Graham Zusi played at Maryland in college ahead of the 2009 MLS SuperDraft. The right back was drafted in the second round, 23rd overall by the Kansas City Wizards. He scored 17 goals and assisted 31 in his first five MLS seasons. In 2012, he assisted 15 goals in one year. He won an Open Cup in 2012, an MLS Cup in 2013 and was named to the MLS Best XI and All-Star team in each of those years. He also won Breakout Player of the Year in 2011.
In 2014, Zusi scored 5 goals, while assisting another 8. No. 8 scored his first goal of the season at the back post in Colorado. He assisted both of the other goals in the March match, as SKC won it 3-2. Zusi went to the FIFA World Cup with the United States, making three starts in the tournament. On July 26th, he picked out the top right corner in Toronto. In the very next game, he got in behind to score against the Union. He made his third All-Star Game. He cut inside patiently and smashed a strike home against Chivas USA. Sporting Kansas City crashed out in the playoffs against the Red Bulls after a quality individual season from Zusi.
During the 2015 season, Zusi amassed 2 goals and 5 assists, while helping to keep 5 clean sheets for the second straight year. On May 29th, he struck one cleanly against FC Dallas, while assisting 2 other goals in the blowout win. He was named an MLS All-Star for the fourth straight year as well. In Columbus, Zusi cut it on the right and curled it perfectly into the far netting. Kansas City advanced to play Philadelphia in the 2015 US Open Cup. Zusi assisted SKC's goal, to Krisztian Nemeth. SKC hoisted the trophy after winning in penalties. Sporting's playoff run lasted a single game again, as Portland defeated them in PKs.
The defender's statistics were similar in 2016, scoring 2 and assisting 4. Zusi scored his first of the year on an incredible solo run against Columbus, finishing it off with a rocket. He missed a good portion of the year because he was playing for the USMNT at the Copa America, making 5 appearances in the tournament. He scored the latter goal on Decision Day, lacing one in against San Jose. SKC's fifth place finish pitted them against Seattle, where they were once again defeated early in the playoffs, 1-0.
Graham Zusi did not score in 2017, but assisted 8 goals, his highest single-season total since 2014. He also kept 10 clean sheets. He assisted his first of the year against the Earthquakes, laying it off for a Benny Feilhaber knuckled screamer. He made the MLS All-Star Team for the fifth time. In an August match against Dallas, Zusi sent a corner kick onto the head of Diego Rubio, then doubled his assist total on the day with a beautiful long ball over the top in stoppage time. In the 2017 edition of the US Open Cup, Sporting Kansas City hosted the New York Red Bulls. Graham Zusi whipped a cross into the box that Latif Blessing nodded home just 25 minutes in. SKC would hold on to claim their third USOC since 2013. Yet again, SKC went out early in the playoffs at the hands of the Houston Dynamo.
In 2018, Graham Zusi played every second of every game. He helped the back line keep a career-high of 13 clean sheets. It was another incredible campaign for offensive production, as he scored 2 and assisted another 7. Zusi made his sixth All-Star Game, it was becoming customary at this point. He scored one of the better goals of his career when he cut in on the left and destroyed a shot into the top left corner to kill San Jose once again. He equalized a match against Seattle weeks later with a lovely little chip in close. He assisted twice in a match against RBNY, driving a cross to Johnny Russell, then following it up with a layoff for a Roger Espinoza screamer. SKC won the Western Conference regular season. This time, they defeated Real Salt Lake in the first round. Portland sent them home.
In 2019, Graham Zusi was chosen for his seventh, and final, All-Star Game. He did not score and assisted just twice on the year. An attempted volley against New York turned into his first assist of the season. His second took place just two games later, as he crossed to Nemeth for the first of four SKC goals. It was an abysmal season for the usual playoff-bound team, finishing 11th in the West and missing out on the playoffs by quite a margin.
Zusi added one to his career totals in each of the goals and assists categories in 2020. In the 91st minute of an MLS is Back clash with Colorado, he found himself a lucky deflection that credited him with the match-winning goal. His lone assist was a pretty one against Minnesota United, playing it over the top for Johnny Russell while taking a big hit. SKC returned to the top of the Western Conference. Zusi underwent foot surgery in October, forcing him to miss the team's playoff victory over San Jose and loss to Minnesota.
In 2021, Sporting finished In third place. Zusi did not score, but he assisted 5 goals. In the summer, he assisted goals in three consecutive matches. On August 4th, he put up a brace of helpers. His first went to MVP candidate Daniel Salloi with a low cross. The second assist was curled onto the waiting head of Gadi Kinda for the goal. His final one on the season was to Johnny Russell, who admittedly did all the work. In the playoffs, Graham Zusi teed up an astonishing shot that nestled into the upper 90 as part of SKC's win over Vancouver. Real Salt Lake got the best of them in a 2-1 scoreline in the following game.
Zusi scored 2 goals and 2 assists in 2022. In Nashville, he scored another stunner, curling a left footed shot into the top left. Despite losing to FC Dallas in October, he scored his most recent goal with a drive from the top of the box. Kansas City had a disappointing twelfth place finish on the year. In 2023, Zusi took a step back, playing just 867 minutes in the regular season as a depth veteran. His lone assist came in classic Zusi crossing fashion. As it stands, the 37-year-old fullback is still standing, but has not played a match in many months. He last appeared in May due to a hamstring injury, but returned to the bench in September. His Sporting Kansas City side are marching through the playoffs as the #8 seed, facing off with Houston in the next round. It could be the legendary player's last run at another cup. Graham Zusi's full resume places him at #28.
YEAR | CLUB | MINUTES | GOALS | ASSISTS | CS |
2023 | SKC | 867 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
2022 | SKC | 1,661 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
2021 | SKC | 2,129 | 0 | 5 | 6 |
2020 | SKC | 1,224 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
2019 | SKC | 2,351 | 0 | 2 | 5 |
2018 | SKC | 3,060 | 2 | 7 | 13 |
2017 | SKC | 2,114 | 0 | 8 | 10 |
2016 | SKC | 1,651 | 2 | 4 | 6 |
2015 | SKC | 1,986 | 2 | 5 | 5 |
2014 | SKC | 2,151 | 5 | 8 | 5 |
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