Sporting Kansas City hires former MLS general manager Mike Burns as sporting director

Sporting Kansas City announced Mike Burns as the club’s new sporting director on Friday morning.

Burns most recently was the general manager of the New England Revolution for seven seasons. He became the general manager after the 2011 season.

The Revolution made the playoffs from 2013-2015 and the US Open Cup final in 2016 before missing the playoffs for three straight years. Burns was dismissed as general manager in May 2019.

The move comes after Sporting KC made an offseason hire to the position — previously announcing former Portland Timbers and Thorns executive Gavin Wilkinson for the same role. However, the club parted ways with Wilkinson eight days later after continued public backlash due to his time in Portland, where he was fired after multiple investigations into the organization’s handling of alleged misconduct by players and coaches.

Burns played as a defender for the United States National Team and was an MLS original, playing for the Kansas City Wizards in 2001 and 2002. Burns made 43 appearances on the KC back line. He spent the majority of his playing career with his hometown New England Revolution, making 108 appearances.

This story will be updated

Daniel Sperry covers soccer for The Star. He can be reached at sperry.danielkc@gmail.com.