Peter Vermes Add Head Coach To KC Wizards Responsibilities

Kansas City Wizards President Robb Heineman announced Tuesday that Peter Vermes will become the team’s full-time Manager. Vermes assumed the role of Interim Head Coach August 4 and guided the Wizards over the final 12 games of the Major League Soccer season. Vermes became the Wizards Technical Director on November 15, 2006 and will maintain that role while assuming Head Coaching duties.

“Over the past three years as the Wizards Technical Director, Peter has demonstrated strong work ethic, leadership and creative management of our team roster,” Heineman said. “As the club’s new Manager, we believe Peter has the technical and tactical qualities, attention to detail, and determination necessary to bring championship soccer back to Kansas City.”

Vermes was a founding member of Major League Soccer and a standout on the United States National Team. After retiring in 2002, Vermes became the Technical Director of Blue Valley Soccer Club before serving as a coach of the United States Under-20 Men’s National Team in 2006. Vermes retired from MLS after playing in 184 games League games (183 starts), amassing 16,384 minutes, 11 goals and 17 assists for the then New York/New Jersey MetroStars, Colorado Rapids and Kansas City Wizards over seven seasons. He scored two goals and recorded three assists in 2000, helping lead the Wizards to their first MLS Cup championship. Vermes has been a finalist for the National Soccer Hall of Fame in each of the last two rounds of voting, finishing in the top 10 both years. The National Soccer Hall of Fame announced Monday that he is again among the top 24 retired players eligible for voting.