Seattle Sounders FC

The Seattle Sounders FC is an American soccer franchise of the Major League Soccer ( MLS) from Seattle in the U.S. state of Washington, which began the game operation for the 2009 season. The team carries out their home games at CenturyLink Field, which is also the home of the Seattle Seahawks, the local NFL team.

5.1 Current Senior Squad
5.2 Existing Players
5.3 Coaching staff

7.1 record this season
7.2 Club Records
7.3 Visitors section

History

The Seattle Sounders FC is the 15th team, which was included in the MLS. On 13 November 2007 the team was officially established after obtaining the license for the game operation.

From 1974 to 1983, the Seattle Sounders already played in the North American Soccer League. In 1994, the franchise was re-established and took up to and including the 2008 season participating in the USL First Division. This Seattle Sounders gave up its gaming operations for the 2009 season and has gone over to the new MLS franchise.

As early as 1994, two years before the matches of the Major League Soccer launched, Seattle was among the candidates for the first franchises of MLS. One of the key reasons why Seattle did not get a contract for an MLS franchise, was the lack of a suitable stadium. In addition, there was the rest of the Major League Soccer that at least one demand of 10,000 season tickets there. On 3 May 1994, the end date for the application deadline for the MLS, could boast only 1,300 cards. This was because at the same time also the APSL team Seattle Sounders tickets. Thus, Seattle was not among the founding members of the League. Later, five more teams should come with it. During this time, Seattle negotiated with the University of Washington on the use of Husky Stadium as an interim solution until a football stadium can be built.

As the first Major League Soccer season has been postponed to 1996 in November 1994, the MLS announced that Seattle does not come into question because of the lack of an adequate lawn space and the presence of the APSL team Seattle Sounders, Seattle as a suitable location for the MLS.

1996 was the owner of the Seattle Seahawks, Paul Allen to build a new stadium for his team. To advance his construction projects, he also saw the possibility of an MLS franchise to win as more support for its stadium plans. Thus, the problem was solved with the missing stadium. 2000 has entered a new problem. The MLS supported financially from this time no new franchises more. Thus, an investor had to be found. 2002 was another opportunity there to bring Seattle as a new team in the MLS, because it should new markets in the United States to be tapped. But you lost narrowly awarded to Salt Lake City.

Adrian Hanauer, owner of the Seattle Sounders, offered to the Major League Soccer to invest a million dollars in a Seattle franchise. 2006 but the award went again to another city (Houston ). Hanauer went afterwards to look for more investors for the project Seattle in the MLS to bring.

Seattle gets MLS franchise

2007 worked with Hanauer Joe Roth, a producer from Hollywood, together, to finally bring an MLS franchise on the way. Paul Allen, whose company First and Goal Company which operates Qwest Field, the owners' association joined. In the first week of November 2007 began to realize that the MLS is planning further expansion. Comedian Drew Carey joined the group of owners. At a press conference on November 13, 2007, the Major League Soccer Seattle announced a new expansion franchise. At the same time it was announced that the USL -1 Team Seattle Sounders will no longer exist when Seattle progressing to the MLS.

On April 7, the new name of MLS franchises was announced: Seattle Sounders FC. Also, the logo and team colors were presented to the public. The name was the result of an online vote.

On 28 May 2008 the jersey of the team was presented and introduced the new shirt sponsor. Microsoft had signed a five-year contract with the franchise. First coach Sigi was Schmidt, who had won previously with the Columbus Crew of the MLS Cup.

First season

The MLS season in 2009 was the first season for the Seattle Sounders FC. All 22,000 season tickets were sold, so that the franchise had sold the most tickets in the whole MLS.

On 19 March 2009 the team played their first game. Opponents were the New York Red Bulls and the stadium was sold out with 32,523 spectators. Seattle won 3-0. The Colombian Fredy Montero scored the first goal here for the Sounders FC. The team was able to win the next two games for themselves. This made it the most successful launch of a new team in Major League Soccer. With a third place in the Western Conference to Seattle could qualify for the play-offs. In the quarterfinals, but the team was eliminated by Houston Dynamo.

On 2 September 2009, the Sounders the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup win with a victory against DC United. By the Cup victory took the Sounders part in the CONCACAF Champions League 2010/11. Every home game the Sounders was sold in the 2009 season, ( was played in the Starfire Sports Complex) in both the Cup, and in the regular season and in the play- offs.

2010 - today

Before the second season of the Seattle Sounders FC began in the MLS, be season ticket offer put the football franchise, up to 32,000 pieces. The first game of the season denied the Sounders against MLS newcomer Philadelphia Union, which was won 2-0. Despite this victory, Seattle lost eight times within the first 15 games. The tide turned after half of the regular season. In the last 15 games 10 wins could be achieved and the team ended up in 4th place in the Western Conference. Like last year, each league game was sold out. In the play-offs, the Sounders eliminated in the Conference semifinals against Los Angeles Galaxy with a total of 3:1 (1:0, 2:1) from.

On 31 July 2010, the Sounders won the Heritage Cup against San Jose Earthquakes. This tournament has been held since 2009 between teams whose names predecessors had already played in the North American Soccer League.

International, the association of the CONCACAF Champions League was allowed 2010/11 to participate. In the qualifying round the team defeated AD Isidro Metapán with a total of 2:1 (1:0, 1:1). In the group stage CF Monterrey, Saprissa and CD Marathón were the opponents of the Sounders. From the six games, the team won only once and left as a group from Last. Successful, however, was the appearance in the U.S. Open Cup. After victories against the Portland Timbers, Los Angeles Galaxy and CD Chivas USA, the team met in the finals on the Columbus Crew. 2-1 of Cup success was repeated from last year. This is the Seattle Sounders FC, the first team of the MLS, which could defend the U.S. Open Cup directly. With the finale, a new attendance record was set in a cup match in the United States. 31,311 people watched the game on October 5, 2010. Through victory, the team qualified for the CONCACAF Champions League 2011/12.

Owner and Management

The ownership of the franchise are divided to different investors. The film producer Joe Roth is the main investor in the new club. Other investors include Adrian Hanauer, current owner of the Seattle Sounders, Drew Carey, comedian and presenter, and Paul Allen, Microsoft co-founder and owner of the Seattle Seahawks and the Portland Trail Blazers.

The former football player Chris Henderson is Technical Director of the team. This was announced on 24 January 2008.

Stadium

CenturyLink Field; Seattle, Washington ( 2009 -)

Since the MLS 2009 season the Sounders play at CenturyLink Field. The stadium holds 67,000 spectators and was opened under the name Seahawks Stadium in 2002. Since that time, it is home to the NFL team Seattle Seahawks.

Team Name and Logo

On 7 April 2008 the official team name " Seattle Sounders FC" and the logo of the team were published. In a vote on choosing a name, the name Seattle Sounders won against the proposals Seattle FC, Seattle Republic, Seattle Alliance.

In the center of the logo is the Space Needle, the symbol of Seattle. The official team colors are Sounder Blue, which stands for the waters of Puget Sound, and Rave Green, which refers to the extensive coniferous forests in the Pacific Northwest.

Players and staff

Current Senior Squad

As of March 15, 2013

Existing players

Coaching staff

As of November 1, 2012

Germany United States Sigi Schmid ( Coach )
United States Brian Schmetzer (assistant coach )
Saint Vincent Grenadines Ezra Hendrickson (assistant coach )
United States Kurt Schmid ( assistant coach and scout)
United States Tom Dutra ( Goalkeeper Coach )
United States David Tenney ( Fitness Trainer)
United States Chris Henderson ( Technical Director)

Achievements

Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Winners ( 3): 2009, 2010, 2011

Statistics

Record this season

Club Records

More Matches: United States Kasey Keller ( 58)
Most minutes played: United States Kasey Keller ( 5114 )
Most goals: Fredy Montero Columbia (22 )
Templates: Fredy Montero Columbia (17 )
Shots: Fredy Montero Columbia (177 )
Yellow cards: Fredy Montero Colombia, Jamaica Tyrone Marshall ( 10)
Red Cards: United States James Riley, Jamaica Tyrone Marshall ( 2)

Visitors section

2009: 31,203 / 35,807
2010: 36,173 / 35,521
2011: 38 496 / 36 021

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