History of professional soccer in Seattle
Encyclopedia
Seattle Sounders FC Seattle Sounders FC is an American professional soccer club based in Seattle, Washington. The club competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. Sounders FC was established in November 2007 as a MLS expansion team, making it the 15th team in... |
History
---- People
---- Overview
---- Stadiums
---- Teams
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The History of professional soccer in Seattle spans over four decades, and includes clubs playing in numerous different leagues such as the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
, the United Soccer Leagues
United Soccer Leagues
The United Soccer Leagues is the organizer of several soccer leagues with teams in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. It includes men's and women's leagues, both professional and amateur. Leagues currently organized are the USL Pro, the USL Premier Development League, the W-League, and...
, the Continental Indoor Soccer League
Continental Indoor Soccer League
The Continental Indoor Soccer League was an indoor soccer league that played from 1993 to 1997.-History:When the Major Soccer League folded in the summer of 1992, two of its former teams joined a group of hockey and basketball arena owners led by Ron Weinstein who wanted to create a league to...
, and most recently, Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
.
NASL Days
On January 23, 1974; the Seattle Sounders were founded.The original Seattle Sounders were created prior to the 1974 North American Soccer League season. The club's inaugural season resulted in a 10-7-3 record, the only expansion franchise that year to have their wins outpace their losses. In spite of the winning record, it was not enough for the Sounders to qualify for the NASL playoffs, finishing in third place in the Western Conference that year.
The Sounders returned in 1975 with a much stronger regular season record, accumulating five more wins than in 1974, totaling a 15-7-0 record. In their first playoff run, the Sounders lost in the quarterfinals 1-2 to their southern rivals, the Portland Timbers
Portland Timbers
Portland Timbers may refer to any of four distinct professional soccer teams:*Portland Timbers, a Major League Soccer expansion team that began playing in 2011....
. The following season, along with a massive increase in attendance, the Sounders would reach the Divisional Championships of the 1976 NASL playoffs, but fall short to the Minnesota Kicks
Minnesota Kicks
Minnesota Kicks were a professional soccer team that played at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington, Minnesota from 1976 to 1981. The team was a member of the now defunct North American Soccer League. The team had relocated to Minnesota after having been based in Denver, Colorado as the Denver Dynamos...
3-0.
The club achieved their best success the following season, when they made it to Soccer Bowl '77
Soccer Bowl
The Soccer Bowl was the championship game of the North American Soccer League from 1975 to 1983. The event was created by NASL Commissioner Phil Woosnam who was trying to build a neutral-site championship event in the mold of the NFL's Super Bowl....
, but lost in the championship to Cosmos
New York Cosmos
The New York Cosmos were an American soccer club based in New York City, New York and its suburbs. The team played home games in three stadiums around New York before moving in 1977 to Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, where it remained for the rest of its history...
2-1.
Debate for MLS or APSL club
Upon the incarnation of Major League SoccerMajor League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
, the Seattle metro area was shortlisted for a potentially candidate to host an inaugural MLS club. However, when it came time have a petition to sign with the league, the Seattle organizers only managed to secure 1,300 assurances. The low numbers were at first claimed to be the result between a ticket campaign between bringing an MLS expansion club to Seattle, and tickets for the American Professional Soccer League (APSL) Sounders.
Failing to reach the minimum 10,000-signatures, Seattle was consequently excluded among the first seven cities to be awarded an MLS club. However, in spite of this, the league announced that five more teams were to be announced later that year, with the chance to improve their chances. Subsequently, Seattle MLS organizers began working with the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
to secure use of Husky Stadium
Husky Stadium
Husky Stadium is an outdoor athletic stadium on the campus of the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the home of the Washington Huskies...
as a tentative stadium while they pursued the construction of a permanent soccer-specific stadium
Soccer-specific stadium
Soccer-specific stadium is a term used mainly in the United States, Canada, Australia and South Korea coined by Lamar Hunt, to refer to a sports stadium either purpose built or fundamentally redesigned for soccer and whose primary function is to host soccer matches, as opposed to a multipurpose...
.
In November 1994, the inaugural MLS season was postponed to 1996. It when then noted that the absence of an "adequate grass-field facility" in the region, as well as the presence of the new APSL Seattle Sounders team had thwarted Seattle's MLS franchise bid. In the end, Seattle was not among the cities chosen to establish a team during the first season of the MLS.
Second attempt for MLS franchise
During the debutant MLS season; Paul AllenPaul Allen
Paul Gardner Allen is an American business magnate, investor, and philanthropist. Allen co-founded Microsoft with Bill Gates...
, the owner of the NFL franchise
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
, worked with the city to build a new football stadium for his team (today Qwest Field
Qwest Field
CenturyLink Field is a multi-purpose stadium in Seattle, Washington, United States. It serves as the home field for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League and Seattle Sounders FC of Major League Soccer...
). With the possibility of an MLS expansion team
Expansion team
An expansion team is a brand new team in a sports league. The term is most commonly used in reference to the North American major professional sports leagues, but is applied to sports leagues worldwide that use a closed franchise system of league membership. The term comes from the expansion of the...
that could be a co-tenant the facility helped drive public support for the stadium effort. Many state voters supported the referendum to construct the Seahawks Stadium, because it was expected to double as a professional soccer venue. While the stadium problem was being resolved, a new issue arrose. By 2000, MLS was veered away from league-operated clubs, towards investor-operated franchises. As result, wealthy individuals would need to step forward for Seattle to obtain an MLS franchise.
In the early 2000s, MLS announced their intention to have their first expansion since 1998. In 2002, Seattle was once-again listed as a possible market for an MLS expansion team. But in 2004, the two franchises were award to Salt Lake City, and a second franchise to the Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
area, these teams later becoming known as Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake is an American professional soccer club based in Sandy, Utah, a suburb of Salt Lake City. The team competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. They currently play their home games at Rio Tinto Stadium. Real Salt Lake won...
and Chivas USA
C.D. Chivas USA
Club Deportivo Chivas USA is an American professional soccer club based in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson, California that competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada....
, respectively. MLS commissioner Don Garber
Don Garber
Donald Garber is the commissioner of Major League Soccer, CEO of Soccer United Marketing, and a member of the United States Soccer Federation board of directors. Garber has spent his entire career in the sports industry, working in a variety of capacities in marketing, television and league...
indicated that Seattle had been "very close" to receiving the expansion team, and ended up being third on the list. Adrian Hanauer
Adrian Hanauer
Adrian Hanauer is an American businessman and minority owner and general manager of the Seattle Sounders FC.- Business history :Hanauer's family owns Pacific Coast Feather Co., a down pillow, feather bed, and high-end bedding products manufacturer that was originally founded in 1884 in Germany, but...
, then-owner of the United Soccer League's (USL) Sounders (formerly the APSL Sounders), was in discussions with MLS about an estimated payment of $1 million to purchase an MLS franchise, that could be placed in the Seattle area in time for the 2006 season.
When Seattle was passed over again during the 2006 season (the franchise was awarded to Houston
Houston Dynamo
The Houston Dynamo is an American professional soccer club, based in Houston, Texas, that plays in Major League Soccer, the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. Founded in 2005 as Houston 1836, the team name was renamed to Houston Dynamo following protests from Hispanic...
), Hanauer announced that he would not be able to secure an expansion team without the help of more investors willing to help cover the increasing MLS franchise fees which had grown beyond $10 million by the mid-2000s.
Brian Schmetzer Era
Prior to the beginning of the 2002 campaign, the SoundersSeattle Sounders (USL)
Seattle Sounders was an American professional soccer team founded in 1994 as a member of the American Professional Soccer League. In 1997, the team became a member of the USL First Division, the second tier of the United States soccer pyramid, until 2008, after which the majority of the team's...
were coming of a dismal performance the previous season. With the firing of Englishmen Bernie James
Bernie James
Bernie James is a former U.S. soccer player and current youth soccer coach. James spent twenty-four years as a professional, both beginning and ending his career with different versions of the Seattle Sounders. He played in the North American Soccer League, Major Indoor Soccer League, American...
the Sounders were in need of hiring a new head coach. Hanauer called on Brian Schmetzer
Brian Schmetzer
Brian Schmetzer is a retired U.S. soccer player who played in the North American Soccer League, Major Indoor Soccer League and Western Soccer League. He coached the Seattle Sounders in the USL First Division for seven seasons, winning two championships. He was the 2002 USL-1 Coach of the Year...
, whom last coached the indoor club, the Seattle SeaDogs
Seattle SeaDogs
The Seattle SeaDogs are a defunct indoor soccer team that played in the Continental Indoor Soccer League from 1995 to 1997. They won the last CISL championship in 1997.-History:...
, and asked him if he was interested in the job. Schmetzer agreed and took the job that season. Schmetzer's highlights of his six year tenure include Pacific Division titles in his inaugural season and the following season. In 2004, during his third year of coaching, he led the Sounders to the A-League championship game where the team ultimately lost to the Montreal Impact
Montreal Impact
Montreal Impact was a Canadian professional soccer club based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1992, the team played in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid until the 2011 season. The owner Joey Saputo now operates the MLS team Montreal ImpactThe...
. The next year, in the Sounders debut in the USL First Division
USL First Division
The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....
, Schmetzer led the club again to the finals, where they successfully defeated the Richmond Kickers
Richmond Kickers
The Richmond Kickers are an American professional soccer club based in Richmond, Virginia, United States. Founded in 1993, the team plays in the American Division of the USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid...
in penalties.
Schmetzer was a finalist for the 2007 coach of the year award. Although the team had started the season 1–3–4, they went on to claim the Commissioner's Cup for the league's best regular season record. The team also had a 15-game unbeaten run that included MLS opponents in the U.S. Open Cup
2007 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
-Schedule:Note: Scorelines use the standard U.S. convention of placing the home team on the right-hand side of box scores.-First round:-----Second round:-----Third round:...
. The Sounders went on to beat the Atlanta Silverbacks
Atlanta Silverbacks
Atlanta Silverbacks is an American professional soccer team based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1995, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, having previously sat out the 2009 and 2010 seasons while the ownership...
4-0 to win the postseason championship.
Today, Schmetzer is presently the assistant coach for the MLS Sounders.
2002–04: Pacific Champions, and run to USL Final
The Sounders' 2002 season was easily the strongest season for the USL team and arguably the strongest year of all Sounders franchises. In Brain Schmetzer's inaugural campaign as Sounders manager, Schmetzer led the club to a unprecedented 23 victories in 28 matches. In 2002, the Sounders only lost one regular season match and had four draws. The record results in 107 points for the season, and easily obtaining the Commissioner's Cup by 22 points.By earning the Commissioner's Cup, and winning the Pacific Division regular season title, the Sounders earned a direct bye to the Western Conference semifinals (or the quarterfinals) against their Cascadian
Cascadia Cup
The Cascadia Cup is the name of the trophy created in 2004 by supporters of the Portland Timbers, Seattle Sounders, and Vancouver Whitecaps FC, which is awarded each season to the best soccer team in the Pacific Northwest. The Timbers, Sounders, and Whitecaps have roots dating to the days of the...
rivals, the Vancouver Whitecaps. The first leg in Seattle was a solid start for the Sounders, as they cruised to a 2–0 win. The second leg, however, was a disaster. The match ended in a blowout 6–2 defeat. The defeat resulted in a 6–4 aggregate loss putting a shocking, abrupt end to the Sounders phenomenal season.
2005–08: Three years, two titles
United Soccer Leagues 2005
-General:* A-League renamed USL First Division.* Pro Soccer League renamed USL Second Division.* The newly renamed top two divisions each become single table....
USL Division One season, the Sounders made it a top priority to win the USL postseason championship, especially following their shortcomings in 2004, with a defeat against Montreal Impact
Montreal Impact
Montreal Impact was a Canadian professional soccer club based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1992, the team played in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid until the 2011 season. The owner Joey Saputo now operates the MLS team Montreal ImpactThe...
. During their 2005 campaign, Sounders goalie Preston Burpo
Preston Burpo
Preston Burpo is a retired American soccer player who is now goalkeeper coach for Montreal Impact in Major League Soccer.-College:...
, was second in the league in goals against average, averaging .85 goals a match. That season, defender Taylor Graham
Taylor Graham
Taylor Graham is an American soccer player who last played for Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer.-Youth and College:...
won the league's "Defender of the Year" award as well and was named to the "USL First Division Best XI" that year, too. In 2005, the Sounders finished in fourth place, and went on to win the championship against the Richmond Kickers
Richmond Kickers
The Richmond Kickers are an American professional soccer club based in Richmond, Virginia, United States. Founded in 1993, the team plays in the American Division of the USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid...
in penalty kicks.
The following year, 2006, proved to be a rough year for the defending champions, as they failed to qualify for the playoffs, and finished in 7th place in the league table. In the midst of their dismal season, striker Cam Weaver
Cam Weaver
William Cameron "Cam" Weaver is an American soccer player who plays as a forward for the Houston Dynamo of Major League Soccer.-High School and College:...
netted 18 goals for the club, as well as an additional three assists scoring 39 individual points in the USL First Division. He finished the season with the second highest amount of points behind Miami FC
Miami FC
Fort Lauderdale Strikers is an American professional association football team based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States. Founded in 2006, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid...
's Romario
Romário
Romário de Souza Faria , better known simply as Romário , is a former footballer who played striker,manager and current politician where is currently running for a mayor like position in his hometown...
. Weaver was also named the USL First Division's "Rookie of the Year". Weaver recevied some minor international recognition, and subsequently signed with second division-Norwegian club FK Haugesund. Today, he plays for MLS-side Houston Dynamo
Houston Dynamo
The Houston Dynamo is an American professional soccer club, based in Houston, Texas, that plays in Major League Soccer, the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. Founded in 2005 as Houston 1836, the team name was renamed to Houston Dynamo following protests from Hispanic...
.
Although 2007 was highlighted by the announcement of Seattle being award an MLS expansion franchise, the Sounders had a successful USL season, which proved to be their best in club history. First, the Sounders won the Commissioner's Cup, which is an award given the league champion with the best season record, of 16-6-6. They went on to win the postseason USL Cup, by thrashing Atlanta 4-0. In the 2007 U.S. Open Cup
2007 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
-Schedule:Note: Scorelines use the standard U.S. convention of placing the home team on the right-hand side of box scores.-First round:-----Second round:-----Third round:...
, the Sounders made a semifinal run, before losing to FC Dallas
FC Dallas
FC Dallas is an American professional soccer club based in the Dallas suburb of Frisco, Texas which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada...
2-1 in extra time. In the Open Cup quarterfinals, the Sounders thrashed MLS-side Colorado Rapids
Colorado Rapids
The Colorado Rapids are an American professional soccer club based in the Denver suburb of Commerce City, Colorado which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league...
, 5-0, thus making it the largest margin of victory a USL club has ever had over an MLS club in any competition. Beforehand in the early rounds, the Sounders played Chivas USA
C.D. Chivas USA
Club Deportivo Chivas USA is an American professional soccer club based in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson, California that competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada....
, Portland Timbers
Portland Timbers
Portland Timbers may refer to any of four distinct professional soccer teams:*Portland Timbers, a Major League Soccer expansion team that began playing in 2011....
and Banat Arsenal
Phoenix Banat Storm
Phoenix Banat Storm are an American soccer team, founded in 2006, who played in the National Premier Soccer League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, for just one season...
.
Modern Day Sounders
Seattle awarded expansion franchise
Following the shortcomings in 2006, the next year, Hanauer teamed up with Hollywood producer Joe RothJoe Roth
Joe Roth is an American film executive, producer and film director. He co-founded Morgan Creek Productions in 1987 and was chairman of 20th Century Fox , Caravan Pictures , and Walt Disney Studios before founding Revolution Studios in 2000.-Life and career:Roth was born in New York, New York,...
to make another bid for MLS expansion into Seattle. This time, at a fee of $30 million. Paul Allen, whose First and Goal company operated Qwest Field
Qwest Field
CenturyLink Field is a multi-purpose stadium in Seattle, Washington, United States. It serves as the home field for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League and Seattle Sounders FC of Major League Soccer...
(formerly Seahawks Stadium), joined the duo later that year, making the fourth bid the most promising yet for the region. During the first week of November 2007, rumors began circulating that MLS would be announcing an expansion franchise into the Seattle market the following week and that the ownership trio had brought on a fourth member: TV personality Drew Carey
Drew Carey
Drew Allison Carey is an American actor, singer, comedian, photographer, sports executive, and game show host. After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps and making a name for himself in stand-up comedy, Carey eventually gained popularity starring on his own sitcom, The Drew Carey Show, and serving as...
.
During a press conference on November 13, 2007; it was announced that Seattle had been awarded an expansion club by MLS. The announcement provided a return of top-level soccer to Seattle for the first time since the dissolution of its North American Soccer League (NASL) club
Seattle Sounders (NASL)
The Seattle Sounders were a U.S. professional soccer team based in Seattle, Washington. Founded in 1974, the team belonged to the North American Soccer League where it played both indoor and outdoor soccer. The team folded after the 1983 NASL outdoor season.-Stadium:The Sounders played at Memorial...
in 1983. It also meant that the Seattle Sounders of the USL First Division
USL First Division
The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....
would play their final second tier campaign prior their inaugural MLS season.
New crest, same name
On April 7, 2008; along with the club's colors, badge design and logo, the Seattle MLS franchise announced their club's name. To decide the name, the organization held an online poll to decide the name. Overwhelmingly, supporters voted retain the "Sounders" name, alluding to the past Sounders teams."Seattle Sounders FC" was announced as the team name on April 7, 2008, along with the team logo, colors, and badge design, in a presentation held at the Space Needle
Space Needle
The Space Needle is a tower in Seattle, Washington and is a major landmark of the Pacific Northwest region of the United States and a symbol of Seattle. Located at the Seattle Center, it was built for the 1962 World's Fair, during which time nearly 20,000 people a day used the elevators, with over...
. The "FC" in the team moniker stands for Football Club, but the team name is officially Seattle Sounders FC. The badge design resembles a heraldic shield and consists of two layers which represent "the partnership between the ownership, the community, the players and the fans." The logo incorporates the Space Needle
Space Needle
The Space Needle is a tower in Seattle, Washington and is a major landmark of the Pacific Northwest region of the United States and a symbol of Seattle. Located at the Seattle Center, it was built for the 1962 World's Fair, during which time nearly 20,000 people a day used the elevators, with over...
, an internationally recognized Seattle landmark. The official team colors are Sounder Blue, signifying the waters of the Puget Sound
Puget Sound
Puget Sound is a sound in the U.S. state of Washington. It is a complex estuarine system of interconnected marine waterways and basins, with one major and one minor connection to the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Pacific Ocean — Admiralty Inlet being the major connection and...
; Rave Green, representing the forests of the Pacific Northwest
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
; and Cascade Shale, representing the Cascade Range
Cascade Range
The Cascade Range is a major mountain range of western North America, extending from southern British Columbia through Washington and Oregon to Northern California. It includes both non-volcanic mountains, such as the North Cascades, and the notable volcanoes known as the High Cascades...
to the east of Seattle.
Fans chose a name for the team in an online poll held between March 27 and March 31, 2008. The initial list of possibilities - Seattle FC, Seattle Republic and Seattle Alliance — deliberately did not include Seattle Sounders in order to provide a "fresh start." Despite the names having been selected through fan research and internal committees, the omission of the traditional Sounders name rankled many in the Seattle community. In response to the backlash, the team added a fourth "write-in" option for the team name, allowing for any name to be suggested on the ballot. Of the over 14,500 votes received for the new team name, 49% of the votes included some form of the name Sounders. Upon announcing the name, Hanauer acknowledged the significance of keeping with tradition: "The team playing at the highest level in our region has always been called Sounders. Starting with the NASL and then the USL 1st Division, we now have the chance to create a separate and distinct identity with the new MLS team."
Team ownership revealed the first Sounders FC jersey on May 28, 2008, and announced Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
as the team's sponsor in a five-year deal worth approximately $20 million. As part of the agreement, the Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
and Xbox Live
Xbox Live
Xbox Live is an online multiplayer gaming and digital media delivery service created and operated by Microsoft Corporation. It is currently the only online gaming service on consoles that charges users a fee to play multiplayer gaming. It was first made available to the Xbox system in 2002...
brands appear on the front of Sounders FC's jerseys and throughout the stadium.
Sigi Schmid Era
Inaugural MLS campaign
The Sounders began their inaugural MLS campaign during the 2009 MLS season. Prior to the opening match, the Sounders sold all 22,000 of their season ticket packages. The 22,000 ticket holders, gave the Sounders a record for the most season ticket holders ever in MLS history. They played their first home match on March 19, 2009, to a sold-out crowd of 32,523, defeating the 2008 MLS Cup runners-up, New York Red Bulls, by a 3–0 margin. Seattle was the first MLS expansion team to win their first three games, and they did so with a shutout in each. Fredy Montero scored the first regular season goal in team history, finishing a movement from Sebastien Le TouxSébastien Le Toux
Sébastien Le Toux is a French-American footballer who currently plays for the Philadelphia Union in Major League Soccer.-Professional:Le Toux was part of the youth setup at Rennes, and briefly played for Lorient in Ligue 2, prior to moving to the United States.Le Toux unsuccessfully tried out for...
and Osvaldo Alonso
Osvaldo Alonso
Osvaldo Alonso Moreno is a Cuban footballer who currently plays for Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer.-Professional:...
in the 12th minute. Montero assisted Brad Evans'
Brad Evans
Brad Evans is an American soccer player who currently plays for Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer.-College and Amateur:...
goal, and also scored the team's third goal. Kasey Keller
Kasey Keller
Kasey Keller is a retired American soccer player who last played for Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer....
, a veteran American goalkeeper who had played his entire career abroad, made his MLS debut at 39 years of age, and made two saves to register the team's first regular season shutout.
March 2009 saw Montero winning Player of the Week honors for week 1 and Keller for week 2. Montero won Goal of the Week for the first two games and was named the Player of the Month.
After their first two victories at home, Sounders FC played their MLS away fixture against Toronto FC
Toronto FC
Toronto FC is a Canadian professional soccer club based in Toronto, Ontario which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada....
. The Sounders expected a challenging away environment, but were victorious in a 2-0 shutout. Soon after, reports out of Seattle linked Montero to a sexual assault
Sexual assault
Sexual assault is an assault of a sexual nature on another person, or any sexual act committed without consent. Although sexual assaults most frequently are by a man on a woman, it may involve any combination of two or more men, women and children....
case with an unidentified woman. In a statement made by Sounders publicist, Montero asserted that the allegations stemmed from a disagreement in which he sought to end the relationship. and a police inquiry resulted in no charges being filed. Seattle Sounders FC suffered their first competitive loss at home against the Kansas City Wizards
Kansas City Wizards
Sporting Kansas City is an American professional soccer club based in Kansas City, Kansas that competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada...
. Kasey Keller
Kasey Keller
Kasey Keller is a retired American soccer player who last played for Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer....
was sent off in the 29th minute for a hand ball outside the 18-yard box, as the Sounders fell 1-0 to the Wizards. The following week they lost at Chivas USA
C.D. Chivas USA
Club Deportivo Chivas USA is an American professional soccer club based in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson, California that competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada....
. Chris Eylander
Chris Eylander
Chris Eylander is an American soccer player who is currently a Free Agent.-Youth and College:Eylander had an outstanding youth career. He won the 1998, 1999 and 2000 Washington State youth soccer championship with his club team, Federal Way United Storm '83...
was scored on twice while covering the goal during Keller's suspension. The Sounders again failed to score.
The Sounders returned to their winning ways in a 2-0 home win versus the San Jose Earthquakes
San Jose Earthquakes
The San Jose Earthquakes professional soccer team is located in the San Jose, California, United States suburb of Santa Clara, and participates in Major League Soccer , the top level soccer league in the United States and Canada....
.
It was announced in early July that the Sounders had signed left-footed Costa Rican defender Leonardo González
Leonardo González
Leonardo González Arce is a Costa Rican footballer. He currently plays for Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer.-Club:...
to help at the left back position. The position had been a weak spot in Seattle's defense and filled by three separate players throughout the season.
On July 11, the Sounders hosted the Houston Dynamo at Qwest Field. Brian Schmetzer filled in for Schmid who was at his son's wedding. Ianni scored his first goal of the season on bicycle kick that would earn him the MLS goal of the Week. On the following Tuesday, the Sounders defeated the Dynamo at Strfire in the U.S. Open Cup semifinals. Houston led when Jaqua scored in the 89th minute. King scored a goal five minutes into extra time, thus sending the Sounders FC to the Open Cup finals against D.C. United.
On July 18, 2009 the Seattle Sounders lost 0–2 in a friendly with Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
. All sections of the stadium were open and sold out with a crowd of 65,289 in attendance. The game was the first with the team for Chelsea's new manager, Carlo Ancelotti
Carlo Ancelotti
Carlo Ancelotti is an Italian football manager, Nicknamed Carletto, Ancelotti played as a midfielder and had a successful career with Roma – captaining the team – with whom he won one Scudetto and 4 Coppa Italia and was part of the legendary late 80's Milan team, with whom he won two Scudetti and...
, and their new forward Daniel Sturridge
Daniel Sturridge
Daniel Andre Sturridge is an English footballer who plays for Chelsea and the England national team. He is primarily a forward, but has been used on the right flank as a winger for Chelsea...
.
The club set a state record for attendance at a soccer match on August 5, 2009, when 66,848 attended a friendly match
Exhibition game
An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition...
with FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
.
On September 2, 2009, Sounders FC became the second MLS expansion team in league history (Chicago
Chicago Fire (soccer)
Chicago Fire Soccer Club is an American professional soccer club based in the Chicago suburb of Bridgeview, Illinois. The team competes in Major League Soccer , the top soccer league in the United States and Canada...
was first) to win the U.S. Open Cup
Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is a knockout tournament in American soccer. The tournament is the oldest ongoing American soccer competition and is presently open to all United States Soccer Federation affiliated teams, from amateur adult club teams to the professional clubs of Major League...
tournament in their first season. They did so by defeating D.C. United
D.C. United
D.C. United is an American professional soccer club based in Washington, D.C. which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league since its inception, in 1996.Over the...
2–1 on the road at RFK Stadium
Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium
Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium, in Washington, D.C., United States, and the current home of MLS's D.C. United....
. In winning the U.S. Open Cup tournament, they qualified for the preliminary round of the 2010–11 CONCACAF Champions League
2010–11 CONCACAF Champions League
The 2010–11 CONCACAF Champions League was the 3rd edition of the CONCACAF Champions League under its current format. The tournament began on July 27, 2010 and ended on April 27, 2011. Monterrey of Mexico won their first title, defeating Real Salt Lake of the United States 3-2 on aggregate in the...
.
On October 17, 2009, Sounders FC became the second MLS expansion team in league history (again, Chicago had been first) to qualify for the playoffs in their first season. They clinched a playoff berth with a come-from-behind victory over the Kansas City Wizards
Kansas City Wizards
Sporting Kansas City is an American professional soccer club based in Kansas City, Kansas that competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada...
3–2 at Kansas City. Seattle finished the regular season with a record of 12 wins, 7 losses, and 11 ties. The club set a new MLS record for average attendance at 30,943 fans per game. Their inaugural season came to an end in the 2009 MLS Cup Playoffs
2009 MLS Cup Playoffs
The 2009 MLS Cup Playoffs is the postseason to Major League Soccer's 2009 season. MLS Cup 2009 concluded the season on November 22, 2009 at Qwest Field in Seattle, Washington. Real Salt Lake won the Cup in penalties over the L.A...
when they lost in the conference semifinals to the Houston Dynamo
Houston Dynamo
The Houston Dynamo is an American professional soccer club, based in Houston, Texas, that plays in Major League Soccer, the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. Founded in 2005 as Houston 1836, the team name was renamed to Houston Dynamo following protests from Hispanic...
with a 1–0 aggregate score in a two-legged series
Two-legged match
In sport , a two-legged tie is a contest between two teams which comprises two matches or legs, with each team as the home team in one leg. The winning team is usually determined by aggregate score, the sum of the scores of the two legs...
. During the 2009 season, all 15 Sounders FC MLS regular season home matches, their home playoff match, and their 4 home U.S. Open Cup matches (played at Starfire Sports Complex
Starfire Sports Complex
Starfire Sports Complex is a sporting facility in Tukwila, Washington, on the banks of the Green River, near Seattle. It is operated by the non-profit corporation Starfire Sports. At the time of its opening, CEO Chris Slatt believed it to be "the largest synthetic-turf soccer complex in the...
) were sold out.
First U.S. Open Cup Title
During the Sounders FC first season in MLS, the club won their first ever U.S. Open Cup title, including any past Sounders franchise. The team was also the first club in modern Open Cup history to win the tournament after playing through a string of qualification propers to enter at the third round proper.Prior to their first qualification match against Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake is an American professional soccer club based in Sandy, Utah, a suburb of Salt Lake City. The team competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. They currently play their home games at Rio Tinto Stadium. Real Salt Lake won...
, Schmid asserted that the Open Cup was extremely critical to the club and that they were playing to win. One of the reasons the club cited, was the opportunity to qualify into the CONCACAF Champions League
CONCACAF Champions League
The CONCACAF Champions League is the annual international club football championship for teams from the CONCACAF region ....
upon winning the Open Cup title. Sounders FC played U.S. Open Cup home games at the Starfire Sports Complex
Starfire Sports Complex
Starfire Sports Complex is a sporting facility in Tukwila, Washington, on the banks of the Green River, near Seattle. It is operated by the non-profit corporation Starfire Sports. At the time of its opening, CEO Chris Slatt believed it to be "the largest synthetic-turf soccer complex in the...
in Tukwila, Washington
Tukwila, Washington
Tukwila is a city in King County, Washington, United States. The northern edge of Tukwila borders the city of Seattle. The population was 19,107 at the 2010 census.-History:...
. The facility is older and smaller than the club's home stadium for league matches, Qwest Field
Qwest Field
CenturyLink Field is a multi-purpose stadium in Seattle, Washington, United States. It serves as the home field for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League and Seattle Sounders FC of Major League Soccer...
, but Sounders FC representatives preferred the atmosphere at Starfire for smaller cup matches.
In the first qualification proper, on April 28, 2009; the Sounders defeated Salt Lake 4-1. Sebastian Le Toux scored two goals, and Roger Levesque
Roger Levesque
Roger Levesque is an American soccer player who currently plays for Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer....
had three assists
Assist (football)
In association football, an assist is a contribution by a player which helps to score a goal. Statistics for assists made by players may be kept officially by the organisers of a competition, or unofficially by, for example, journalists or organisers of fantasy football competitions...
in front of a sold-out crowd at Starfire. Sounders FC hosted their second qualification match on May 26, 2009, also at Starfire, this time against the Colorado Rapids
Colorado Rapids
The Colorado Rapids are an American professional soccer club based in the Denver suburb of Commerce City, Colorado which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league...
. Reserve player Kevin Forrest
Kevin Forrest
Kevin Forrest is an American soccer player, currently playing for Washington Crossfire in the USL Premier Development League.-Youth and College:...
scored the only goal in the match as Seattle defeated the Rapids 1–0, securing their entry into the third round proper of the official cup competition as one of the eight teams representing MLS.
One of the most unforgettable matches for the Sounders, was third third round proper fixture against their longstanding rivals, the Portland Timbers
Portland Timbers (USL)
Portland Timbers was an American professional soccer team based in Portland, Oregon, United States. Founded in 2001, the team played in various leagues at the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, including the USL First Division and the USSF Division 2 Professional League, until the end of...
. Considered their most bitter rival over the past 30 years, it was the first time in four years that any Sounders or Timbers club competed against one another in the Open Cup. Traveling south to Portland
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, the Sounders claimed it would be one of the toughest matches of the entire tournament. In front of a sold out crowd on July 1, 2009; the Sounders were able to defeat the Timbers 2-1, thanks to goals from Levesque and Nate Jaqua
Nate Jaqua
Jonathan "Nate" Jaqua is an American soccer player who last played for Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer.-High School:...
. The following week, in a quarterfinal match at Starfire, Sounders FC defeated visiting Kansas City
Kansas City Wizards
Sporting Kansas City is an American professional soccer club based in Kansas City, Kansas that competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada...
1–0 on a penalty kick
Penalty kick
A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play...
in the 89th minute scored by Sebastien Le Toux
Sébastien Le Toux
Sébastien Le Toux is a French-American footballer who currently plays for the Philadelphia Union in Major League Soccer.-Professional:Le Toux was part of the youth setup at Rennes, and briefly played for Lorient in Ligue 2, prior to moving to the United States.Le Toux unsuccessfully tried out for...
. Three weeks later, on July 21, Sounders FC won their semifinal match 2–1 over the Houston Dynamo
Houston Dynamo
The Houston Dynamo is an American professional soccer club, based in Houston, Texas, that plays in Major League Soccer, the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. Founded in 2005 as Houston 1836, the team name was renamed to Houston Dynamo following protests from Hispanic...
at Starfire. Seattle took the lead for good when Stephen King
Stephen King (soccer)
Stephen King is an American soccer player who currently plays for D.C. United in Major League Soccer.-Youth and High School:...
scored a goal five minutes into extra time, sending Sounders FC to the cup final.
On September 2, 2009, Sounders FC became the second MLS expansion team in league history (Chicago
Chicago Fire (soccer)
Chicago Fire Soccer Club is an American professional soccer club based in the Chicago suburb of Bridgeview, Illinois. The team competes in Major League Soccer , the top soccer league in the United States and Canada...
was first) to win the U.S. Open Cup
Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is a knockout tournament in American soccer. The tournament is the oldest ongoing American soccer competition and is presently open to all United States Soccer Federation affiliated teams, from amateur adult club teams to the professional clubs of Major League...
tournament in their first season. They did so by defeating D.C. United
D.C. United
D.C. United is an American professional soccer club based in Washington, D.C. which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league since its inception, in 1996.Over the...
2–1 on the road at RFK Stadium
Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium
Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium, in Washington, D.C., United States, and the current home of MLS's D.C. United....
. In winning the U.S. Open Cup tournament, they qualified for the preliminary round of the 2010–11 CONCACAF Champions League
2010–11 CONCACAF Champions League
The 2010–11 CONCACAF Champions League was the 3rd edition of the CONCACAF Champions League under its current format. The tournament began on July 27, 2010 and ended on April 27, 2011. Monterrey of Mexico won their first title, defeating Real Salt Lake of the United States 3-2 on aggregate in the...
.
2010 season and return to Champions League
For the second consecutive year, the Sounders were chosen to host MLS First KickMLS First Kick
Major League Soccer First Kick is an opening match of a MLS season. Since 2008, it has aired on ESPN2.- Past First Kicks :* MLS First Kick 2011* MLS First Kick 2010** Seattle Sounders FC 2:0 Philadelphia Union* MLS First Kick 2009...
, the opening match of the MLS season, which was held on Thursday, March 25 and nationally televised on ESPN2. Joe Roth
Joe Roth
Joe Roth is an American film executive, producer and film director. He co-founded Morgan Creek Productions in 1987 and was chairman of 20th Century Fox , Caravan Pictures , and Walt Disney Studios before founding Revolution Studios in 2000.-Life and career:Roth was born in New York, New York,...
, Sounders FC Majority Owner stated, "Being selected to participate in the first match of the season is a testament to the passion and energy of our fans." Their opponent was the expansion franchise Philadelphia Union, the league's 16th team as they played in their inaugural match. Seattle won the match 2–0 with goals scored by Brad Evans
Brad Evans
Brad Evans is an American soccer player who currently plays for Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer.-College and Amateur:...
in the 12th minute and Freddy Montero
Freddy Montero
Fredy Henkyer Montero Muñoz is a Colombian footballer who plays for Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer.-Deportivo Cali:...
in the 43rd minute. The attendance of 36,241 set a team record for an MLS regular-season or postseason game.
2010 started off rough for the Sounders, first with a home loss to New York Red Bulls on April 2, and subsequently relinquishing a two-goal lead against defending MLS Cup
MLS Cup
The MLS Cup is the championship match of Major League Soccer, the highest tier of professional soccer in the United States and Canada. As the final match of the MLS Cup playoffs, the winner is crowned the season champion in the same manner as other North American sports leagues...
champions, Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake is an American professional soccer club based in Sandy, Utah, a suburb of Salt Lake City. The team competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. They currently play their home games at Rio Tinto Stadium. Real Salt Lake won...
at Rio Tinto. In spite of knocking off Kansas City's unbeaten streak, the same situation would happen against Dallas
FC Dallas
FC Dallas is an American professional soccer club based in the Dallas suburb of Frisco, Texas which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada...
, where the Sounders would play to another two-goal draw.
The following week, on April 17, Seattle returned home to face the undefeated Kansas City Wizards
Kansas City Wizards
Sporting Kansas City is an American professional soccer club based in Kansas City, Kansas that competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada...
. The game appeared to be ending a scoreless tie until late substitute Michael Fucito scored his first career goal in 92nd minute of the match off a throw in from Brad Evans. Sounders FC defeated Kansas City 1–0. The following week, Seattle had two road games in a 4 day period. First they traveled to Frisco, TX to face FC Dallas
FC Dallas
FC Dallas is an American professional soccer club based in the Dallas suburb of Frisco, Texas which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada...
on April 22. Steve Zakuani and Fredy Montero scored for Sounders FC while Jeff Cunningham
Jeff Cunningham
Jeff Cunningham is a Jamaican-born American soccer player who played on multiple Major League Soccer teams. He is the MLS all-time leader in goals scored with 134.-College:...
scored two penalty kick
Penalty kick
A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play...
s for Dallas, the second of which coming in extra time on a questionable call. The Dallas game ended in a 2–2 tie. During the second leg of the road trip on April 25, Sounders FC was defeated 2–0 by Toronto FC
Toronto FC
Toronto FC is a Canadian professional soccer club based in Toronto, Ontario which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada....
at BMO Field
BMO Field
BMO Field is a Canadian soccer stadium located in Exhibition Place in the city of Toronto. The open-air structure can seat up to 21,800 spectators, depending on seating configurations. It is owned by the City of Toronto, and managed by Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd...
. Seattle conceded their first ever goal to Toronto when Dwayne De Rosario
Dwayne De Rosario
Dwayne Anthony De Rosario is a Canadian soccer player who currently plays for D.C. United in Major League Soccer. He also plays for the Canadian national team.-Early career:...
scored in the 58th minute. He later assisted O'Brian White
O'Brian White
O'Brian White is a Jamaica footballer who currently plays for Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer.-Youth and college:...
on a second goal in the 76th minute.
Sounders FC began May with a tie at home against the Columbus Crew. Steve Zakuani scored an early breakaway goal in the 8th minute to take the lead. However, Seattle's stoppage time problems continued as the Crew's Steven Lenhart scored off a header in the first minute of stoppage time before the half. The game ended 1–1.
| The 2010–11 CONCACAF Champions League 2010–11 CONCACAF Champions League The 2010–11 CONCACAF Champions League was the 3rd edition of the CONCACAF Champions League under its current format. The tournament began on July 27, 2010 and ended on April 27, 2011. Monterrey of Mexico won their first title, defeating Real Salt Lake of the United States 3-2 on aggregate in the... lineup that defeated Isidro Metapán A.D. Isidro Metapán Asociación Deportiva Isidro Metapán, also known simply as Isidro Metapán, is a Salvadoran football club based in Metapán, El Salvador. The club currently plays in the Primera División, which is the top tier football league in the country... 1-0 at home. |
The following week, on May 8, Sounders FC hosted the Los Angeles Galaxy. Seattle's continued inability to score and their recent trend of defensive breakdowns culminated in an embarrassing 4–0 loss to the Galaxy. This was Seattle's worst ever defeat at home and it was played in front of a team record attendance for a regular season match of 36,273 fans. Sounders FC newcomer Miguel Montaño made his debut with the club in the defeat to the Galaxy. The day after the lopsided defeat to Los Angeles, Sounders FC owner Adrian Hanauer announced a refund for all 32,000 season ticket holders for the embarrassment and indicated that changes were in the works for the club.
Three days later, May 26, the team participated in their first friendly match of the season, winning it 3–0 in a shutout against Boca Juniors
Boca Juniors
Club Atlético Boca Juniors is an Argentine sports club based in La Boca neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently plays in the Primera División....
. Roger Levesque
Roger Levesque
Roger Levesque is an American soccer player who currently plays for Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer....
, Pat Noonan
Pat Noonan
Pat Noonan is an American soccer player who last played for Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer.-College and Amateur:...
and Mike Seamon each scored goals, the latter in his debut for the team. The team ended the month with another 1–0 loss on May 29, this one against the Colorado Rapids
Colorado Rapids
The Colorado Rapids are an American professional soccer club based in the Denver suburb of Commerce City, Colorado which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league...
, on the road; Conor Casey
Conor Casey
Conor Casey is an American soccer player who currently plays for the Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer.-Youth and College:...
scored the only goal of the match.
Sounders FC regrouped from the difficult loss to LA the next week when they visited the New York Red Bulls. Fredy Montero's absence from the starting lineup was a surprising change in the match. Montero, however, was subbed on late in the game and provided the winning goal in the 85th minute for a 1–0 victory. During the first game of the 2010 Heritage Cup on May 22, the team lost 1–0 to the San Jose Earthquakes
San Jose Earthquakes
The San Jose Earthquakes professional soccer team is located in the San Jose, California, United States suburb of Santa Clara, and participates in Major League Soccer , the top level soccer league in the United States and Canada....
at Qwest. Chris Wondolowski
Chris Wondolowski
Christopher Elliott Wondolowski is an American soccer player who currently plays for San Jose Earthquakes in Major League Soccer.-Youth and College:...
scored 11 minutes in the match, lengthening the "scoring drought" for the Sounders FC at home.
2011 and recent events
On November 22, 2010, Seattle made a trade with the Colorado RapidsColorado Rapids
The Colorado Rapids are an American professional soccer club based in the Denver suburb of Commerce City, Colorado which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league...
for defenders Julien Baudet
Julien Baudet
Julien Baudet is a former French footballer and current manager.- Europe :Although excelling as a skier in his youth, Baudet chose to concentrate on football, beginning his career with Toulouse FC in France, where he spent two years, clocking up 21 league appearances.In 2001 Baudet moved to Oldham...
of France and Danny Earls
Danny Earls
Danny Earls is an Irish footballer who is currently playing for Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer.-Europe:...
of the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
for Peter Vagenas
Peter Vagenas
Panayiotis Alexiou "Peter" Vagenas born February 6, 1978 in Pasadena, California is an American soccer player who currently plays for Vancouver Whitecaps FC in Major League Soccer.-High School and College:...
. Also, the list of the ten protected players for the 2010 MLS Expansion Draft
2010 MLS Expansion Draft
The 2010 MLS Expansion Draft took place on November 24, 2010, and was a special draft for the Major League Soccer expansion teams Vancouver Whitecaps FC and Portland Timbers.-Format:...
was decided by the club. The draft took place on November 24, 2010 when both the Portland Timbers
Portland Timbers
Portland Timbers may refer to any of four distinct professional soccer teams:*Portland Timbers, a Major League Soccer expansion team that began playing in 2011....
and Vancouver Whitecaps FC sectected ten players from the Major League Soccer teams, including Sanna Nyassi
Sanna Nyassi
Sanna Nyassi is a Gambian footballer who currently plays for Montreal Impact in Major League Soccer.-Professional:Nyassi began his professional career in 2004 with Gambia Ports Authority of the GFA League First Division...
(who was later traded to Colorado) and Nathan Sturgis
Nathan Sturgis
Nathan Sturgis is an American soccer player who currently plays for Toronto FC in Major League Soccer.-Youth and College:...
(who was later traded to Toronto) from Seattle Sounders FC
Seattle Sounders FC
Seattle Sounders FC is an American professional soccer club based in Seattle, Washington. The club competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. Sounders FC was established in November 2007 as a MLS expansion team, making it the 15th team in...
. Vancouver later traded Jamaican international O'Brian White
O'Brian White
O'Brian White is a Jamaica footballer who currently plays for Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer.-Youth and college:...
to Seattle.
On December 9, 2010, Swedish club, BK Häcken
BK Häcken
BK Häcken is a Swedish football club based in Gothenburg. The club, formed on 2 August 1940, is currently playing in the Swedish premier division, Allsvenskan after being promoted in 2008.- The beginning :...
reported that midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
, Erik Friberg
Erik Friberg (footballer)
Erik Friberg, is a Swedish footballer who currently plays for Seattle Sounders FC of Major League Soccer.-Sweden:...
completed a three-year deal with the Seattle Sounders FC
Seattle Sounders FC
Seattle Sounders FC is an American professional soccer club based in Seattle, Washington. The club competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. Sounders FC was established in November 2007 as a MLS expansion team, making it the 15th team in...
. Seattle has completed a deal bringing him over to the Seattle based club. They also have announced a contract extension with captain Kasey Keller. On December 15, 2010, the Sounders selected Chris Seitz
Chris Seitz
Chris Seitz is an American soccer player who currently plays for FC Dallas in Major League Soccer.-Youth and college:...
of the Philadelphia Union in the 2010 MLS Re-Entry Draft
2010 MLS Re-Entry Draft
The two-stage 2010 MLS Re-Entry Draft took place on December 8, 2010 and December 15, 2010. The Stage 1 Draft of the Re-Entry Process took place on Wednesday, December 8, at 2 p.m. ET via teleconference. The Stage 2 Draft took place on Wednesday, December 15, at 2 p.m. ET...
. The goalkeeper was later traded to FC Dallas
FC Dallas
FC Dallas is an American professional soccer club based in the Dallas suburb of Frisco, Texas which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada...
for a fourth round pick of the 2012 MLS SuperDraft
2012 MLS SuperDraft
The 2012 MLS SuperDraft will be the thirteenth annual SuperDraft presented by Major League Soccer. It will be held on January 12, 2012 at 12:00 p.m. . The draft will be reduced from three rounds to two. The 19 MLS clubs will select a total of 38 players...
. Defender Tyrone Marshall
Tyrone Marshall
Tyrone Marshall is a Jamaican footballer who currently plays for Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer.-Youth and College:Marshall moved to the Fort Lauderdale, Florida area when he was twelve years old...
was also selected in the draft by the Colorado Rapids
Colorado Rapids
The Colorado Rapids are an American professional soccer club based in the Denver suburb of Commerce City, Colorado which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league...
.
Uniform Evolution
Sounders FC kits over the years:{| width=100%
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Outdoor seasons
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"|-
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="9"|Regular Season
!rowspan="2"|Playoffs
!rowspan="2"|U.S. Open
Cup
Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is a knockout tournament in American soccer. The tournament is the oldest ongoing American soccer competition and is presently open to all United States Soccer Federation affiliated teams, from amateur adult club teams to the professional clubs of Major League...
!rowspan="2"|Community
Shield
Seattle Sounders FC Community Shield
The Seattle Sounders FC Community Shield is a club football match hosted and organized by the Seattle Sounders FC of Major League Soccer. The match has the Sounders FC club play a select club in a pre-season exhibition match, with the intention to raise money for local charities in the Seattle area...
!rowspan="2"|CONCACAF
CONCACAF Champions League
The CONCACAF Champions League is the annual international club football championship for teams from the CONCACAF region ....
!colspan="2"|Top goalscorer
|-
!League
!width="20"|GP
!width="20"|W
!width="20"|L
!width="20"|T
!width="20"|GF
!width="20"|GA
!width="20"|Pts
!Pos
!Name
!Goals
|-
!1974
|NASL
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
|20||10||7||3||37||17||101
|3rd; West
5th; Overall
|
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|align="left"|John Rowlands||10
|-
!1975
|NASL
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
|22||15||7||0||42||28||129
|bgcolor="silver"|2nd; West
3rd; Overall
|QF
|
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|align="left"|John Rowlands||9
|-
!1976
|NASL
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
|24||14||10||0||40||31||123
|bgcolor="silver"|2nd; West
6th; Overall
|C-SF
|
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|align="left"|Gordon Wallace||13
|-
!1977
|NASL
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
|26||14||12||0||43||34||123
|3rd; Division
4th; Conf.
5th; Overall
|bgcolor="silver"|Runners-up
|
|
|
|align="left"|Micky Cave
Micky Cave
Michael John "Micky" Cave was an English footballer who played as a midfielder.-Career:Born in Weymouth, Dorset, Cave was studying engineering when he started his career in non-League football with hometown club Weymouth in 1966. He joined Torquay United in July 1968, soon settling into the...
||12
|-
!1978
|NASL
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
|30||15||15||0||50||45||138
|3rd; Division
7th; Conf.
12th; Overall
|
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|align="left"|Micky Cave
Micky Cave
Michael John "Micky" Cave was an English footballer who played as a midfielder.-Career:Born in Weymouth, Dorset, Cave was studying engineering when he started his career in non-League football with hometown club Weymouth in 1966. He joined Torquay United in July 1968, soon settling into the...
||13
|-
!1979
|NASL
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
|30||13||17||0||58||52||125
|3rd; Division
9th; Conf.
16th; Overall
|
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|align="left"|John Ryan
John Ryan (English footballer)
John Ryan is a former professional footballer who predominantly played as a full-back.Ryan had a professional career that lasted more than 20 years. He first joined Arsenal from non-league side Maidstone United in 1964, though he never played a first team game for Arsenal, instead playing in the...
||12
|-
!1980
|NASL
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
|32||25||7||0||74||31||203
|bgcolor="gold"|1st; Division
2nd; Conf.
2nd; Overall
|QF
|
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|align="left"|Roger Davies
Roger Davies (footballer)
Roger Davies is a retired English football forward who played professionally in England, Belgium and the United States. He currently provides radio commentary for Derby County games.-History:...
||25
|-
!1981
|NASL
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
|32||15||17||0||60||62||137
|4th; Division
11th; Overall
|R1
|
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|align="left"|Bob Donaldson||16
|-
!1982
|NASL
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
|32||18||14||0||72||48||166
|bgcolor="gold"|1st; Division
2nd; Overall
|bgcolor="silver"|Runners-up
|
|
|
|align="left"|Bob Donaldson||16
|-
!1983
|NASL
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
|30||12||18||0||62||61||119
|3rd; Division
9th; Overall
|
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|
|
|align="left"|Bob Donaldson||16
|-
|colspan=16|No Sounders franchise existed between 1984-1993
|-
!1994
|APSL
American Professional Soccer League
The American Professional Soccer League is a former professional men's soccer league which featured teams from both the United States and Canada. It was the first outdoor soccer league to feature teams from throughout the United States since the demise of the original North American Soccer League...
|20||14||6||0||38||16||121
|bgcolor="gold"|1st
|SF
|
|
|
|align="left"|Chance Fry
Chance Fry
Chance Fry is a retired U.S. soccer forward who began his career straight out of high school with the Seattle Sounders of the North American Soccer League. With the collapse of the NASL, he moved to indoor soccer as well as U.S. minor leagues. Since retiring from playing, Fry has become a college...
||11
|-
!1995
1995 A-League
-Overview:In 1995, the American Professional Soccer League, which was the de facto U.S. second division, changed its name to the A-League. The league had ended its 1994 season seven teams and intended to expand to ten for the 1995 season. These plans were stymied when the Fort Lauderdale...
|A-League
American Professional Soccer League
The American Professional Soccer League is a former professional men's soccer league which featured teams from both the United States and Canada. It was the first outdoor soccer league to feature teams from throughout the United States since the demise of the original North American Soccer League...
|24||20||4||0||40||24||51
|bgcolor="silver"|2nd
|bgcolor="silver"|Runners-up
|SF
|
|
|align="left"|Peter Hattrup
Peter Hattrup
Peter Hattrup is a retired U.S. soccer player and current youth soccer coach.-Youth and college:Hattrup was a four-year starter as a star player for the Seattle Preparatory School boys' soccer team. He graduated in 1982 and entered Seattle Pacific University.Hattrup was a scoring sensation for...
||11
|-
!1996
1996 A-League
-Regular season:* Win = 3 points* Shootout win = 1 point* Loss = 0 points-Semifinal 1:-Semifinal 2:-Final:-Points leaders:-Honors:* MVP: Wolde Harris* Leading goal scorer: Doug Miller...
|A-League
American Professional Soccer League
The American Professional Soccer League is a former professional men's soccer league which featured teams from both the United States and Canada. It was the first outdoor soccer league to feature teams from throughout the United States since the demise of the original North American Soccer League...
|27||16||11||0||45||25||40
|3rd
|bgcolor="gold"|Champions
|QF
|
|4th
|align="left"|Jason Farrell
Jason Farrell
Jason Farrell is a former U.S. soccer midfielder who spent four seasons in Major League Soccer, two in the American Professional Soccer League, one in the A-League, three in the National Professional Soccer League and four in the USL First Division...
||6
|-
!1997
1997 A-League
The 1997 USISL A-League season.-Overview:At the end of the 1996 A-League season, the U.S. second division A-League collapsed. Five of the six teams in the A-League then joined the USISL which had three leagues in 1996, beginning with the third division USISL Select League. With the collapse of...
|USISL
|28||21||7||0||42||19||50
|bgcolor="silver"|2nd; Division
4th; Overall
|SF
|R2
|
|
|align="left"|Michael Galley||10
|-
!1998
1998 A-League
-Northeast Division:-Atlantic Division:-Central Division:-Pacific Division:-Eastern Conference:-Western Conference:-Eastern Conference semifinal 1:-Eastern Conference semifinal 2:-Western Conference semifinal 1:...
|USISL
|28||18||10||0||63||28||52
|bgcolor="silver"|2nd; Division
6th; Overall
|C-SF
|
|
|
|align="left"|Mark Baena
Mark Baena
Mark Baena is a retired American soccer player. Baena is the highest goalscorer in the history of USL First Division, where he amassed eighty-six goals...
||24
|-
!1999
1999 A-League
-Northeast Division:-Atlantic Division:-Central Division:-Pacific Division:-Eastern Conference:-Western Conference:-Eastern Conference Semifinal 1:-Eastern Conference Semifinal 2:-Western Conference Semifinal 1:...
|A-League
|32||19||9||0||56||36||81
|3rd; Division
4th; Overall
|QF
|R3
|
|
|align="left"|Niall Thompson
Niall Thompson
Niall Joseph Thompson is an English-born Canadian footballer, who works currently as Assistant coach of Surrey United Firefighters.-Club career :...
||20
|-
!2000
2000 A-League
-Northeast Division:-Atlantic Division:-Central Division:-Pacific Division:-Eastern Conference:-Western Conference:-----Eastern semifinal 1:-Eastern semifinal 2:-Western semifinal 1:-Western semifinal 2:...
|A-League
|20||10||7||3||56||36||81
|bgcolor="gold"|1st; Division
4th; Overall
|C-SF
2000 A-League
-Northeast Division:-Atlantic Division:-Central Division:-Pacific Division:-Eastern Conference:-Western Conference:-----Eastern semifinal 1:-Eastern semifinal 2:-Western semifinal 1:-Western semifinal 2:...
|R2
|
|
|align="left"|Gregory Howes||17
|-
!2001
2001 A-League
-History:The addition of the Portland Timbers this season saw the renewal of a Pacific Northwest rivalry between them, the Seattle Sounders and Vancouver Whitecaps which dated back to the North American Soccer League. Although Vancouver was not new to the league, this was the first season they...
|A-League
|26||13||12||1||40||39||57
|5th; Conf.
12th; Overall
|
|R2
|
|
|align="left"|Leighton O'Brien
Leighton O'Brien
Leighton O'Brien is an American soccer player, currently serving as the Director of Coaching for the Renton Football Club for youth since 2006 and the head coach of the Seattle Sounders Women....
||11
|-
!2002
2002 A-League
-Northeast Division:-Southeast Division:-Central Division:* Cincinnati lost three point for using an ineligible player-Pacific Division:-Playoff bracket:-Playoff first round:* Montreal defeated Charlotte 0-1, 1-0...
|A-League
|26||23||1||4||71||27||107
|bgcolor="gold"|1st; Division
1st; Conf.
1st; Overall
|C-SF
2002 A-League
-Northeast Division:-Southeast Division:-Central Division:* Cincinnati lost three point for using an ineligible player-Pacific Division:-Playoff bracket:-Playoff first round:* Montreal defeated Charlotte 0-1, 1-0...
|R3
|
|
|align="left"|Brian Ching
Brian Ching
Brian Ching is an American professional soccer forward currently playing for the Montreal Impact of Major League Soccer.-Youth and College:...
||16
|-
!2003
2003 A-League
-Northeast Division:-Southeast Division:-Central Division:-Pacific Division:-Northeast Division:-----Southeast Division:-Central Division:-Pacific Division:-Eastern Conference final:-Western Conference final:-----Final:...
|A-League
|28||16||7||5||45||24||53
|bgcolor="gold"|1st; Division
2nd; Conf.
3rd; Overall
|SF
2003 A-League
-Northeast Division:-Southeast Division:-Central Division:-Pacific Division:-Northeast Division:-----Southeast Division:-Central Division:-Pacific Division:-Eastern Conference final:-Western Conference final:-----Final:...
|QF
|
|
|align="left"|Brian Ching
Brian Ching
Brian Ching is an American professional soccer forward currently playing for the Montreal Impact of Major League Soccer.-Youth and College:...
||16
|-
!2004
2004 A-League
-Western Conference:-Eastern Conference:-Playoffs:...
|A-League
|28||16||7||5||45||24||53
|4th; Conf.
9th; Overall
|bgcolor="silver"|Runners-up
2004 A-League
-Western Conference:-Eastern Conference:-Playoffs:...
|
|
|
|align="left"|Welton Melo
Welton Melo
Wélton Araújo Melo is a former Brazilian footballer. He last played striker role for the Seattle Sounders of USL First Division....
||5
|-
!2005
2005 USL First Division
-League standings: GP W L D GF GA Pts Montreal Impact 28 18 3 7 37 15 61 Rochester Raging Rhinos 28 15 7 6 45 27 51 Vancouver Whitecaps 28 12 7 9 37 21 45...
|USL-1
USL First Division
The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....
|28||11||6||11||33||25||44
|4th
|bgcolor="gold"|Champions
2005 USL First Division
-League standings: GP W L D GF GA Pts Montreal Impact 28 18 3 7 37 15 61 Rochester Raging Rhinos 28 15 7 6 45 27 51 Vancouver Whitecaps 28 12 7 9 37 21 45...
|R3
|
|
|align="left"|Welton Melo
Welton Melo
Wélton Araújo Melo is a former Brazilian footballer. He last played striker role for the Seattle Sounders of USL First Division....
||5
|-
!2006
|USL-1
USL First Division
The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....
|28||11||13||4||42||48||37
|7th
|
|R3
|
|
|align="left"|Cam Weaver
Cam Weaver
William Cameron "Cam" Weaver is an American soccer player who plays as a forward for the Houston Dynamo of Major League Soccer.-High School and College:...
||18
|-
!2007
|USL-1
USL First Division
The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....
|28||16||6||6||37||23||54
|bgcolor="gold"|1st
|bgcolor="gold"|Champions
|SF
|
|
|align="left"|Cam Weaver
Cam Weaver
William Cameron "Cam" Weaver is an American soccer player who plays as a forward for the Houston Dynamo of Major League Soccer.-High School and College:...
||18
|-
!2008
|USL-1
|30||10||10||10||37||36||40
|5th
|QF
|SF
|
|
|align="left"|Sebastian Le Toux||14
|-
!2009
|MLS
2009 Major League Soccer season
The 2009 Major League Soccer season was the 14th season of Major League Soccer. The season began on March 19 and ended with Real Salt Lake winning the MLS Cup 2009, on November 22 at Qwest Field in Seattle, Washington-Changes from the 2008 season:...
|30||12||7||11||38||29||45
|3rd; Conf.
4th; Overall
|QF
|bgcolor="gold"|Champions
2009 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final
The 2009 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final was played on September 2, 2009, at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium in Washington, D.C. The match determined the winner of the 2009 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, a tournament open to amateur and professional soccer teams affiliated with the United States...
|
|
|align="left"|Fredy Montero||12
|-
!2010
2010 Seattle Sounders FC season
The 2010 Seattle Sounders FC season was the club's second season in Major League Soccer, the United States' top-tier of professional soccer. For the Sounders FC franchise, it was their third year of existence, and including all previous franchises, it would be the 30th season of a soccer team...
|MLS
2010 Major League Soccer season
The 2010 Major League Soccer season was the 98th season of FIFA-sanctioned soccer, the 32nd with a national first-division league, in the United States and Canada, and the 15th in MLS history. It began on March 25 at Seattle's Qwest Field with Seattle Sounders FC defeating the expansion...
|30||14||10||6||39||35||48
|4th; Conf.
6th; Overall
|QF
|bgcolor="gold"|Champions
2010 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final
The 2010 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final was played on October 5, 2010, at Qwest Field in Seattle, Washington. The match determined the winner of the 2010 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, a tournament open to amateur and professional soccer teams affiliated with the United States Soccer Federation. This...
|bgcolor="silver"|Runners-up
|GS
|align="left"|Fredy Montero
Steve Zakuani
Steve Zakuani
Steve Zakuani is a Congolese footballer who currently plays for Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer. Born in Zaire , Zakuani grew up in London before attending the University of Akron on a soccer scholarship...
||10
|-
!2011
2011 Seattle Sounders FC season
The 2011 Seattle Sounders FC season is the club's third season in Major League Soccer, the United States' top-tier of professional soccer. It is the Sounders FC organization's third year of existence; including all previous clubs, it is the 31st season of a soccer team bearing the Sounders...
|MLS
2011 Major League Soccer season
The 2011 Major League Soccer season was the 99th season of FIFA-sanctioned soccer, the 33rd with a national first-division league, in the United States and Canada, and the 16th season of Major League Soccer. The season marked the arrival of two new league clubs, Portland Timbers and Vancouver...
|31||16||6||9||51||33||57
|2nd; Conf.
2nd; Overall
|TBD
|bgcolor="gold"|Champions
2011 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final
The 2011 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final was played on October 4, 2011 in Seattle, Washington for the second consecutive year. The match saw the Seattle Sounders FC defeat the Chicago Fire 2-0 to be crowned champions in three consecutive years of the 2011 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, a tournament open...
|bgcolor="gold"|Champions
Seattle Sounders FC Community Shield
The Seattle Sounders FC Community Shield is a club football match hosted and organized by the Seattle Sounders FC of Major League Soccer. The match has the Sounders FC club play a select club in a pre-season exhibition match, with the intention to raise money for local charities in the Seattle area...
|QF
2011–12 CONCACAF Champions League
The 2011–12 CONCACAF Champions League is the 4th edition of the CONCACAF Champions League under its current format. The tournament began on July 26, 2011 and will finish with the second leg of the final April 24–26, 2012. Monterrey is the defending champion...
|align="left"|-||
|}
Indoor seasons
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"|-
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="9"|Regular Season
!rowspan="2"|Playoffs
!colspan="2"|Top goalscorer
|-
!League
!width="20"|GP
!width="20"|W
!width="20"|L
!width="20"|T
!width="20"|GF
!width="20"|GA
!width="20"|Pts
!Pos
!Name
!Goals
|-
!1980–81
|NASL
Indoor
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
|32||9||9||0||106||98||.500
|4th; Division
11th; Overall
|
|align="left"|Bob Donaldson||16
|-
!1981–82
|NASL
Indoor
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
|32||9||9||0||95||97||.500
|3rd; Division
4th; Conf.
7th; Overall
|
|align="left"|Bob Donaldson||16
|}
Head Coaches
{| border="2" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:left; margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%;"|-
!style="background:#5D9731" width=130px |Name
!style="background:#5D9731" width=40px |Nat.
!style="background:#5D9731" width=80px |Years
!style="background:#5D9731" width=100px |Record (W–L–T)
|-
| John Best
John Best (soccer)
John Best is a former U.S.-English soccer defender. He spent six seasons in the North American Soccer League where he was a five time first team All Star. He later coached the NASL Seattle Sounders and served as the general manager of the Sounders and the Vancouver Whitecaps. He also earned one...
||
|| 1974–1976 || (39–24–3)|-
| Jimmy Gabriel
Jimmy Gabriel
James Gabriel is a Scottish former football midfielder who earned two caps with the Scotland national football team. Chiefly associated with English club Everton, Gabriel played extensively in Scotland and England before ending his career with the Seattle Sounders of the North American Soccer...
||
|| 1977–1979 || (42–44–0)|-
| Alan Hinton
Alan Hinton
Alan Thomas Hinton is an English former footballer who most notably played for Derby County and Nottingham Forest in the 1960s...
||
|| 1980–1982 || (76–56–0)|-
| Laurie Calloway
Laurie Calloway
Laurence John "Laurie" Calloway is a retired English-U.S. soccer defender who spent thirteen years in the English leagues and six years in the North American Soccer League....
||
|| 1983 || (12–18–0)|-
| Alan Hinton ||
|| 1994–1995 || (34–10–0)|-
| Neil Megson
Neil Megson (soccer)
Neil Megson is a retired U.S. soccer midfielder who currently coaches youth soccer. He played two seasons in the North American Soccer League, nine in Major Indoor Soccer League, one in the Continental Indoor Soccer League and six in the USL First Division and its predecessors...
||
|| 1996–2000 || (84–44–3)|-
| Bernie James
Bernie James
Bernie James is a former U.S. soccer player and current youth soccer coach. James spent twenty-four years as a professional, both beginning and ending his career with different versions of the Seattle Sounders. He played in the North American Soccer League, Major Indoor Soccer League, American...
||
|| 2001 || (13–12–1)|-
| Brian Schmetzer
Brian Schmetzer
Brian Schmetzer is a retired U.S. soccer player who played in the North American Soccer League, Major Indoor Soccer League and Western Soccer League. He coached the Seattle Sounders in the USL First Division for seven seasons, winning two championships. He was the 2002 USL-1 Coach of the Year...
||
|| 2002–2008 || (103–50–45)|-
| Sigi Schmid
Sigi Schmid
Siegfried "Sigi" Schmid is a German-American soccer coach. Born in Tübingen, West Germany, he moved to the United States with his family when he was a child. He played college soccer from 1972 to 1975 at the University of California, Los Angeles , where he was a starting midfielder in each...
||
|| 2009– || (26–17–17)|}
Notable Players
{| border="2" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:left; margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%;"|-
!style="background:#5D9731" width=130px |Name
!style="background:#5D9731" width=40px |Nat.
!style="background:#5D9731" width=150px |Years
|-
| John Rowlands
John Rowland (Welsh footballer)
John Rowland is a Welsh former professional footballer. A wing half, he joined Newport County in 1958 from local club Lovells Athletic. He went on to make 463 appearances for Newport scoring 9 goals. In 1969 he joined Merthyr Tydfil as player/manager....
||
|| 1974–1976|-
| Micky Cave
Micky Cave
Michael John "Micky" Cave was an English footballer who played as a midfielder.-Career:Born in Weymouth, Dorset, Cave was studying engineering when he started his career in non-League football with hometown club Weymouth in 1966. He joined Torquay United in July 1968, soon settling into the...
||
|| 1977–1980|-
| Bob Donaldson ||
|| 1979–1983|-
| Kevin Bond
Kevin Bond (footballer)
Kevin John Bond is an English football manager and former player. He is the son of John Bond, also a former footballer. He is currently employed as assistant manager at Tottenham Hotspur.-Playing career:...
||
|| 1981|-
| Peter Hattrup
Peter Hattrup
Peter Hattrup is a retired U.S. soccer player and current youth soccer coach.-Youth and college:Hattrup was a four-year starter as a star player for the Seattle Preparatory School boys' soccer team. He graduated in 1982 and entered Seattle Pacific University.Hattrup was a scoring sensation for...
||
|| 1984–1989, 1994–1995, 1997–1999, 2001|-
| Brian Ching
Brian Ching
Brian Ching is an American professional soccer forward currently playing for the Montreal Impact of Major League Soccer.-Youth and College:...
||
|| 2001–2002|-
| Leighton O'Brien
Leighton O'Brien
Leighton O'Brien is an American soccer player, currently serving as the Director of Coaching for the Renton Football Club for youth since 2006 and the head coach of the Seattle Sounders Women....
||
|| 2001–2008|-
| Roger Levesque
Roger Levesque
Roger Levesque is an American soccer player who currently plays for Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer....
¤ ||
|| 2003–|-
| Wélton Araújo Melo ||
|| 2004–2005|-
| Taylor Graham
Taylor Graham
Taylor Graham is an American soccer player who last played for Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer.-Youth and College:...
¤ ||
|| 2005, 2007–|-
| Sébastien Le Toux
Sébastien Le Toux
Sébastien Le Toux is a French-American footballer who currently plays for the Philadelphia Union in Major League Soccer.-Professional:Le Toux was part of the youth setup at Rennes, and briefly played for Lorient in Ligue 2, prior to moving to the United States.Le Toux unsuccessfully tried out for...
¤ ||
|| 2007–2009|-
| Kasey Keller
Kasey Keller
Kasey Keller is a retired American soccer player who last played for Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer....
||
|| 2009–|-
| Fredy Montero ||
|| 2009–|-
| Steve Zakuani
Steve Zakuani
Steve Zakuani is a Congolese footballer who currently plays for Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer. Born in Zaire , Zakuani grew up in London before attending the University of Akron on a soccer scholarship...
||
|| 2009–|-
| Fredrik Ljungberg
Fredrik Ljungberg
Karl Fredrik "Freddie" Ljungberg is a Swedish footballer who currently plays as a right winger for Shimizu S-Pulse in Japan. Ljungberg was captain of the Swedish national team until he announced his international retirement after UEFA Euro 2008.Ljungberg was a model for Calvin Klein underwear...
||
|| 2009–2010|-
| Blaise Nkufo ||
|| 2010–2011|}
¤ Played for two distinct Sounders franchises
International
CONCACAF Champions CupCONCACAF Champions League
The CONCACAF Champions League is the annual international club football championship for teams from the CONCACAF region ....
- 4th-place (1): 1996
Domestic
U.S. Open CupLamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is a knockout tournament in American soccer. The tournament is the oldest ongoing American soccer competition and is presently open to all United States Soccer Federation affiliated teams, from amateur adult club teams to the professional clubs of Major League...
- Winner (3): 20092009 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup FinalThe 2009 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final was played on September 2, 2009, at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium in Washington, D.C. The match determined the winner of the 2009 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, a tournament open to amateur and professional soccer teams affiliated with the United States...
, 20102010 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup FinalThe 2010 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final was played on October 5, 2010, at Qwest Field in Seattle, Washington. The match determined the winner of the 2010 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, a tournament open to amateur and professional soccer teams affiliated with the United States Soccer Federation. This...
, 20112011 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup FinalThe 2011 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final was played on October 4, 2011 in Seattle, Washington for the second consecutive year. The match saw the Seattle Sounders FC defeat the Chicago Fire 2-0 to be crowned champions in three consecutive years of the 2011 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, a tournament open...
MLS
MLS CupMLS Cup
The MLS Cup is the championship match of Major League Soccer, the highest tier of professional soccer in the United States and Canada. As the final match of the MLS Cup playoffs, the winner is crowned the season champion in the same manner as other North American sports leagues...
- Conference Semifinalist (2): 20092009 MLS Cup PlayoffsThe 2009 MLS Cup Playoffs is the postseason to Major League Soccer's 2009 season. MLS Cup 2009 concluded the season on November 22, 2009 at Qwest Field in Seattle, Washington. Real Salt Lake won the Cup in penalties over the L.A...
, 2010 MLS Cup Playoffs2010 MLS Cup PlayoffsThe 2010 MLS Cup Playoffs was the postseason tournament subsequent to Major League Soccer's 2010 season. The Colorado Rapids defeated FC Dallas 2–1 at BMO Field in Toronto, Ontario....
NASL
Soccer BowlSoccer Bowl
The Soccer Bowl was the championship game of the North American Soccer League from 1975 to 1983. The event was created by NASL Commissioner Phil Woosnam who was trying to build a neutral-site championship event in the mold of the NFL's Super Bowl....
- Runner Up (2): 1977, 1982
USL
USL First Division PlayoffsUSL First Division
The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....
- Winner (4): 1995, 1996, 2005, 2007
- Runner Up (1): 2004
USL Commissioner's Cup
USL First Division
The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....
(Best USL Regular Season Record)
- Winner (3): 1994, 2002, 2007
- Runner Up (1): 1995
Other
Cascadia CupCascadia Cup
The Cascadia Cup is the name of the trophy created in 2004 by supporters of the Portland Timbers, Seattle Sounders, and Vancouver Whitecaps FC, which is awarded each season to the best soccer team in the Pacific Northwest. The Timbers, Sounders, and Whitecaps have roots dating to the days of the...
- Winner (3): 2006, 2007, 2011
Heritage Cup
- Winner (1): 20102010 Major League Soccer seasonThe 2010 Major League Soccer season was the 98th season of FIFA-sanctioned soccer, the 32nd with a national first-division league, in the United States and Canada, and the 15th in MLS history. It began on March 25 at Seattle's Qwest Field with Seattle Sounders FC defeating the expansion...
See also
- Cascadia CupCascadia CupThe Cascadia Cup is the name of the trophy created in 2004 by supporters of the Portland Timbers, Seattle Sounders, and Vancouver Whitecaps FC, which is awarded each season to the best soccer team in the Pacific Northwest. The Timbers, Sounders, and Whitecaps have roots dating to the days of the...
- Emerald City SupportersEmerald City SupportersEmerald City Supporters is an independent supporters' group for Major League Soccer's Seattle Sounders FC.-History and name:Emerald City Supporters was founded in 2005 by the supporters of the now defunct Seattle Sounders soccer team that played in the United Soccer Leagues First Division...
- Gorilla FCGorilla FCGorilla FC is an independent supporters' group for Major League Soccer's Seattle Sounders FC.-Organization:Gorilla FC was formed in 2009 to support Seattle Sounders FC. It is the reincarnation of the anti-globalization activist group, Guerrilla FC...
- Seattle Sounders (1974-1983)
- Seattle Sounders (1994-2008)
- Seattle Sounders FCSeattle Sounders FCSeattle Sounders FC is an American professional soccer club based in Seattle, Washington. The club competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. Sounders FC was established in November 2007 as a MLS expansion team, making it the 15th team in...
- Seattle Sounders FC results by opponentSeattle Sounders FC results by opponentSeattle Sounders FC is an American soccer club founded in 2008, after the city of Seattle was awarded a Major League Soccer franchise. The club began playing competitive soccer in the 2009 Major League Soccer season. It plays its home games at Qwest Field, competing in the Western Conference of...
- Sounders–Timbers rivalrySeattle Sounders – Portland Timbers rivalryThe Seattle–Portland rivalry is a soccer rivalry between the Seattle Sounders and Portland Timbers soccer teams. The rivalry pre-dates the current teams in both cities, back to the North American Soccer League days, and has since grown into one of the largest and most bitter rivalries in...