American Major League Soccer team
“ seattle Sounders ” redirects here. For other similarly named teams, see seattle Sounders ( disambiguation )
Football club

Seattle Sounders FC is an american professional soccer clubhouse based in Seattle. The Sounders compete as a penis of the western Conference of Major League Soccer ( MLS ). The golf club was established on November 13, 2007, and began play in 2009 as an MLS expansion team. The Sounders are a phoenix club, carrying the same name as the original franchise that competed in the north american Soccer League from 1974 to 1983. The club ‘s majority owner is hadrian Hanauer, and its minority owners are the estate of Paul Allen, Drew Carey, and 14 families from the Seattle area. Former USL Sounders passenger car and adjunct coach Brian Schmetzer took over as head coach in July 2016 after the passing of Sigi Schmid. The Sounders play their home league matches at Lumen Field, with a reduce capacity of 37,722 seats for most matches. Along with several organized groups, a 53-member march ring called “ sound Wave ” supports the club at each base couple. Seattle has longstanding rivalries with fellow Pacific Northwest clubs Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps FC, with whom it competes for the Cascadia Cup. The Sounders played their inauguration match on March 19, 2009, winning 3–0 over the New York Red Bulls. Seattle has been among the league ‘s most successful teams, winning the U.S. Open Cup four times, the Supporters ‘ Shield in 2014, and the MLS Cup in 2016 and 2019. The team has qualified for the MLS Cup Playoffs in each of its 12 seasons and competed in the CONCACAF Champions League five times, advancing to the semi-finals once. The team set a newly MLS record for median attendance in each of its first five seasons. The Sounders are ranked as one of the most valuable franchises in North America. The team ‘s players have included former US external Clint Dempsey, top goal scorer Fredy Montero, a well as long-time captain Osvaldo Alonso, and current captain Nicolás Lodeiro. The Sounders besides operate a players ‘ academy and lower-division teams that have produced homegrown players, including forward Jordan Morris and defender DeAndre Yedlin .

history [edit ]

even before the first cities in the United States were chosen to host Major League Soccer teams, Seattle was considered a viable location for a professional team. [ 2 ] In 1994, as the U.S. was preparing to host the FIFA World Cup, more than 30 cities were pursuing the rights to an MLS team, Seattle being among them. [ 3 ] however, despite the potent soccer fan base in Seattle, the absence of a soccer-only stadium was a drawback to establishing an MLS team. [ 4 ] Cities seeking consideration for an inauguration MLS team were besides expected to secure 10,000 assurances from fans for season tickets. [ 3 ] By the June 3, 1994, deadline for MLS team bids, Seattle organizers had secured fewer than 1,500 such assurances. [ 5 ] These depleted numbers were a resultant role of competition between the ticket campaign for the MLS expansion team and for the American Professional Soccer League ( APSL ) Sounders expansion team. [ 6 ] In a June 14, 1994, announcement, Seattle was not included among the first base seven cities to be awarded an MLS team. [ 2 ] Five more teams were to be announced belated in the year, and to improve their chances this meter, Seattle MLS organizers began working with the University of Washington to secure consumption of Husky Stadium as an interim stadium while they pursued the construction of a permanent wave soccer-specific facility. [ 7 ] In November 1994, the start of the first MLS season was postponed until 1996, and it was noted that the absence of an “ adequate grass-field facility ” in the area and the presence of the new APSL Seattle Sounders team had thwarted Seattle ‘s MLS bid. [ 8 ] In the end, Seattle was not among the cities chosen to establish a team during the first gear season of MLS. [ 9 ] In 1996, as Seattle Seahawks owner Paul Allen worked with the city to build a raw football stadium for his team, the electric potential of an MLS expansion team that could be a co-tenant help oneself drive populace support for the effort. [ 10 ] Many of the express ‘s voters supported the referendum to construct Seahawks Stadium because it was besides expected to be a professional soccer venue. [ 11 ] While the stadium problem was being resolved, a new write out emerged. By 2000, MLS was moving away from league-operated teams to investor-operated teams, so affluent individuals would need to step forth for Seattle to obtain an MLS expansion team. [ 11 ] In 2003, Seattle was again listed as a possibility for an MLS expansion team when the ten-team league announced plans to expand into newfangled markets. [ 12 ] In 2004, MLS commissioner Don Garber indicated that Seattle had been “ very finale ” to receiving the expansion team ultimately awarded to Salt Lake. hadrian Hanauer, then-owner of the United Soccer League ‘s ( USL ) Sounders ( once the APSL Sounders ), was in discussions with MLS about an estimate payment of $ 1 million to secure rights to a Seattle franchise for 2006. [ 13 ] however, when Seattle was passed over again in 2006, Hanauer announced that he would not be able to secure an expansion team without the avail of more investors bequeath to cover the increasing MLS franchise fees which had grown beyond $ 10 million. [ 14 ]

expansion and inaugural season [edit ]

In 2007, Hanauer teamed up with Hollywood producer Joe Roth to make another bid for MLS expansion into Seattle, at a cost of $ 30 million. [ 15 ] Paul Allen, whose First and Goal company operated Qwest Field ( now Lumen Field ), joined the possession group that lapp year, making the bid the most predict however for Seattle. [ 16 ] During the first week of November 2007, rumors began to build that MLS would be announcing an expansion into Seattle the trace workweek, and that the ownership group had taken on a fourth member, television personality Drew Carey. [ 17 ] In a bid conference on November 13, 2007, it was announced that Seattle had been awarded an expansion team. The announcement marked the recurrence of top-level soccer to Seattle for the first time since the dissolving of its north american Soccer League ( NASL ) team in 1983. The announcement besides meant that the Seattle Sounders of the USL First Division would play its final season the class before the newfangled MLS franchise was formed. [ 18 ] [ 19 ] “ seattle Sounders FC ” was announced as the team name on April 7, 2008, along with the team logo, colors and badge plan, in a presentation held at the Space Needle. [ 20 ] Sigi Schmid was introduced as the club ‘s first head bus on December 16, 2008, after leaving the Columbus Crew following their MLS Cup victory. [ 21 ]
Several players are standing together with one lifting a large trophy upward. Players celebrate after winning the 2009 U.S. Open Cup. seattle Sounders FC, the league ‘s 15th team, began play in the 2009 temper. All 22,000 season ticket packages offered by the club for its inaugural address season were sold, [ 22 ] giving them the most season ticket holders in MLS. [ 23 ] The club played its first home match on March 19, 2009, in front of a sold-out crowd of 32,523, defeating the New York Red Bulls 3–0. [ 24 ] During the pre-match ceremonies, the foremost Golden Scarf was awarded to MLS Commissioner Don Garber. [ 25 ] Seattle was the first MLS expansion team to win its beginning three matches, and they did so with a shutout in each. [ 26 ] The club set a submit read for attendance at a soccer match on August 5, 2009, when 66,848 attended a friendly match with FC Barcelona, [ 27 ] a criminal record which was late broken when they hosted Manchester United in front of 67,052 fans, [ 28 ] and late in the 2019 MLS Cup against Toronto FC with 69,274 in attendance. On September 2, 2009, the Sounders became the irregular MLS expansion team in league history ( Chicago was the first ) to win the U.S. Open Cup tournament in its first temper. [ 29 ] They did thus by defeating D.C. United 2–1 on the road at RFK Stadium. In winning the U.S. Open Cup tournament, they qualified for the preliminary round of the 2010–11 CONCACAF Champions League. [ 29 ] On October 17, 2009, the Sounders became the third MLS expansion team in league history to qualify for the playoffs in its first season. They clinched a playoff moor with a come-from-behind victory over the Kansas City Wizards 3–2 at Kansas City. [ 30 ] Seattle finished the regular season with a record of 12 wins, 7 losses, and 11 draws. The club set a new MLS record for average attendance with 30,943 fans per match. [ 31 ] Its inaugural address season came to an end in the 2009 MLS Cup Playoffs with a loss in the league semifinals to the Houston Dynamo by a 1–0 sum grade in a two-legged series. [ 32 ] During the 2009 season, all 15 Sounders MLS regular season home matches, its home playoff match, and its four home U.S. Open Cup matches ( played at Starfire Sports Complex ) were sold out. [ 33 ]

early years ( 2010–2013 ) [edit ]

Before the first match of the Sounders ‘ irregular season, the baseball club increased the number of temper ticket holders to 32,000. [ 34 ] The beginning couple of the season was played at Qwest Field, with Seattle hosting a new MLS expansion team, the Philadelphia Union. The Sounders won 2–0 on goals from Brad Evans and Fredy Montero. however, Seattle followed the winnings by losing 8 of its next 14 matches. In the latter half of the regular season, Seattle reversed its fortune. The team won 10 of its concluding 15 matches, and clinched a playoff berth for the second straight year with a 2–1 succeed on October 10, 2010, at Kansas City. [ 35 ] They finished the temper with 14 wins, 10 losses, and 6 ties. In the playoffs, the Sounders were eliminated in the conference semifinals by the Los Angeles Galaxy on a 3–1 aggregate score. [ 36 ] The club broke its own single-season attendance record, averaging 36,173 fans per match, [ 37 ] and again sold out every league match. [ 38 ] The Sounders besides competed in two extra competitions during the 2010 season – the CONCACAF Champions League and the U.S. Open Cup. In the Champions League, Seattle progressed through the preliminary round, beating Isidro Metapán 2–1 on aggregate, but was eliminated in the group stage. [ 39 ] In the U.S. Open Cup, Seattle won matches at Portland and at home against the Los Angeles Galaxy and Chivas USA before reaching the final, which they hosted at Qwest Field against the Columbus Crew. On October 5, 2010, Seattle won the U.S. Open Cup final, 2–1, becoming the beginning team since 1983 to repeat as U.S. Open Cup champions. [ 40 ] The final was played in front of a U.S. Open Cup record crowd of 31,311, [ 41 ] and the victory ensured Seattle ‘s render to the Champions League in 2011. [ 42 ]
Several players are standing together with three trophies on the ground in front of them. Sounders FC players with the 2009, 2010, and 2011 U.S. Open Cup trophies The Sounders began the 2011 season by hosting the open match of the MLS season for the third straight class, losing 1–0 to the Los Angeles Galaxy. [ 43 ] [ 44 ] The season besides saw the entrance of the Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps into MLS, allowing for the revival of the Cascadia Cup ; [ 45 ] the Sounders won the cup with an unbeaten record against both clubs. [ 46 ] On April 22, 2011, in a match against the Colorado Rapids, Seattle ‘s ace midfielder Steve Zakuani suffered a break leg in a challenge by the Rapids ‘ Brian Mullan, which ended his season. [ 47 ] Despite setbacks and a slow start to the temper ( the golf club won merely 3 of its first 10 matches ), the Sounders went on to finish the season with the second-best criminal record in the league at 18 wins, 9 string, 7 losses, and qualified for the playoffs for a third back-to-back class. [ 48 ] On October 4, 2011, Seattle won its third consecutive U.S. Open Cup, becoming the first cabaret to do so in 42 years, as they defeated the Chicago Fire 2–0 in front man of another tournament record crowd of 35,615 at CenturyLink Field. [ 49 ] In the MLS playoffs, Seattle lost its western Conference semifinal series 3–2 on aggregate to Real Salt Lake. The club lost the first leg 3–0 in Salt Lake, and could alone net two goals in the second leg at dwelling. [ 50 ] Sounders midfielder Mauro Rosales was recognized by the league as the 2011 Newcomer of the Year. [ 51 ] In 2011, Seattle again broke its own league record for modal attendance at 38,496. On October 15, 2011, the club hosted the third-largest push ever for a single MLS match, as 64,140 people attended the final regular season home meet against the San Jose Earthquakes, billed as a sendoff for goalkeeper Kasey Keller. [ 52 ] In the 2011–12 CONCACAF Champions League, Seattle became only the second MLS team in history to win a competitive match in Mexico, defeating CF Monterrey 1–0 on August 23, 2011. [ 53 ] The club finished second in its group and advanced to the quarterfinals, losing 7–3 on aggregate to eventual runner-up Santos Laguna after taking a 2–1 lead at home and losing 6–1 in Mexico. [ 54 ] [ 55 ] Seattle opened the 2012 season with a streak of five straight wins in April and May, [ 56 ] but fell into a month-long, nine-match winless streak in June. The winless streak ended in a match on July 7, which saw the return of Steve Zakuani from reclamation, against the Colorado Rapids. [ 57 ] Seattle reached the U.S. Open Cup Final for the one-fourth straight class, becoming the first team to do so since 1937, [ 58 ] but lost to Sporting Kansas City in a penalty gunfight after a 1–1 draw. [ 59 ] In Champions League group play, the team advanced to the hard cycle with four straight wins, each including a goal from Sammy Ochoa. [ 60 ] The Sounders finished third in the western Conference and qualified for the playoffs, where they advanced out of the foremost round for the beginning time in the team ‘s history. [ 61 ] In the Conference Championship, Seattle fell 3–0 to Los Angeles in the beginning branch and came within one goal of tying the series on aggregate, winning the second leg 2–1 but losing 4–2 on aggregate after conceding an aside goal. [ 62 ] The 2012 temper ended without a major trophy for the Sounders, for the inaugural time in their MLS history, and the team failed to qualify for the 2013–14 CONCACAF Champions League. [ 63 ] The top scorer in league play was 28-year-old striker Eddie Johnson, who scored 14 goals in his first base temper with the golf club ; he earned Comeback Player of the year honors for his performance, which came after an abortive scrimp with multiple european golf club. [ 64 ] During the 2013 preseason, the Sounders signed their first homegrown player, veracious back DeAndre Yedlin, [ 65 ] seasoned defender Djimi Traoré, [ 66 ] and forward Obafemi Martins, who paid his release article to his spanish club. [ 67 ] Longtime forward Fredy Montero left Seattle on loan to colombian club Millonarios F.C. in January and, by July, was loaned to Sporting CP in Portugal with an option to buy ; Montero was sold permanently to Sporting in 2014. [ 68 ] [ 69 ] The Sounders began the 2013 season with the hard polish of the 2012–13 Champions League, facing mexican baseball club Tigres UANL in the quarterfinals. After losing 1–0 in the away leg and conceding an away goal in the revert leg, the Sounders scored three unanswered goals in the irregular one-half to win 3–1 and advance to the semifinals. With the gain, the Sounders became the first MLS team to eliminate a mexican team in the knockout stage of CONCACAF Champions League. [ 70 ] Seattle once again play Santos Laguna in the semifinal, but failed to advance after losing 1–0 at dwelling and drawing 1–1 in Torreón. [ 71 ] The Sounders continued their five-year streak of setting a modern MLS average attendance record, reaching 44,038 in 2013. [ 72 ] The Sounders began the MLS season with a move of five matches without a acquire, the worst starting signal in the team ‘s history, ascribable to injuries to key players. [ 73 ] The Sounders failed to advance in the U.S. Open Cup after losing to second-division Tampa Bay Rowdies in the third round of golf, marking the end of the team ‘s seven-year streak of appearances in the late rounds. [ 74 ] As players returned to the team, Seattle improved to a six-win, four-loss record in 14 matches by late June. [ 75 ] In August 2013, the Sounders completed the sign of U.S. national team captain Clint Dempsey from Tottenham Hotspur for $ 9 million, the largest transfer deal in the league ‘s history, and a record wage of $ 32 million over four years. [ 76 ] The team ‘s stay carry of wins put them into Supporters ‘ Shield competition in September, coming within one distributor point of the league-leading Red Bulls, [ 77 ] but fell to one-fourth target in the conference after a ladder of four straight losses in October. [ 78 ] [ 79 ] The Sounders beat the Colorado Rapids 2–0 in the hard round, and drew rivals Portland in the conference semifinal. [ 80 ] Seattle fell 2–1 to the Timbers in the home leg and were defeated 3–2 in Portland, knocking the Sounders out in a performance that failed to live up to expectations. [ 81 ] The Sounders continued to break the MLS average attendance record for the fourthly and fifth back-to-back year in 2012 and 2013, with an average of 43,144 and 44,038, respectively. [ 82 ] The higher attendances were helped by the opening of extra sections in the Hawks ‘ Nest, [ 83 ] arsenic well as the orifice of the upper deck of CenturyLink Field for choice regular matches. [ 84 ] The August 25, 2013, home meet against the Portland Timbers drew a crowd of 67,385, the second-largest standalone attendance in league history. [ 85 ]

first Supporters Shield ( 2014 ) [edit ]

Sounders players celebrating a finish against the Colorado Rapids, 2014 After a disappoint 2013 season, the Sounders replaced starting goalkeeper Michael Gspurning with Toronto ‘s Stefan Frei. several veteran players, including Eddie Johnson, Patrick Ianni, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Mauro Rosales, and Steve Zakuani, left the club as separate of a major restructure ; Brad Evans was named as club captain. [ 86 ] Marco Pappa, an feel MLS musician and Guatemalan international, was added to the team. Homegrown player DeAndre Yedlin was transferred to Tottenham Hotspur but was loaned back to Seattle until the end of the MLS season. [ 87 ] The Sounders advanced to the 2014 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final and defeated the Philadelphia Union in supernumerary time, to win their fourth trophy of the tournament. On October 25, 2014, the final game of the 2014 regular season, the Sounders defeated the LA Galaxy 2–0 to secure and win their first Supporters ‘ Shield. [ 88 ]
Entering the playoffs as the top seed, Seattle defeated FC Dallas on the away goals rule and advanced to the western Conference Championship to face the LA Galaxy once again. The Sounders tied the Galaxy on aggregate score but lost on the away goals rule after losing 1–0 away and winning 2–1 at home. LA would go on to win the MLS Cup. [ 89 ]

2015 season [edit ]

erstwhile Real Salt Lake general director Garth Lagerwey was hired by the clubhouse in January 2015, replacing hadrian Hanauer. [ 90 ] Seattle was unable to repeat their successes in the 2014 season. The season started successfully, with respective key wins that saw the team at the top of the westerly Conference by June. [ 91 ] During a 2015 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match against the Portland Timbers on June 16, however, Obafemi Martins left the game with a groin injury and Clint Dempsey was suspended after tearing a referee ‘s bag, though he would be called away for the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup. [ 92 ] [ 93 ] The injury and abeyance of the team ‘s main attack duet led to a death corkscrew during the summer, with Seattle winning only one match in nine games. By late August, Martins had recovered and led the team to an 8-match unbeaten streak to secure a playoff touch, finishing fourthly in the western Conference. The Sounders had besides successfully topped their group in the 2015–16 CONCACAF Champions League, beating the Vancouver Whitecaps and Club Deportivo Olimpia, with two wins, one draw, and one loss. [ 94 ] Paraguayan international Nelson Haedo Valdez was signed as the club ‘s newest designated player, and was joined by mate external signings Andreas Ivanschitz and Román Torres in August 2015 ; [ 95 ] Erik Friberg besides returned to the club after his stretch in Europe. [ 96 ] During the playoff ‘s unfold knockout round, the Sounders defeated the LA Galaxy 3–2, ending a “ curse ” for the club, who had lost to LA in each of the three former playoff matchups. [ 97 ] The playoff run would end in the next round of golf, the western Conference semifinals against FC Dallas, during a penalty gunfight after both teams were tied on aggregate score after extra time in Frisco, Texas. [ 98 ] [ 99 ] In November 2015, hadrian Hanauer was made majority owner of the club, succeeding Joe Roth. [ 100 ] The clubhouse set a new attendance commemorate during the 2015 season, with an average attendance of 44,247. [ 101 ]

Schmetzer era and first gear MLS Cup ( 2016–2018 ) [edit ]

anterior to the 2016 season, Obafemi Martins abruptly left the clubhouse to sign with Shanghai Greenland Shenhua F.C. in the chinese Super League, [ 102 ] a travel that would hamper the Sounders ‘ discourtesy during the season. The move was mitigated reasonably by the sign language of homegrown product Jordan Morris. [ 103 ] GM Lagerwey besides traded Marco Pappa and Lamar Neagle to other clubs in the offseason. [ 104 ] During the first half of the 2016 season, the Sounders failed to meet expectations, placing near the bottom of the league with 6 wins, 12 losses, and 2 draws. Following a 3–0 loss on July 24 to Sporting Kansas City, in which the Sounders had only one fritter, [ 105 ] Schmid left the club on reciprocal terms and was replaced by long-time assistant coach Brian Schmetzer. [ 106 ] [ 107 ] The like day, the club announced their sign of Uruguayan midfielder Nicolás Lodeiro on a designated player sign, [ 108 ] arsenic well as the reelect of former designated musician Álvaro Fernández. [ 109 ] Despite the dull start angstrom well as the passing of midfielder Clint Dempsey, who was forced in August to stop play after evaluations for an irregular heartbeat, [ 110 ] the Sounders rose from ninth put to fourth place in the western Conference and qualified for the 2016 MLS Cup Playoffs, with eight wins, two losses, and four hook. Schmetzer was named as permanent wave head coach as a result. [ 111 ]
At the end of the regular season, Jordan Morris was named the MLS Rookie of the year after scoring the most goals of any american cub in MLS ( 12 ), [ 112 ] and Nicolás Lodeiro was named MLS Newcomer of the year for his 4 goals and 8 assists in 13 appearances. [ 113 ] The Sounders advanced from the Knockout Round of the playoffs through a 1–0 gain over Sporting Kansas City, and beat FC Dallas 4–2 on aggregate to return to the Conference Final. [ 114 ] [ 115 ] The Sounders then defeated the Colorado Rapids 3–1 on aggregate in the final, clinching a spot in their first-ever MLS Cup. [ 116 ] On December 10, 2016, the Sounders defeated Toronto FC 5–4 in a punishment gunfight, to win MLS Cup 2016, their first MLS championship in franchise history, going the solid couple without a tear on goal. [ 117 ] The team ‘s performance was called a “ cinderella temper “ and hailed as one of the most dramatic MLS seasons to go steady. [ 118 ] The Sounders began their title department of defense with the signings of two academy graduates and several seasoned players from MLS and afield. [ 119 ] Dempsey besides returned from his foramen and scored in his first match before being called up to the U.S. national team for World Cup qualification. [ 120 ] The season began with only five wins in the foremost 17 matches, but was followed by a 13-match unbeaten streak and extra wins to clinch a second-place spot in the western Conference. [ 121 ] [ 122 ] [ 123 ] In the playoffs, the Sounders beat the Vancouver Whitecaps and Houston Dynamo to win the western Conference and return to the MLS Cup, once again facing Toronto at BMO Field. [ 124 ] Seattle lost 2–0 to Toronto, who clinched the first domestic double in MLS history. [ 125 ] Seattle began the 2018 season with a run to the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Champions League, where they lost 3–1 on aggregate to eventual champions C.D. Guadalajara. During the Round of 16, Jordan Morris injured his ACL and was deemed disqualify to play for the rest of the season. [ 126 ] Without Morris and several injure starting players, the Sounders lost nine of their first 15 matches and were placed penetrate of the western Conference by June. The club signed a newfangled Designated Player, Peruvian fore Raúl Ruidíaz, that calendar month and began a long unbeaten streak that resulted in a playoff stead in late August. [ 127 ] [ 128 ] On September 1, the club broke the MLS record for most straight wins in the post-shootout earned run average, having won eight consecutive matches. They then extended that acquire streak to nine games as they beat Vancouver 2–1 on September 15, before finally losing to the Philadelphia Union on September 19. [ 129 ] The Sounders finished second in the western Conference with 18 wins, 11 losses, and 5 draws. With 14 wins in the final 16 matches of the season, the Sounders completed the best half season in league history. [ 130 ] Minority owner Paul Allen died from complications related to non-Hodgkin lymphoma on October 15, 2018, leaving his stake in the Sounders to an estate of the realm executed by his sister Jody Allen. [ 131 ] Seattle then faced the Portland Timbers in the Conference Semifinals, losing the away stage 2–1 and winning the home stage 3–2 to tie the series on aggregate after extra time. In the ensuing penalty gunfight, Portland won 4–2 ; the home leg is considered to be one of the best playoff matches in league history ascribable to its dramatic complete. [ 132 ] [ 133 ]

second MLS Cup title ( 2019 ) [edit ]

The 2019 MLS season began with the loss of team captain and inauguration season actor Osvaldo Alonso, who was released into rid agency and signed with Minnesota United FC before the season began. [ 134 ] Defender Chad Marshall, who had joined in 2014, announced his retirement from professional soccer on May 22, leaving unexpectedly mid-way through the season. [ 135 ] Despite the loss of these two players, plus the pause of Román Torres for ten matches for testing positive for a performance-enhancing kernel in August, [ 136 ] the Sounders finished 2nd in the westerly Conference and 4th in the overall league table, good adequate to qualify for a spot in the 2020 CONCACAF Champions ‘ League [ 137 ] and a commemorate 11th-straight appearance in the MLS Cup Playoffs. [ 138 ] In the playoffs, the Sounders were able to defeat the Supporters ‘ Shield winning-team LAFC in the Conference Finals, leading them to face Toronto FC in the MLS Cup Final for the third time in 4 years. The Sounders won the game 3–1 [ 139 ] in front of a franchise-record 69,274 fans at CenturyLink Field. [ 140 ]

team colors and crest [edit ]

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, an internationally recognized Seattle landmark. The official team colors are Sounder Blue, signifying the waters of the Puget Sound ; Rave Green, representing the forests of the Pacific Northwest ; and Cascade Shale, representing the Cascade Range to the east of Seattle. [ 141 ] Fans chose a name for the team in an on-line poll held between March 27 and 31, 2008. The initial tilt of possibilities – Seattle FC, Seattle Republic and Seattle Alliance – measuredly did not include Seattle Sounders in order to provide a fresh start. Despite the names having been selected through fan inquiry and internal committees, the omission of the traditional Sounders name embittered many in the Seattle community. [ 142 ] [ 143 ]

Read more: Swansea City A.F.C.

In answer to the backfire, the team added a fourth write-in candidate option for the team name, allowing for any identify to be suggested on the ballot. [ 144 ] Of the more than 14,500 votes received in choosing the new team name, 49 % of the votes included some form of the name “ Sounders ”. [ 145 ] Upon announcing the name of the baseball club, Hanauer acknowledged the meaning of keeping with tradition : “ The team play at the highest degree in our region has always been called Sounders. Starting with the NASL and then the USL 1st Division, we immediately have the casual to create a break and distinct identity with the newfangled MLS team. ” [ 146 ] The NASL team was originally named in a public contest, with “ Sounders ” announced as the winner on January 22, 1974. [ 147 ]
The team ‘s ownership revealed the first Sounders jersey on May 28, 2008, and announced Microsoft as the team ‘s patron in a five-year deal worth approximately $ 20 million. [ 148 ] As contribution of the agreement, Xbox brand appeared on the front of the Sounders ‘ jersey and throughout the stadium, beginning with the Xbox 360 and Xbox Live and late replaced with the Xbox One ( just shown as “ XBOX ” ). [ 149 ] Despite hiring a adviser to explore other new jersey partnerships in 2012, [ 150 ] the Microsoft sponsorship was repeatedly extended with a annual narrow in 2013, for the postdate season, and 2014, lasting through the end of the 2016 temper. [ 151 ] [ 152 ] The second extension came amid rumors that Emirates was interested in a sponsorship as part of their market campaign in Seattle. [ 153 ] The jersey has been modified several times to include promotions for Xbox games, including Halo 5 and Gears of War 4. [ 154 ] [ 155 ] The Sounders contracted talent tauten WME-IMG to explore new jersey sponsorship and other advertising opportunities in 2017, soon before the termination of the Microsoft condense. [ 156 ] On January 17, 2019, the team announced that Seattle-based on-line retailer Zulily would become the jersey sponsor in a multiyear new jersey deal at an undisclosed fee. Zulily besides took over sponsorship of the NWSL ‘s Seattle Reign, but naming rights to the cant at CenturyLink Field was not part of the contract. [ 157 ] [ 158 ] The club ‘s first sleeve plot sponsor, WaFd Bank, was announced in July 2020 ahead of the MLS is Back Tournament. [ 159 ] In 2021, the Sounders announced a multi-year partnership with the Puyallup Tribe of Indians to sponsor the right sleeve on kits, with the Emerald Queen Casino on primary kits and the tribe ‘s emblem on secondary coil kits. [ 160 ]

stadium [edit ]

A view of CenturyLink Field while empty with soccer lines drawn on the field and stands covered with tarps Overhead view of Lumen Field in soccer shape seattle Sounders FC plays home matches at Lumen Field in Seattle, besides home to the Seattle Seahawks. [ 161 ] [ 162 ] Former Sounders minority owner, the late Paul Allen, was besides the owner of the Seahawks, who have a 30-year rent on CenturyLink Field. [ 163 ] Because of this relationship, the Sounders made use of Lumen Field without paying lease. [ 164 ] In 2015, the team announced an extension of their lease with First & Goal Inc. for use of Lumen Field that would remain through the 2028 season. [ 165 ] For Sounders matches, the field was once called “ The Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field ” as part of the sponsorship bargain with Microsoft. [ 166 ] Lumen Field is a 69,000-seat stadium designed for both teams. [ 162 ] The Sounders artificially limit the stadium ‘s capacity for MLS matches, with certain seating sections covered with tarpaulins to provide “ a more intimate air ”. however, the club does open the integral stadium for external friendly matches [ 161 ] [ 167 ] and some league matches. [ 168 ] The team ‘s original business design expected only 12,000 tickets per game. [ 169 ] Based on high initial demand, capacity for the stadium was limited to 24,500 for the begin of the inaugural address 2009 season. [ 161 ] however, owing to continued high requirement, capacity has been increased multiple times, to 38,500 for the 2012 temper [ 167 ] [ 170 ] [ 171 ] [ 172 ] and to 39,115 for the 2015 season and 37,722 in 2019. [ 1 ] [ 173 ] On October 7, 2012, a record was established when a herd of 66,452 attended a Sounders 3–0 succeed over the rival Portland Timbers : the second-highest to-date in MLS. [ 174 ] The Sounders then beat their own record on August 25, 2013, again against the Timbers with 67,385 in attendance for Clint Dempsey ‘s home debut, a 1–0 succeed for the Sounders. [ 175 ] While the Sounders presently play on FieldTurf, Lumen Field has previously had irregular natural grass installed for international soccer events. [ 176 ] [ 177 ] In 2012, an update FieldTurf surface was installed and certified by FIFA with a 2-star timbre rating, the highest potential rat. [ 178 ] If an MLS rule switch requires natural grass play surfaces, the field will be permanently replaced with lifelike grass. [ 179 ] A modern turf coat, based on the Revolution 360 brand developed by FieldTurf, was installed in early on 2016 as region of the strain rent after noticeable clothing on the erstwhile surface. [ 165 ] [ 180 ] The team ‘s coach facilities and offices are located at the Starfire Sports Complex in nearby Tukwila. [ 181 ] Smaller than Lumen Field, Starfire is besides used to host U.S. Open Cup matches. Sounders representatives have said they prefer the more suggest atmosphere for smaller cup matches. [ 182 ]

Supporters [edit ]

The Sounders FC Alliance was established at the request of minority owner Drew Carey. Based on the fan affiliation at FC Barcelona, members of the Alliance have the ability to vote on the removal of the general coach and on early team decisions. Season ticket holders become automatic members, while non-season ticket holders may buy into the Alliance for a fee. Membership benefits include voting privileges, an invitation to the annual meet and early team perks. Members may besides be elected to the Sounders FC Alliance Council by receiving at least 25 nominations from other members on an annual basis. The first vote on retaining or replacing Sounders general director hadrian Hanauer was scheduled to be held between October to December 2012. After 13,775 votes registered, Hanauer was retained by the Alliance. [ 183 ] Drew Carey is the chair of the Sounders FC Alliance. [ 184 ] Carey besides requested that the Sounders have their own demonstrate band, the first of its kind in MLS. [ 185 ] This led to the creation of the Sound Wave, a 53-member march band consisting of brass and marching percussion. [ 186 ] The set plays music from multiple genres, such as Latin, rock ‘n’ roll and pop, [ 186 ] and sits on the north end of Lumen Field. [ 187 ] The March to the Match, in which fans march from Occidental Park to Lumen Field before each home match, has been accompanied by the Sound Wave. [ 188 ] Besides the Alliance, there are presently four recognized, independent supporters groups for the Sounders. Emerald City Supporters ( ECS ), which formed in 2005 to support the USL Sounders, is the largest athletic supporter group and sits in the south conclusion of the stadium in sections 121–123. [ 189 ] Eastside Supporters is a group which can be found in section 150 which they call “ The Pod ”. Gorilla FC is a Sounders supporters group that sits in the south end of Lumen Field in Sections 119 and 120. [ 190 ] The North End Faithful sit in the north end of the stadium beneath the “ Hawks Nest ” in sections 100 and 144–152. [ 191 ]

Rivalries [edit ]

The Seattle–Portland and Seattle–Vancouver rivalries formed in the mid-seventies in the NASL and carried on through to the USL and MLS. In 2004, the fan-based Cascadia Cup was created to formalize the rival between the Seattle, Portland, and Vancouver USL teams. [ 192 ] The trophy is exchanged by the three teams ‘ supporters groups and is based on the results of certain regular season matches. [ 193 ] The Cascadia Cup was contested without Seattle for two seasons after the Sounders entered MLS in 2009, but Portland and Vancouver were awarded expansion teams that began play in 2011. [ 194 ] [ 195 ] The fan-created Heritage Cup competition with the San Jose Earthquakes began in the 2009 MLS season. MLS teams that carry on the names of their NASL predecessors are eligible to compete. The results of their league matches determine the achiever. [ 196 ] Although there is no official competition between the Sounders and Los Angeles Galaxy, the two teams have met respective times in the MLS Cup Playoffs. [ 197 ] The relationship between former head coaches Bruce Arena and Sigi Schmid, the two most successful in league history, besides played a divisor in the clubs ‘ competition. [ 198 ] Schmid late served as the Galaxy ‘s promontory coach from 2017 to 2018, curtly after his passing from the Sounders. [ 199 ]

possession and team management [edit ]

The ownership group of the baseball club is composed of three owners and an possession group composed of 14 families. The majority owner is hadrian Hanauer, the former owner of the now defunct USL-1 team Seattle Sounders. Independent minority owners include the estate of Paul Allen, Microsoft co-founder and owner of the Seattle Seahawks and Portland Trail Blazers, owned by Jody Allen ; and Drew Carey, comedian and game appearance master of ceremonies. [ 200 ] Hanauer and his mother Lenore Hanauer besides became minority owners of Tacoma-based Reign FC in the National Women ‘s Soccer League in January 2019, though there was no affiliation between the two clubs ; [ 201 ] their affair with that cabaret ended when OL Groupe purchased majority possession of it the postdate year. [ 202 ] Paul Allen ‘s partnership allowed for the team to share certain resources with the Seahawks, including over half of the team ‘s full-time staff, with merged ticket, marketing, and fiscal operations. [ 169 ] This arrangement ended on April 30, 2014, with the Sounders becoming a in full autonomous business operation. [ 203 ] Joe Roth was the majority owner from 2007 to 2015, when he ceded the character to Hanauer, who was replaced as general coach earlier that year. [ 204 ] Roth departed the club ‘s ownership group in 2019. [ 205 ] He was replaced by Seattle Futbol Club LLC, formed by 11 families with ties to the Seattle area including early Microsoft executive Terry Myerson and his wife Katie Myerson, Russell Wilson, Ciara, Macklemore and Tricia Davis, Satya Nadella and Anu Nadella, Amy Hood and Max Kleinman, Joe Belfiore and Kristina Belfiore, S. Somasegar and Akila Somasegar, Chee Chew and Christine Chew, David Nathanson and Sabina Nathanson, Brian McAndrews and Elise Holschuh, and Mark Agne and Tomoko Agne. [ 205 ] [ 206 ] Myerson arranged for the investment through his connections and negotiations that took 15 months to complete. The inflate ownership group will have an executive board to decide on club matters. [ 206 ] Peter Tomozawa and Donna LeDuc joined the new minority ownership group shortly afterwards, with Tomozawa taking over as president of business operations. [ 207 ] In October 2020, Seattle Kraken team president of the united states Tod Leiweke and his wife, Tara, were announced as extra part-owners of the team. [ 208 ] Retired baseball player Ken Griffey Jr. and his wife, Melissa, besides joined the possession group the following month. [ 209 ] Brian Schmetzer is the Sounders ‘ current steer coach. He was promoted to interim mind coach from his function as adjunct coach after Sigi Schmid parted ways with the clubhouse on common terms in July 2016. [ 106 ] Schmetzer was made permanent wave head coach in November 2016, following the team ‘s qualification for that year ‘s playoffs. [ 210 ] The club ‘s adjunct coaches are Preki and Freddy Juarez ; [ 211 ] until 2021, the early adjunct coaches under Schmetzer were Gonzalo Pineda ( now head coach of Atlanta United FC ) and Djimi Traoré. [ 212 ] Tom Dutra was hired in 2008 as the club ‘s goalkeeper bus. [ 213 ] [ 214 ] Garth Lagerwey was hired from real Salt Lake in January 2015 as the cabaret ‘s general director and President of Soccer, replacing adrian Hanauer. [ 90 ] Former MLS actor and Everett, Washington native Chris Henderson was named technical director on January 24, 2009. [ 215 ] He left the club in January 2021 to join Inter Miami CF and was replaced by Craig Waibel, once of Real Salt Lake. [ 216 ] Former Sounders defender Taylor Graham was hired as the club ‘s Vice President of Business Operations in 2012, [ 217 ] replacing longtime Seattle Seahawks executive Gary Wright. [ 218 ] SportsBusiness Journal and SportsBusiness Daily recognized Seattle Sounders FC as the Professional Sports Team of the year in 2009 because of the team ‘s record-setting success in attendance, arsenic well as making the playoffs in its inaugural season. [ 219 ] [ 220 ] Former Seahawks and Sounders CEO Tod Leiweke was recognized by the Puget Sound Business Journal as the newspaper ‘s 2009 administrator of the Year. [ 221 ] Gary Wright was named MLS Executive of the year in 2009. [ 222 ] In 2012, he was named Seattle Sports Star Executive of the Year. [ 223 ] A 2015 study by Forbes ranked the Sounders number one in the league in terms of annual revenues ( $ 50 million ) and operating income ( $ 10 million ). consequently, the Sounders were besides ranked as the most valuable franchise ( $ 245 million ) in MLS – a 717 % increase over the expansion tip it paid to join the league. [ 224 ] The fiscal success of the team is driven in big separate by their high attendance figures and local popularity. [ 224 ]

Reserves [edit ]

The Sounders arrangement announced in 2014 that it would sphere a second-division reserve team in the United Soccer League, managed by the team and partially owned by members of a fan-owned group. [ 225 ] The team, initially named Seattle Sounders FC 2 ( S2 ), began play at the Starfire Sports Complex in 2015, under the management of former assistant coach Ezra Hendrickson. [ 226 ] In 2017, the Sounders announced that the team would move to Cheney Stadium in Tacoma, with business operations transferred to the Tacoma Rainiers baseball club, ahead of a planned rebrand and soccer-specific stadium to be built in 2020. [ 227 ] [ 228 ] The team became known as the Tacoma Defiance ahead of the 2019 season. [ 229 ]

Academy system [edit ]

The Sounders established their consort academy team in 2010, and hired coach Dick McCormick and technical director Darren Sawatzky to develop local players. [ 230 ] The academy fields teams in four age levels in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy system, [ 231 ] and is affiliated with youth clubs in Washington, North Carolina, and Central California. [ 232 ] [ 233 ] Several academy products have been signed by the Sounders under the MLS Homegrown Player Rule, including DeAndre Yedlin, Sean Okoli, Jordan Morris, and Henry Wingo. [ 234 ]

affiliate teams [edit ]

In January 2012, the Sounders announced a partnership for the Tacoma Tide, an amateur team in the USL Premier Development League, to rebrand as Seattle Sounders FC U-23 and appoint Darren Sawatzky as head coach. [ 235 ] This team would field former academy players during their summers off from university teams. [ 236 ] This brand agreement was terminated by the Sounders in January 2020. [ 237 ] The Sounders were besides affiliated with an amateur women ‘s team, Seattle Sounders Women, that plays at Starfire Sports Complex. [ 238 ] This stigmatize agreement was besides terminated by the Sounders in January 2020. [ 239 ]

Broadcasting [edit ]

Since 2014, television rights in English for regionally-broadcast matches are held by Fox owned-and-operated station KCPQ and sister station KZJO within the Seattle market. english television receiver broadcasts are called by Keith Costigan, who works aboard former Sounders goalkeeper Kasey Keller for color comment and early Sounders midfielder Steve Zakuani for analysis. [ 240 ] Previously, matches aired on KING-TV and KONG from 2009 to 2013. [ 241 ] Matches are televised in spanish on Univision post KUNS, anchored by Jaime Mendez with analysts Diego Arrioja and Jhon Kennedy Hurtado. [ 242 ] [ 243 ] In 2018, the team renewed its agreements with KCPQ and KZJO ; in addition, the team announced a newfangled streaming conduct with YouTube television receiver for single rights to stream the team ‘s matches within Washington state. This replaces a previous syndication deal with Root Sports Northwest. [ 244 ] In 2020, the team switched its pour rights to Amazon Prime Video. [ 245 ] On radio receiver, Sounders matches are called in English on 950 KJR AM by Matt Johnson with psychoanalysis from Wade Webber, Danny Jackson, and Pete Fewing. The station besides airs a weekly testify dedicated to the Sounders on Tuesdays. [ 243 ] KKMO ( El Rey 1360 AM ) broadcasts matches and a weekly show in spanish with comment from Mario Rodriguez, Carlos Tapia, and Felipe Maqueda. [ 243 ] [ 246 ] [ 247 ] Former Seattle SuperSonics announcer Kevin Calabro and former U.S. soccer star Greg Vanney called the play-by-play for the local broadcasts during the Sounders ‘ inauguration season in 2009. [ 248 ] [ 249 ] For the 2010 and 2011 seasons, they were replaced by former BBC cricket and general frolic observer Arlo White, who called English-language broadcasts without a spouse. [ 250 ] In 2012, White was hired by NBC Sports Network to be the voice of their soccer coverage. That led to BBC observer Ross Fletcher becoming the cabaret ‘s television receiver and radio receiver play-by-play commentator beginning with the 2012 season, working aboard Kasey Keller as the color commentator. [ 251 ] Fletcher left the club at the end of the 2015 season and was replaced by Keith Costigan. [ 252 ] [ 253 ]

Players and staff [edit ]

roll [edit ]

As of December 1, 2021[254]

No.

Pos.

Player

Nation

Out on loan [edit ]

No.

Pos.

Player

Nation

head coaches [edit ]

Name

Nation

Tenure

Sigi Schmid
 
December 16, 2008 – July 26, 2016

Brian Schmetzer
 
July 26, 2016 – November 1, 2016 (interim)
November 2, 2016 – present

General managers [edit ]

Name

Nation

Tenure

Adrian Hanauer
 
2007–2015

Garth Lagerwey
 
2015–present

Sporting directors [edit ]

Name

Nation

Tenure

Chris Henderson
 
2008–2021

Craig Waibel
 
2021–present

staff [edit ]

As of September 1, 2021[256][214]

Honors [edit ]

Individual Club Awards

  • MLS Fair Play Award: 2017

team records [edit ]

This is a partial number of the final five seasons completed by the Sounders. For the full season-by-season history, see List of Seattle Sounders FC seasons .
^ 1. Avg. Attendance include statistics from league matches lone.
^ 2. Top Goalscorer(s) includes all goals scored in League, Playoffs, U.S. Open Cup, MLS is Back Tournament, CONCACAF Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup, and early competitive continental matches .

interactional chart [edit ]

player records [edit ]

top goalscorers [edit ]

As of March 4, 2021[258]

Bold signifies a current Sounders musician dagger Includes MLS regular season goals, MLS Cup Playoffs goals, U.S. Open Cup goals, MLS is Back Tournament goals and CONCACAF Champions League goals. double-dagger not counted toward full goals .

Leading scorers by season [edit ]

Bold signifies a current Sounders player dagger Includes MLS regular temper goals, MLS Cup playoff goals double-dagger not counted toward entire goals .

Notes [edit ]

References [edit ]

Read more: Lille OSC