Back when Peter Vermes was helping the U.S. National Soccer Team qualify for its first World Cup in 40 years, St. Louis was being tabbed as the nation’s ”Soccer City."

That was 1989, and the USA would play World Cup qualifying games at St. Louis’ Anheuser Busch Soccer Park.  Vermes, along with U.S. soccer pioneers Tab Ramos, Paul Caligiuri, John Harkes, Steve Trittschuh, Tony Meola, Bruce Murray and Brian Bliss (to name a few), would help NSCAA Hall of Fame Coach Bob Gansler qualify the American side for the 1990 World Cup. 

The U.S. National Team has qualified for every World Cup since.

Today there are many cities that would like to claim the title of the nation’s No. 1 soccer town.   Many would have legitimate arguments.

So why not Kansas City?

Home to the National Soccer Coaches Association of American (NSCAA) headquarters since 1991 and now home to one of the most spectacular soccer stadiums in the world – Sporting Kansas City’s Livestrong Stadium – Kansas City deserves some soccer love.

Of course, as Kansas City gets set to host the 2012 NSCAA Convention, many will learn why.

Helping spread the Kansas City soccer story will be Vermes, manager of Sporting Kansas City and that same player who wore No. 10 for the U.S. National Team at the 1990 World Cup in Italy.

Vermes led Sporting to the 2011 MLS playoffs behind one of the most amazing midseason turnarounds in MLS history. An extended season-opening road swing caused by the construction of their new stadium left them 1-6-3 after 10 games and at one point they were in last place. The opening of LIVESTRONG Park kick-started the comeback and the club surged to first in the Eastern Conference with 51 points. will be a featured NSCAA clinician on Friday, January 13, at 9 am.

At 9 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 13, Vermes will take to the Exhibit Hall D demonstration field for presentation entitled "Approach Play with Finishing in a 4-3-3."  Frankly, Vermes could talk about any soccer topic and would deserve your attention. 

The Delran, N.J., native oversees all soccer operations for Sporting Kansas City, including the active roster and the Sporting Kansas City Juniors program. An original member of Major League Soccer, he retired from the league in 2002, closing out his playing career in Kansas City after stints with the New York/New Jersey MetroStars and Colorado Rapids.

Following a standout high school career in which he was named New Jersey Player of the Year, Vermes was a star forward and All-America at Rutgers University. After college, Vermes represented the United States in the Seoul 1988 Olympic Games and was named the 1988 U.S. Male Soccer Athlete of the Year for his efforts.

Vermes was an integral part of a young U.S. team at the 1990 World Cup, where he nearly scored a sensational goal against the host Italy.  In 1989 and 1990, Vermes became the first American to play in the Hungarian and Dutch First Divisions, appearing for Raba ETO and FC Volendam respectively. He later spent five years with Figueras of the Spanish Second Division

For the inaugural MLS season in 1996, Vermes served as captain of the New York/New Jersey MetroStars. In 1997, he was traded to the Colorado Rapids for current Sporting Kansas City Assistant Coach Kerry Zavagnin.  He would be a key part of the Rapids’ worst-to-first run all the way to the MLS Cup, where they would fall to DC United 2-1.

Vermes joined Kansas City in 2000 for what would be the most successful span of his MLS career. During his first year in Kansas City, he anchored one of the best defenses in league history and won MLS Defender of the Year honors while helping lead the Wizards to the 2000 MLS Cup title. He retired in 2002 after appearing in 184 MLS matches and playing more than 16,000 minutes. He has been nominated on the players’ ballot for the National Soccer Hall of Fame annually since 2007.
A member of the U.S. Soccer Board of Directors, he has a soccer park named after him in his home state of New Jersey. 

However, Vermes and his family -- wife Susan and their two children, Nicole and Kyle – now proudly call Kansas City home.  And Vermes is proud to welcome all NSCAA members and the entire country to the 2012 NSCAA Convention in Kansas City.

Other coaches conducting sessions in Kansas City include: Tom Byer, Jim Cassell, Mike Curry, Theresa Echtermeyer, Jill Ellis, April Heinrichs, Mark Verstegen, Schellas Hyndman, Vanessa Martinez Lagunas, Kevin McGreskin, Tom Sermanni, Sam Snow, Taylor Twellman, Frank Wormuth and Eric Wynalda.  

Click here to learn more about this year’s NSCAA Convention in Kansas City.

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