[ad_1]
3. SKC ICON ESPINOZA ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT
Longtime Sporting Kansas City midfielder Roger Espinoza announced his retirement from professional soccer on Wednesday after a remarkable 16-year career as a player highlighted by 14 seasons in Kansas City.
A former MLS star, World Cup veteran and FIFA Olympian, Espinoza helped Sporting win three US Open Cup titles and 10 MLS Cup Playoff appearances as one of the most successful players in the club’s history and one of the longest-serving midfielders in Major League Soccer.
Espinoza, a fan favorite at Children’s Mercy Park and a beloved member of the Kansas City community, spent two separate stints with Sporting from 2008-2012 and 2015-2023. He ranks second in club history with 399 appearances in all competitions, while ranking third in starts (330) and minutes (29,162), fifth in assists (49) and 10th in total goal contributions. (63).
Espinoza, who scored 14 goals in a Kansas City uniform, is Sporting’s all-time leader with 21 games played in the US Open Cup – a tournament he helped the team win in 2012, 2015 and 2017 – and sits third on club list with 21 playoff appearances.
[ad_2]
