Sporting KC: Top Ten Players To Watch in 2017
By Ben Almquist
Sporting KC Top Players To Watch: #6
Igor Juliao – Defender
Despite having spent time with Sporting KC before, Igor Juliao is not a household name for fans. However, he is going to become a much more prominent figure as he replaces Chance Myers on the back line. When it became clear that Myers was leaving the club, Sporting made efforts to find a replacement. Getting Juliao on loan from Fluminense of the Brazilian Campeonato Brasileiro Série A.
Igor Juliao is not considered an international star by any means. However, he will be bringing a good deal of experience, and is likely to be filling in a major role. Sporting KC relies a lot on its defense, so there can’t be any major cracks in the armor. Kansas City needs to remain a top defensive club this year.
Ultimately, Sporting KC is looking for someone else to become a long-term answer on the back line. However, we will likely be seeing a lot of Igor Juliao until that happens. Loan players can be an effective tool for a team trying to take the next step. Hopefully this one pays off.