KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Negotiations may have dragged on until the cusp of the preseason, but Michael Harrington is staying put in Kansas City.
Sporting KC announced Wednesday that Harrington had signed a new contract with the club, keeping the team’s starting right back in blue for the foreseeable future. Terms of the deal were not released, per club policy.
“It was a longer process than I thought it was going to be,” Harrington said. “It’s just great to get it done. I’m excited to be back here. I’m very happy with the way things turned out.”
The 24-year-old, who was free to pursue opportunities outside of Major League Soccer once his contract expired following the 2010 season, said he had chances to explore options in Germany and Norway during the offseason but decided not to.
“I had opportunities for tryouts and some things like that, but I didn’t end up going on any trials or anything,” Harrington said. “Basically, it was a period where you are free, and that doesn’t come around all that often. It only makes sense to see what is out there and make sure you are doing what is best for you because it is a commitment.
“I thought long and hard about it and decided that staying in Kansas City was what I really wanted to do.”
Now that Harrington’s contract is taken care of and his presence at the only professional club he’s ever known is assured, the defender is focused on one thing: turning Kansas City into a winner.
Sporting have made two trips to the playoffs during his four seasons with the team, but they’ve missed out on the postseason in the last two years.
[inline_node:324750]With back-line stalwart Jimmy Conrad gone and Harrington among the team’s longest-tenured players, he hopes to be an integral part of the continued transformation of a squad that fell just short in 2010.
“I want to bring that experience to younger guys and step up and be a little bit more of a leader this year,” Harrington said. “Leadership is something that I sort of feel like I’ve been growing into. Usually, I’ve been a guy who kind of keeps to himself and focuses on my individual tasks.”
By most measures, last season was a banner year for Harrington as he bounced back from a 2009 season plagued by injuries to make 29 starts and lead the team in minutes played.
But that’s not to say he's satisfied.
“Last year was a good year,” Harrington said, “but I’m planning on this year being a better year. I still think I have a lot of growing to do, which is a good thing. There is still potential there to be filled and plenty of things that I want to do that I haven’t done yet.”
Foremost on that list is returning Sporting to the upper echelon of the league and to the playoffs during a season that promises to bring plenty of excitement in the form of a new stadium and the arrival of Designated Player Omar Bravo.
Although he had the opportunities to head elsewhere and possibly find success there, Harrington said he could only see himself doing that in one place.
“Kansas City is definitely in my heart now,” he said. “I like living here. I like the people here. I like the coaching staff, the owners and really everybody that is affiliated with the club. I only see this club going up.”
