By Field Level Media
Nov 09 (Field Level Media) – Sporting Kansas City terminated head coach Raphael Wicky’s contract Monday after the team missed the playoffs in his first season.
The team won 1-0 at San Diego FC in the season finale on Saturday but finished last in the 15-team Western Conference (7-22-5, 26 points).
Sporting KC scored the fewest goals in the West (40) and surrendered the most goals (81) in the entire league.
Wicky, 49, was hired on Jan. 5 to a contract that ran through the 2027-28 season with a club option for 2028-29.
The team also announced that assistant coaches Edu Rubio and Ash Wallace will not return next season.
“We would like to thank Raphael for his time at Sporting KC,” president of soccer operations and general manager David Lee said. “The 2026 season has been challenging for many reasons, and we recognize that Rapha and his staff worked incredibly hard in difficult circumstances. After a review of the season, Rapha and I met, and I decided to make the change. We wish Rapha the best of luck in the future.”
Wicky previously coached the Chicago Fire (2020-21) in MLS as well as Young Boys (2022-24) and Basel (2017-18) in his native Switzerland.
(–Field Level Media)
