Roger Espinoza will be rejoining Sporting Kansas City after a two year stint with Wigan Athletic. The 2013 champions are filling a major hole in the starting lineup with the Honduran midfielder. Espinoza has spent the last two years in England with Wigan and won the 2013 FA Cup. He signed with the club in January of 2013 on a costless transfer.
With the June departure of Uri Rosell and Lawrence Olum leaving in the off season, Sporting was in desperate need of another defensive midfielder. Jorge Claros, a fellow Honduran international with Espinoza, spent the final few months of the 2014 season with Sporting, but struggled to fit into the position. Espinoza brings his veteran leadership and familiarity with the system back to Kansas City.
This signing will also move Paulo Nagamura out of a strictly defensive role, one he was thrust into late in the season. Espinoza's inclusion in the roster will also allow Paulo more time to rest during the season.
Perhaps the most important aspect of the this signing is the amount of intensity Roger will bring to the lineup. Peter Vermes' high pressure 4-3-3 lost a lot of its edge when Rosell left. The press keeps the focus off the back four and emphasizes team defense and help. The forwards need to harass and the midfielders need to jump in the passing lanes. This only works when the team has a trusted defensive mid covering; something Olum and Claros never achieved.
Espinoza appeared in 113 MLS matches for Sporting Kansas City from 2008-2012 after being drafted 11th overall in the 2008 MLS Super Draft. In his two years with Wigan, he appeared in 36 matches including the 2013 FA Cup Final victory over Manchester City. Espinoza is also a prominent member of the Honduras national team and appeared in all three World Cup matches in Brazil.