Sporting Kansas City announced Monday that the club has signed defender Seth Sinovic to a new contract for the 2019 season.
Sinovic, 31, has helped Sporting KC win four major trophies since joining his hometown team in 2011. The three-time Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup winner (2012, 2015, 2017) and 2013 MLS Cup champion ranks 10th in club history with 228 appearances across all competitions, tallying four goals and 15 assists.
A native of Leawood, Kansas, Sinovic has contributed to 62 shutouts over the last eight regular seasons, fifth-most in MLS. Sporting KC boasts an 85-48-46 record (.603 winning percentage) and a 0.92 goals against average in his 179 regular-season starts for the club.
Sinovic has started 21 of 25 MLS appearances in 2018 for a Sporting KC side that finished the regular season atop the Western Conference and had the third-lowest scoring defense in MLS. The left back has a 13-3-5 record as a starter this year, notching two assists while contributing to 10 clean sheets.
Sporting KC is 15-4-6 when Sinovic plays this season and will battle for a spot in MLS Cup 2018 on Thursday when they host the Portland Timbers in leg two of the Western Conference Championship at Children's Mercy Park. A limited number of tickets for the match, set to kick off at 8:30 p.m. CT on ESPN, remain available at SeatGeek.com [cl.exct.net].
Now in his ninth MLS season, Sinovic is one of three players alongside teammates Matt Besler and Graham Zusi to start in each of Sporting KC's four victorious cup finals this decade. He has also helped Sporting KC to eight straight playoff appearances, the third-longest active streak in MLS and the longest postseason streak in club history. Sinovic has scored two goals in 14 playoff matches, including a pivotal strike against the New England Revolution-his first professional club-during Sporting KC's run to the 2013 MLS Cup title.
Sinovic entered Major League Soccer in 2010 as a second-round MLS SuperDraft selection. He played in 20 regular season matches for New England as a rookie before signing with Sporting KC in May 2011. He has totaled 208 appearances (197 starts) in his MLS regular season career with one goal and 11 assists.
Sinovic, who was tabbed Sporting KC's Defender of the Year in 2014, has also participated in numerous philanthropic initiatives throughout his professional career. He is actively involved in The Victory Project-a program that unites Sporting KC players, staff and fans to help children fighting cancer and other serious challenges-makes monthly visits to Children's Mercy Hospital and raises awareness for community programs through TV and radio appearances. He is also a loyal supporter of Braden's Hope, another organization committed to the fight against childhood cancer. Sinovic was named the Neal and Jeanne Patterson Humanitarian of the Year in 2017 for his service to the Kansas City community.
Sinovic enjoyed a prolific four-year stint at Rockhurst High School in Kansas City, Missouri, from 2001-2005. He was a First-Team All-State selection and Western Missouri Offensive Player of the Year during his senior season, when he amassed 25 goals and 15 assists.
Sinovic then walked on at Creighton University, recording eight goals and 15 assists in 77 matches while leading the Bluejays backline to 37 shutouts in his four seasons. A team captain in 2008 and 2009, Sinovic was a two-time First-Team All-Missouri Valley Conference and United Soccer Coaches All-Midwest Region honoree.