KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Sporting Kansas City already had three left backs on the roster. Why sign another, especially one who will occupy an international slot – and especially when production at the forward end remains down this season?
Manager and technical director Peter Vermes has a simple answer. The club has wanted Honduran international Ever Alvarado for some time, and they didn't have to pay another club to get him.
“He's a guy that we have been following for a long time, and we had an excellent opportunity to get him at this point in a situation where he was free, so we had to take advantage of it,” Vermes told reporters earlier this week.
“At the end, we're going to pick the guys who are most competitive and the best in the position,” he continued. “That's how we're always going to go about it – and it's not just that position. It's every position on the field.”
Jimmy Medranda has been Vermes' first choice at left back in recent weeks. He’s supplanted second-year pro Amadou Dia – who opened the year with nine starts in 10 appearances – as well as veteran Seth Sinovic. The latter’s 2015 season was marked by a long recovery from a concussion, he’s made only four appearances with three starts in MLS play this year.
Vermes would not say how or even whether he plans to thin the ranks at left back in the wake of Alvarado's signing, which was announced on Friday. The club waived Spanish midfielder Jordi Quintilla – the hero of the penalty round in Sporting's 2015 U.S. Open Cup title victory – on Friday to clear an international spot.
The 24-year-old Alvarado most recently played with Honduran powerhouse CD Olimpia. He joins two-time World Cup veteran Roger Espinoza in Sporting's contingent of internationals from that country.
“I think he has a lot of the traits of most Honduran players, especially in this generation,” Vermes said. “You need guys that are strong in different ways – not just physically, but also mentally, because you've got to withstand a lot of stuff in this profession. He's been through that stuff, he's still young – and he's got good service in the box. He's just a good player.”
Steve Brisendine covers Sporting Kansas City for MLSsoccer.com. Twitter: @SteveBrisendine
