. His ability to invert into midfield, contribute to build-up play, and create overloads offered Arsenal complete control that night – enough to leave fans wondering what might have been if injuries had not intervened. Calafiori must now stay fit With Myles Lewis-Skelly impressing at left-back and Gabriel firmly established at left centre-back, Calafiori faces stiff competition. But many believe that if he can stay fit, he could genuinely challenge both for a place in Mikel Arteta’s starting eleven. Arteta has made his expectations clear. “He looks very, very excited,” the Arsenal boss told Football London. “We know that one of the biggest things we have to achieve this season is availability.” “It’s true that the two main injuries he had were on international duty with Italy. But these things can happen. Now we want a player who is consistently available and performing at the level that he can, because he brings an energy and predictability to the team that we’re really going to need.” “He was certainly missed for a big part of last season. Hopefully, with more understanding and a little bit of luck, we can see a great version of him.” A fully fit Calafiori could make this season’s battle for places in Arsenal’s defence one of the most intense under Arteta to date. And for the manager, that kind of internal competition is exactly what he wants. What are your thoughts on Calafiori Gooners? __________________________________________________________________________________________
Yankees cannot afford to trade their 'left-handed Aaron Judge'
It’s been a busy summer for New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, having watched several pitchers and the team’s primary third baseman fall victim to lengthy IL stints. Cashman has at least three holes to repair, but who can the Yankees deal to land some worthwhile replacements? Among New York's trade chips that have been frequently mentioned as of recent is outfielder Spencer Jones. Whether for the Arizona Diamondbacks' Eugenio Suarez or Pittsburgh Pirates' Mitch Keller, several rumors have suggested a package involving Jones, the Yankees’ No. 4 prospect and purported “left-handed Aaron Judge.” Up until this season, Jones had struggled to live up to his monstrous expectations, which made him rather undesirable in prior trade discussions. But whereas many teams and writers saw him as a hard pass in trade talks over the offseason, Jones has now become a hot commodity. Off to a scorching start in Triple-A (.408/.470/.901 with 10 home runs in just 17 games entering Wednesday), Jones has compiled a head-turning .313/.412/.683 stat line with a career-high 26 home runs and 16 stolen bases in 246 at-bats across Double and Triple-A this season. With his awe-striking power finally producing some results, Jones has become a top-of-the-line trade chip. However, this doesn’t mean the Yankees should consider trading him. Why not? Center field-related uncertainty Yankees’ center fielder, Cody Bellinger, has played well in pinstripes this year which raises the topic of his player option for next season. In addition, since he is getting paid more than his option is worth next year, chances are he decides to try the free-agent market. If Bellinger does leave, center field will be wide open as Trent Grisham will also likely test free agency after this season. Unlike Jones, neither Judge nor Jasson Dominguez have displayed the aptitude necessary to capably play the position. The Yankees’ shallow depth will also prove to be a challenge for finding a replacement. If Bellinger does stay, he can slide into first base while Jones takes over at center. But whether he decides to stay or go, Bellinger will be a free agent after the 2026 season. Trade value Jones’ numbers are on fire, but his trade value has yet to catch up, due to his unstable track record. Nonetheless, using a prospect of Jones’ caliber (along with others) to land someone like Keller (career 4.43 ERA), for example, or any similar player would equate to mismanagement. Given his torrid stretch this year, there is a good chance Jones lives up to his stunning potential. Selling him for a fraction of his future worth would be regrettable. Yankees’ current situation The Yankees are without Gerrit Cole and Clarke Schmidt for the year and many others sit on the IL alongside them. This deficiency could be offset by acquiring some rentals, namely Suarez. However, as the risk with all rentals, Suárez will likely test free agency at the end of the season. Unless the Yankees extend or sign him, he won’t share the same side of the field with Cole or Schmidt (while active). If they can land Suarez without trading Jones, all would be well for the Yankees. If not, this could be a case of mortgaging the future to improve a very gloomy present. In the end, it may be better to have Jones’ bat backing Cole over the next three years rather than Suárez’s bat backing Will Warren this year. If the Yankees are dealing for rentals at the deadline, it’s best to leave Jones out of it.
Nationals OF makes Catch of the Year candidate to rob home run
Washington Nationals outfielder Jacob Young delivered a Catch of the Year candidate with a spectacular grab he made on Wednesday. Young’s Nationals lost 5-0 to the Cincinnati Reds at Nationals Park in Washington D.C. on Wednesday, and the score could have been worse if not for Young. Will Benson was batting for Cincinnati with a runner on third base and two outs in the top of the eighth inning with his team leading 3-0. He belted a first pitch 96 mph fastball to deep center, but Young climbed the wall in center field to rob Benson of a 2-run home run. Here is a slow-motion version of the catch that shows Young climbing the wall to make the catch. What a catch by Young. Although Benson gave that pitch quite a ride, the metrics suggest it would have been a home run in only five MLB ballparks, so a flyout was an anticipated outcome. You just wouldn’t expect that ball to become an out in the manner that it did. Holy cow.
Brewers' Jacob Misiorowski continues to set radar gun on fire at unprecedented rate
Milwaukee Brewers Jacob Misiorowski was back on the mound on Tuesday night against the Seattle Mariners, and even though he pitched just 3.2 innings, he continued to show why he is one of baseball's most exciting young talents. Prior to be pulled after 64 pitches, he allowed just three hits, walked one and struck out seven to continue his stunning start to his big league career. He also continued to light up the radar gun in a way that no other pitcher in the modern era has. Following Tuesday's start, where he regularly clocked in at over 101 mph, he has now thrown 39 pitches this season that have eclipsed 101 mph on the radar gun. He has done that in just 29.1 innings over six starts. By comparison, every other starting pitcher in Major League Baseball has tallied just 17 pitches of 101 mph or higher — combined. But it's not just about how he stacks up with pitchers this season that is staggering. It's that he is near the top of the list for 101 mph pitches for a career. Here are two of his 101 mph heaters from Tuesday. The ball just erupts out of his hand at the hitters. When you add in his mid-90s change-up and high-90s breaking pitches he is already one of the nastiest pitchers in the majors. It is that sort of electric stuff that made him a National League All-Star after just five appearances. For the season, he has now struck out 40 batters in 29.1 innings of work (that is 12.27 per nine innings), allowed only 15 hits and just eight earned runs. And five of those earned runs against came in only one start. Given his age and with the way teams today are extremely protective of their pitchers, he is probably going to see his pitch counts and innings closely monitored this season. When he is on the mound, though, he is quickly becoming appointment viewing.
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