Kansas City Wizards

The Kansas City Wizards is a professional soccer club based in Kansas City, Missouri that participates in Major League Soccer. The Wizards won the MLS Cup in 2000 and the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in 2004. The club's home field is Arrowhead Stadium, which they share with the Chiefs. The team colors are blue and white.

The team's official supporters' group is called the Mystics.

History

The Wizards were known as the Kansas City Wiz during the 1996 season but changed names due to a copyright dispute.

They are owned by Lamar Hunt, who also owns the Kansas City Chiefs, FC Dallas and the Columbus Crew. On December 9, 2004 Hunt announced plans to sell the team following the 2005 season. However, in December 2005, the club is still not sold with Hunt announcing at least another year in Kansas City, in order to help close a deal with a local ownership group, led by Cerner Corporation founder Neal Patterson.

Stadium

Main article(s): Arrowhead Stadium

The Wizards play their home games in Arrowhead Stadium (1996–current), the American football stadium used by the Kansas City Chiefs. The Wizards have been seeking sites for a Soccer-specific stadium, with the most likely location across the state line in Johnson County, Kansas, one of the nation's fastest-growing and most affluent counties.

Current roster

As of June 28, 2006

Source: http://kc.wizards.mlsnet.com/MLS/players/roster.jsp?club=kcw

Notable players

Mark Chung (1996–1998)
Jimmy Conrad (2003—)
Chris Henderson (1998–2000)
Eddie Johnson (2006—)
Mo Johnston (1996–2001)
Chris Klein (1998–2005)
Alexi Lalas (1999)
Tony Meola (1999–2004)
Miklos Molnar (2000)
Preki (1996–2000; 2002–2005)
Peter Vermes (2000–2002)
Josh Wolff (2003—)
Kerry Zavagnin (2000—)
Richard Gough (soccer) (1997)

Head coaches

Ron Newman (1996–1999)
Ken Fogarty (1999; interim)
Bob Gansler (1999–present)

General managers

Tim Latta
Doug Newman (1997–1999)
Curt Johnson (1999—)

Honors

MLS Cup:
- Winners (1): 2000
- Runners-up (1): 2004
MLS Supporters' Shield:
- Winners (1): 2000
US Open Cup:
- Winners (1): 2004

Team records

Games: Preki, 218
Goals: Preki, 71
Assists: Preki, 98
Shutouts: Tony Meola, 37

MLS regular season only, through 2005

Year-by-year

Year	Reg. Season	Playoffs	Open Cup
1996	3rd, West	Semifinals	Quarterfinals
1997	1st, West	Quarterfinals	Round of 16
1998	6th, West	Did not qualify	Round of 16
1999	6th, West	Did not qualify	Did not enter
2000	1st, West	Champions	Round of 32
2001	3rd, West	Quarterfinals	Round of 16
2002	5th, West	Quarterfinals	Semifinals
2003	2nd, West	Semifinals	Round of 16
2004	1st, West	Final	Champions
2005	5th, East	Did not qualify	Quarterfinals

International competition

Copa Merconorte

The Wizards participated in the 2001 Copa Merconorte, where they competed in Group C against Sporting Cristal of Peru, Santos Laguna of Mexico, and Barcelona of Ecuador.

The August 8 road match against Mexican Champions Santos Laguna resulted in controversy when the officiating crew from Trinidad and Tobago failed to arrive. A team of Mexican referees was brought to the stadium. The Wizards filed a formal protest, despite which play commenced. The Wizards took exception to two penalty kicks awarded by the Mexican crew, contending they were outside the 18-yard box, as well as the controversial ejection of Nick Garcia in the 35th minute.

CONCACAF Champions Cup

2002

Having won the 2000 MLS Championship, Kansas City qualified for one of four spots allocated to US teams in the 2002 CONCACAF Champions Cup. (note: the US is now allocated two spots in the Champions Cup).

Kansas City defeated W Connection of Trinidad and Tobago and Santos Laguna before being knocked out by Monarcas Morelia of Mexico.

First Round First Leg: (3 March) W Connection 0–1 Kansas City Wizards: Goals: Francisco Gomez 85' (KC)
First Round Second Leg: (16 March) Kansas City Wizards 2–0 W Connection; Goals: Mike Burns 52' (KC), Preki 53' (KC)
Quarterfinals First Leg: (14 April) Santos Laguna 2–1 Kansas City Wizards: Goals: Eduardo Lillingston 2', 35' (SL), Gary Glasgow 81' (KC)
Quarterfinals Second Leg: (24 April) Kansas City 2–0 Santos Laguna; Goals: Carey Talley 33' (KC), Chris Brown 71' (KC)
Semifinals First Leg: (7 August) Morelia 6–1 Kansas City Wizards; Goals: Alex Fernandes 50', 75', 83' PK (MOR), Hernán Buján 57' (MOR), Adolfo Bautista 62' (MOR), Javier Saavedra 73' (MOR), Dario Fabbro 85' (KC)
Semifinals Second Leg: (28 August) Kansas City Wizards 1–1 Morelia; Goals: Chris Brown 68' (KC), José Noriega 36' PK (MOR)

2005

After making the 2004 MLS Cup, the Wizards qualified for the 2005 CONCACAF Champions Cup; they were eliminated by Deportivo Saprissa of Costa Rica in the first round.

First Round First Leg: (9 March) Kansas City Wizards 0–0 Deportivo Saprissa
First Round Second Leg: (18 March) Deportivo Saprissa 2–1 (OT) Kansas City Wizards

Average attendance

regular season/playoffs

1996: 12,878
1997: 9,058
1998: 8,073
1999: 8,183
2000: 9,112
2001: 10,954
2002: 12,255
2003: 15,573/10,712
2004: 14,819/10,977
2005: 9,691/missed playoffs
All-Time: 11,211

External links

Kansas City Wizards | United States soccer clubs

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