Remembering Sporting KC’s first-ever Designated Player Claudio Lopez

In 2008, the Kansas City Wizards had just moved into CommunityAmerica Ballpark after years of calling Arrowhead Stadium home. With a new home and MLS evolving, the Wizards made club history by signing its first-ever Designated Player: Claudio Lopez.

It was a statement move in the early years of the Designated Player Rule, which was instituted the previous season thanks to the arrival of David Beckham. Designated Players in the early years were often misses rather than hits. Lopez was a gamble for the team in an uncertain time. 

A global name arrives in Kansas City

Lopez was not just another foreign import. He was a World Cup veteran with Argentina, a player who had performed on some of the biggest stages in the sport. By the time he arrived in Kansas City at age 33, his resume included clubs from Argentina, Spain, Italy, and Mexico.

He came through the ranks at Racing Club, made his name at Valencia—where he won the Copa del Rey and reached a UEFA Champions League final—and later added silverware with Lazio and Club America. Lopez earned 55 caps for Argentina, played in two World Cups, and collected a silver medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics.

Although Lopez had success, joining MLS at 33 on a Designated Player contract provided no guarantees. 

The Designated Player experiment begins

The Wizards waited until 2008 to make their first Designated Player move, signing Lopez on a free transfer. His arrival came with expectations, not just because of his history, but because of what the rule itself represented. MLS wanted stars. Kansas City needed impact on and off the pitch.

Lopez delivered in a period where expectations were high for Designated Players. Oftentimes, it felt like those expectations were unattainable, with Designated Players expected to score nearly every week and attract fans to sell out stadiums. 

He formed a productive partnership with Josh Wolff, finishing the 2008 MLS season with six goals and seven assists in 28 appearances. Those were solid numbers. Even modern Designated Players, or players on equivalent salaries, do not post those figures. 

He helped the Wizards qualify for the playoffs for a second straight season. The team finished 11W-9D-10L. Thanks to winning their last three MLS regular-season games, the Wizards qualified for the MLS Cup Playoffs in 2008. Lopez scored in the team’s final two matches, proving his worth. The team went on to lose in the MLS Cup Conference Semifinals to the Columbus Crew over two legs. 

Lopez earned $720,000 for his first season in Kansas City. It was a high salary in MLS during the 2000s. Nowadays, it is a figure in which many medium-to-high ranking MLS players pull down annually without being a Designated Player. 

Productive, but not transformative

That became the theme of Lopez’s time in Kansas City. He was effective, reliable, and occasionally decisive, but he never quite became the superstar the club hoped for. 

In 2009, his salary dropped significantly—from around $720,000 to $180,000—yet his production actually improved. He scored eight goals and added seven assists, finishing his Wizards career with 15 goals and 13 assists in 65 appearances across all competitions.

Those are solid numbers, especially when viewed through the lens of early MLS DPs, many of whom failed to deliver anything close. Lopez, by comparison, was a hit.

The problem was Kansas City struggled as a team, finishing with 8W-9D-13L in 2009. It was one of the worst records in the league. Production alone could not offset broader issues, and contract negotiations eventually broke down. Peter Vermes made it clear the club would not meet Lopez’s salary expectations, despite wanting him to return. The partnership ultimately ended.

A short ending, a lasting impact

Lopez joined the Colorado Rapids in 2010, earning $120,000. He played just 11 matches and failed to score a goal before being released at the end of the campaign. Lopez retired shortly after, closing the book on a career that included trophies in multiple countries and an MLS Cup medal—albeit as an unused substitute in Colorado’s 2010 triumph.

Looking back, Lopez’s time in Kansas City can be summed up simply. He was good. Not great, not transformative, but good at a time when “good” from a Designated Player was far from guaranteed.