Sporting Kansas City announced on Tuesday that midfielder Jack Jewsbury was traded to the Portland Timbers in exchange for allocation money.
“This was not an easy decision. Jack has spent eight years with Kansas City, representing the organization on and off the field with class,” Sporting Kansas City Manager Peter Vermes said. “I understand that it might sound cliché, but we really do wish Jack all the best and sincerely thank him for what he accomplished with this club and in this city.”
Jewsbury, 29, was drafted by Kansas City with the 43rd overall pick in the fifth round of the 2003 MLS SuperDraft out of Saint Louis University, where he was recently inducted into the Billikens Hall of Fame for his outstanding collegiate career. Jewsbury spent eight seasons in KC, making 204 appearances, including postseason, and recorded 15 goals and 21 assists.
“The eight years in Kansas City have been unbelievable,” Jewsbury said. “I’ll never forget all the great times with the team. The ownership over the past few years has been fantastic, taking the team in a new direction with the new stadium and re-brand. So on that end, it’s bittersweet. I’ve made lifelong friends in Kansas City and I’ll never forget the fan support I had all these years.”
After making two appearances in his rookie season, Jewsbury broke into the lineup in 2004, playing in 26 games, including postseason when he started all four matches in Kansas City’s run to MLS Cup. Jewsbury recorded his only career postseason points with an assist and series-winning goal in stoppage time of the Western Conference semi-finals. In addition to starting in the 2004 MLS Cup, Jewsbury also started in the 2004 U.S. Open Cup final as Kansas City won the competition.
His versatility made him a mainstay in the lineup over his eight years in Kansas City, appearing in 28 or more games each of the last six seasons. Jewsbury holds several spots on Kansas City’s all-time record charts, ranking 7th in games started (142), games played (195) and minutes played (13,275), while ranking 8th in assists (21).
In 2008, Jewsbury led the team with seven assists, a single-season career high, and was named the team’s Defensive Player of the Year. The Springfield, Missouri native also twice earned invitations to the U.S. Men’s National Team training camps in 2009.
