Ahead of a rain-soaked Decision Day, questions hung over the St. Louis CITY SC fanbase. Were they watching goalkeeper Roman Bürki’s final night in goal?
A highlight package played as players prepared to walk onto the pitch, capturing some of the captain’s most spectacular saves through three seasons in St. Louis. The package may have been interpreted as a tribute to the club’s only captain, but as it ended, Bürki appeared on screen, stoically staring into the camera.
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“I’m not going anywhere, St. Louis.”
Energizer Park erupted, ecstatic to hear the former MLS Goalkeeper of the Year commit to the club’s future going into a pivotal offseason.
The revelation was a complete surprise to fans, who wondered whether they would be singing “Zombie” by the Cranberries as a sendoff. Instead, the stadium’s north end sang, ‘In your head, in your head, Bürki, Bürki, Bürki” in appreciation as the keeper acknowledged the fans ahead of the club’s second-half comeback.
Bürki spoke with the media ahead of Saturday’s season finale, admitting that the two sides had yet to come to an agreement, despite his desire to stay in St. Louis. They were close to a decision at that time, however, completing the deal ahead of the final CITY SC match at Energizer Park this season.
“It’s a difficult situation,” Bürki said Thursday. “We have so many open positions that have to be filled, so it’s complicated.”
The captain’s situation hasn’t been a secret. Bürki has been transparent throughout the process, as has the club before and after it parted ways with sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel. CITY president and general manager Diego Gigliani also spoke about the process in the days after splitting the sporting director responsibilities with technical director John Hackworth, leaving the door open for negotiations despite Pfannenstiel’s relationship with the former Bundesliga stalwart. That conversation had progressed but, until last week, it had been at a standstill.
Exact MLS contract details aren’t public knowledge until the Major League Soccer Players Association’s salary guide is released each May, but Bürki’s deal is likely to have improved on his previous $1,707,469.00 in guaranteed compensation.
The MLS salary cap can be difficult to navigate, but Bürki’s contract, reportedly making him a designated player, is a big commitment from the club. Currently, Marcel Hartel is CITY SC’s other DP committed to next season. MLS clubs are only allowed two or three designated players, depending on the club’s roster designation. While Bürki still led MLS in passing goals added among all goalkeepers, the 34-year-old’s shot-stopping numbers could continue to regress over the next two seasons.
The incoming sporting director would have some work to do to bring in game-changing talent ahead of next season. Bürki’s current deal can be bought down under the TAM-Player threshold, but it’s close, and even a 10 percent raise would take the keeper above the threshold for next season. That line was a sticking point in negotiations this summer, but both sides were able to come together as the final night of the season approached.
Following Saturday’s 2-2 draw, Bürki credited Gigliani, admiring the front office’s forthright discussions despite an uncertain future. “I had a lot of talks with Diego [Gigliani],” Bürki said. “They showed me what they want to do. They showed me things that I can’t tell here because they trust me. They showed me what they want to build here, what their plan is, and who they’re trying to bring in.”
The acting sporting directors were able to sell Bürki on their vision, a buy-in that also comes with an improved culture in the locker room under caretaker manager David Critchley. In the captain’s words, there’s a commitment to refreshing the roster, a key for CITY SC to become competitive over the next two seasons, and a commitment to transparency.
“It’s just a sign that they’re actually very interested in making the club a winning team and bringing a winning culture into the club,” Bürki said. “That’s exactly what I want to see.”
