Next to Preki, there’s arguably no more important player in Sporting Kansas City history than Matt Besler.
When you’re the hometown kid who goes on to be drafted by and captain your hometown club, leading it to unprecedented levels of popularity and success…well, let’s say the love for Besler makes sense.
Bes has been an MLS Defender of the Year, two-time MLS Best XI, three time US Open Cup champion, and led the club to it’s second MLS Championship in 2013. That’s before we even get into his 47 caps with the United States Men’s National Team.
2018 was a pretty solid year for Matt and arguably the last vintage season of Besler’s time in Kansas City.
In 2018, he became the club leader in appearances, games started, and minutes played for Sporting Kansas City in both MLS competition and in all competitions. He surpassed Davy Arnaud for the MLS regular season appearance mark on June 9th, 2018 against the Portland Timbers.
This black secondary match worn jersey was sold by Fanatics and worn by Besler in the 2018 season.
It is signed by Besler next to his name and #5 on the back and actual shows a nice amount of wear with pilling in both armpits and on the sleeves from (presumably) the captain’s armband.
These black secondary kits were introduced prior to the 2018 season and meant to be the third iteration of the club’s argyle branding, albeit with the argyle look being a bit understated.
They featured the argyle design on the below the back collar and on the front left hem. Sporting Kansas City paired the black jerseys with the same metallic silver lettering that was found on the 2015/2016 white argyle third kits.
The badges and MLS patches on these kits were also done in metallic silver and black.
While not a homerun, these secondary shirts were an interesting departure for the club and are pretty inoffensive from my perspective. For my money they are a much better use of the mono-color design in comparison to the 2022/2023 State Line 4.0 navy blue/indigo secondary kits.