Sporting KC: Four reasons for SKC fans to be thankful in 2020

Era of Transition

The trio of Matt Besler, Graham Zusi, and Roger Espinoza has accounted for just under 1,000 appearances over the course of the past 12 years. Besler and Zusi are the only players still with the club since the days of the Kansas City Wizards while Espinoza has been apart of the same organization every year other than 2013 and 2014.

This year has shown that Matt Besler’s future will not be as a starting center back for Sporting KC. While the SKC captain’s 2021 plans aren’t certain, it is certain that his time at the club is winding down.

Graham Zusi’s injury has also afforded more time for Jaylin Lindsey, who has fit in very well. When Zusi fully recovers in 2021, I wouldn’t be surprised if Lindsey remains the first choice at right back. Both Cameron Duke and Felipe Hernandez have chipped this season, providing Peter Vermes the ability to have confidence in not playing Roger Espinoza as much.

With Besler’s time seemingly coming to an end and Zusi and Espinoza’s time slowly closing as well, I am thankful for them being the core trio of players for most of the past 12 years. While other players like Kei Kamara, Jimmy Nielsen, Aurelien Collin, Chance Myers, Seth Sinovic, Benny Feilhaber, Paulo Nagamura, and others have all played integral parts in the club’s success over the past decade, it has been the three-headed monster of Graham Zusi, Roger Espinoza, and Matt Besler hat have been the soul of the club alongside Peter Vermes.

SKC fans should be thankful that they have had the opportunity to be apart of such a tremendous era of soccer in Kansas City that has witnessed four major trophies since 2012. While teams like the LA Galaxy have had major troubles in recent efforts to transition.

Happy Thanksgiving Sporting Kansas City fans!