Sporting Kansas City has quietly opened a search for a new Sporting Director after the club and Mike Burns agreed to part ways earlier this week.
The club described the separation as mutual, saying it is part of a broader front‑office reshuffle meant to sharpen Sporting KC’s long‑term sporting vision while ensuring day‑to‑day operations continue without interruption.
Burns, who joined the technical staff in mid‑2024 and served as Sporting Director for nearly two seasons, focused on player recruitment, roster strategy and stabilizing a squad coming off difficult campaigns.
While some of his moves addressed immediate needs, club leadership has signaled it now wants someone who can deliver a clearer, longer‑term blueprint that ties scouting, analytics and youth development together.
In the short term, David Lee, the club’s President of Soccer Operations and General Manager, has taken on expanded technical duties to keep scouting, contract work and recruitment moving.
The club has emphasized that continuity is essential given MLS’s calendar and transfer windows, and that the vacancy will not be allowed to stall progress or cost Sporting KC targets.
Sporting KC appears to be seeking a candidate with international recruitment experience, strong technical leadership and a commitment to the club’s development pathway.
Read More: Kansas City Royals are now seriously exploring moving from Kauffman StadiumThe ideal director would tighten the link between the first team, the Sporting KC Academy and Sporting KC II, set measurable recruitment goals, and balance promoting homegrown talent with targeted external signings.
The timing of the search comes amid coaching and roster change. Raphaël Wicky was appointed head coach earlier this year after Peter Vermes’s departure in 2025, and the team’s early 2026 form has been competitive but inconsistent, adding urgency to the front office’s work to provide a clearer roster plan and steady pipeline of talent.
There are trade‑offs, a rushed hire risks cultural mismatch and short‑term thinking, while an overly cautious process could leave the club without strategic leadership during key windows.
Sporting KC says it will be deliberate, aiming to find a Sporting Director who can deliver both immediate improvements and a sustainable model for long‑term success.
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