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| Name | Club Kansas City Wizards |
|---|---|
| Profile | Club |
| Nationality | United States of America |
| City | Lawoods |
| User | Club Kansas City Wizards |
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| Sport: | Soccer |
|---|---|
| Level: | Professional |
| Category: | Major League Soccer |
| General Description: | The Kansas City Wizards celebrate their twelfth season in Major League Soccer with the innovative vision of new ownership and the aggressive, attacking style of a new coaching staff. The team enters the 2007 season with the drive to spearhead new ideas and make the Wizards the premier organization in MLS. Kansas City was introduced as one of the 10 charter members of MLS on June 6, 1995. Four months later, the League unveiled the nicknames, logos and uniform designs for the franchises, setting the stage for the unveiling of Kansas City's newest professional sports team - the Kansas City Wiz. In April 1996, the Wiz began play under Head Coach Ron Newman. Led by star midfielder Preki, who earned his first of four career MLS Best XI selections, the club's inaugural season ended with a losing effort in the Western Conference finals. The team also officially extended its name from Wiz to Wizards following the 1996 season, ending the short but memorable life of the "Wiz" moniker. In 1997, the re-christened Wizards finished 21-11 and atop the Western Conference, but, surprisingly, bowed out in the first round of the playoffs. Preki led MLS in scoring with 41 points and was named League MVP. He was also joined on the MLS Best XI squad by teammates Mark Chung (midfield) and Richard Gough (defender). The 1998 and 1999 seasons were rough ones for Wizards fans, missing the playoffs both years. During the 1999 season, Head Coach Ron Newman was replaced by former U.S. National Team Head Coach Bob Gansler. The Wizards ushered in a new era prior to the 2000 season, as the team offices and training site moved to Arrowhead Stadium. Also, adidas, the official outfitter of MLS, unveiled the team's new primary color, Wizards Blue, which sits alongside white as the organization's official colors. The team's roster underwent an extensive overhaul in that off-season as well. The Wizards traded the Colorado Rapids for midfielder Matt McKeon and defender Peter Vermes, took defender Nick Garcia with the second pick in the MLS SuperDraft, and also used the draft to add Kerry Zavagnin, who had been unsuccessful in his first run through MLS. Tony Meola returned from an injury that kept him out for most of the 1999, and defender Brandon Prideaux was able to build on his strong performances late in the 1999 season. Preki, as usual, provided imagination, and Mo Johnston was the stalwart heading the attack. Chris Henderson and Chris Klein comprised the best outside midfield tandem in the league. The final piece of the puzzle was Miklos Molnar, a Danish goal-scoring friend of Henderson's from his time in Germany, who was looking for a new challenge in America. All of the changes paid off, as the 2000 season was undoubtedly the greatest in club history. The Wizards got off to an amazing 10-0-2 start and went on to win both the Supporters' Shield (regular season champion) and the 2000 MLS Cup. The route to MLS Cup included what most long-time Wizards fans will name as the most memorable match in club history, a 1-0 victory over the Los Angeles Galaxy in the Western Conference final, followed by a 1-0 golden goal victory in the "mini-game" immediately following regulation that broke the overall series tie and sent the Wizards on to the Cup. The players and staff themselves were showered with individual accolades commensurate with the team's success. Tony Meola was named MLS Cup MVP, League MVP and also MLS Goalkeeper of the Year. Peter Vermes won MLS Defender of the Year and Bob Gansler was named MLS Coach of the Year. Both Vermes and Meola were named to the MLS Best XI; only Molnar's extended mid-season absence due to his participation for Denmark in the European Championships kept him off the list. Each of the next three seasons saw the team advance to the postseason, but no silverware was added to the trophy case. 2003 will be most remembered for Preki's remarkable season at age 40 that garnered him his second league MVP award. In 2004, though, the Wizards won another of U.S. Soccer's most coveted trophies, claiming the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup with an overtime win versus the Chicago Fire in Arrowhead with Mr. Hunt in attendance. The Wizards also returned to the MLS Cup final in 2004, where they fell 3-2 in dramatic fashion to D.C. United. 2005 was a season of change. Prior to the season, Lamar Hunt announced his intent to sell the team. Wizards fans, community leaders and corporate interests all mobilized to help keep the team in town, though it would be a long time before their efforts bore fruit. Although the team missed the playoffs for the first time in five years and Preki announced his retirement, 2005 was not all gloom and doom. Jimmy Conrad was named MLS Defender of the Year, and Mr. Hunt announced that the team would remain in Kansas City for the 2006 season as the search for new ownership continued. Missing the playoffs on the last day of the season for a second consecutive year was a disappointment, but 2006 will not be remembered for events on the field. On August 31, the Wizards began a new era as Kansas City-based OnGoal, LLC, purchased the club from the Hunt Sports Group. The new ownership's commitment to the Wizards and to Kansas City is already in evidence, with a new, world-class training center set to open in Swope Park in June 2007. The search for a permanent home continues, as OnGoal and its partners seek to build a world-class soccer facility in the Kansas City metro area. The theme for the 2007 season is "Get Close," which emphasizes the Wizards goal of giving Kansas City the opportunity to experience firsthand the excitement and passion of the world's most popular sport. With a talented roster and committed ownership, the future of the Kansas City Wizards is bright, on and off the field. |
| Telephone No.: | Sign up or login to get the phone number |
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| Website: | http://kc.wizards.mlsnet.com |
| Contact Club Kansas City Wizards |
Soccer [United States of America]
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