Sporting Kansas City will induct former midfielder Chris Klein into the club’s Sporting Legends hall of honor on Saturday at Sporting Park with an on-field ceremony at halftime of the team’s match against the Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
“This is very well-deserved recognition for Kleiny in a career full of achievements,” said Sporting KC manager Peter Vermes, a teammate of Klein’s from 2000-2002. “Chris has dedicated his life to growing Major League Soccer and has always been a tireless ambassador for the sport. He has left a lasting legacy in Kansas City’s soccer scene and we’re thrilled to welcome him back.”
Klein joins six previous inductees in Sporting Legends, an initiative launched in 2013 to pay tribute to club icons and provide a platform for honorees to re-engage with the local soccer community. Klein was selected via an online vote that featured four finalists.
Sporting Legends inducees
Class of 2013: Preki, Tony Meola, Bob Gansler
Class of 2014: Peter Vermes, Jimmy Conrad, Lamar Hunt
Class of 2015: Chris Klein
A St. Louis native, Klein was selected fourth overall by the then-Wizards in the 1998 MLS College Draft and began his professional career with eight seasons in Kansas City. He won all three major domestic trophies during his KC career, leading the club to the Supporters’ Shield and MLS Cup double in 2000 with the game-winning assist in the team’s first MLS Cup championship before adding a U.S. Open Cup title in 2004.
Klein contributed 43 goals and 54 assists in 235 games played for KC across all competition from 1998-2005, placing him second on the club’s all-time chart with 97 combined goals and assists. He won MLS Comeback Player of the Year honors twice (2002, 2005) and was an MLS All-Star in four straight seasons from 2002-2005.
On the field, Klein was named the team’s Most Valuable Player in 2001 and twice led the team in assists (2001 and 2004), while also finishing the 2002 season as the team’s top scorer. Off the field, Klein was chosen Kansas City’s Humanitarian of the Year in 2002 and 2003 for his active involvement in charitable causes.