 | |||
| Nickname(s) | The Sounders, The Rave Green | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Founded | November 13, 2007 (2007-11-13)[note 1] | ||
| Stadium | Lumen Field | ||
| Capacity | 37,722[note 2] | ||
| Owner | Adrian Hanauer | ||
| General manager | Craig Waibel | ||
| Head coach | Brian Schmetzer | ||
| League | Major League Soccer | ||
| 2024 | Western Conference: 4th Overall: 7th Playoffs: Conference finals | ||
| Website | soundersfc.com | ||
 Current season | |||
Seattle Sounders FC is an American professionalsoccer club based inSeattle. The Sounders compete inMajor League Soccer (MLS) as a member of theWestern Conference. The club was established on November 13, 2007, and began play in 2009 as an MLSexpansion team. The Sounders are aphoenix club, replacing thesecond-division franchise that played in theAmerican Professional Soccer League (APSL),A-League, andUSL First Division (USL-1) from 1994 to 2008, and carrying the same name as theoriginal Sounders franchise that competed in theNorth American Soccer League (NASL) from 1974 to 1983.
The club's majority owner isAdrian Hanauer, and its minority owners arethe estate of Paul Allen,Drew Carey, and 14 families from the Seattle area. Former USL-1 Sounders coach and assistant coachBrian Schmetzer took over as head coach in July 2016 after the departure ofSigi Schmid. The Sounders play their home league matches atLumen Field, with a reduced capacity of 37,722 seats for most matches. Along with several organized groups, a 53-member marching band called "Sound Wave" supports the club at each home match. Seattle has longstanding rivalries with fellowPacific Northwest clubsPortland Timbers andVancouver Whitecaps FC, with whom it competes for theCascadia Cup.
The Sounders played their inaugural match on March 19, 2009, winning 3–0 over theNew York Red Bulls. Seattle has been among the league's most successful teams, winning theU.S. Open Cup four times, theSupporters' Shield in2014, and theMLS Cup in2016 and2019. From its MLS inception until 2022, the team qualified for theMLS Cup playoffs—formerly the longest record in league history—and competed in theCONCACAF Champions League seven times, becoming the first MLS team to win the modern version of the competition in2022. The Sounders were the first MLS team to participate in theFIFA Club World Cup.
The team set a new MLS record for average attendance in each of its first five seasons. The Sounders are ranked as one of themost valuable franchises in North America. Its former players have included U.S. internationalClint Dempsey, long-time captainOsvaldo Alonso, and all-time assist leaderNicolás Lodeiro. The team's top goalscorer isRaúl Ruidíaz, who joined the Sounders in 2018 and surpassedFredy Montero's record in 2024. Since 2024, the Sounders are affiliated with sister teamSeattle Reign FC of theNational Women's Soccer League. The Sounders also operate a players' academy and the lower-divisionTacoma Defiance, which have produced homegrown players, including forwardJordan Morris and defenderDeAndre Yedlin.
Even before the first cities in the United States were chosen to hostMajor League Soccer teams, Seattle was considered a viable location for a professional team.[2] In 1994, as the U.S. was preparing to host theFIFA World Cup, more than 30 cities were pursuing the rights to an MLS team, Seattle being among them.[3] However, despite the strong 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 inaugural MLS team were also expected to secure 10,000 assurances from fans for season tickets.[3] By the June 3, 1994, deadline for MLS team bids, Seattle's soccer organizers had secured fewer than 1,500 such assurances.[5] These low numbers were a result of competition between the ticket campaign for the MLS expansion team and for theAmerican Professional Soccer League (APSL) Sounders expansion team.[6]
In a June 14, 1994, announcement, Seattle was not included among the first seven cities to be awarded an MLS team.[2] Five more teams were to be announced later in the year, and to improve their chances this time, the city's soccer organizers began working with theUniversity of Washington to secure use ofHusky Stadium as an interim stadium while they pursued the construction of a permanent 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 season of MLS.[9]
In 1996, asSeattle Seahawks ownerPaul Allen worked with the city to build a new football stadium for his team, the potential of an MLS expansion team that could be a co-tenant helped drive public support for the effort.[10] Many of the state's voters supported the referendum to construct Seahawks Stadium because it was also expected to be a professional soccer venue.[11] While the stadium problem was being resolved, a new issue emerged. By 2000, MLS was moving away from league-operated teams to investor-operated teams, so wealthy individuals would need to step forward 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 new markets.[12] In 2004, MLS commissionerDon Garber indicated that Seattle had been "very close" to receiving the expansion team ultimately awarded toSalt Lake.Adrian Hanauer, 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 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 help of more investors willing to cover the increasing MLS franchise fees which had grown beyond $10 million.[14]
In 2007, Hanauer teamed up with Hollywood producerJoe 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 (nowLumen Field), joined the ownership group that same year, making the bid the most promising yet for Seattle.[16] The group competed with two rival bids for the rights to an MLS team in Seattle that had been launched by California-based investors.[17][18] In a press conference at theColumbia Center on November 13, 2007, it announced that Seattle had been awarded an MLS expansion team that would be owned by Hanauer, Roth, Allen, and TV personalityDrew Carey.[19][20] The announcement marked the return oftop-level soccer to Seattle for the first time since the dissolution of itsNorth American Soccer League (NASL) team in 1983. The announcement also meant that the Seattle Sounders of the USL First Division would play its final season the year before the new MLS franchise was formed.[21][22]
"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 theSpace Needle.[23] All 22,000 season ticket packages offered by the club for its inaugural season were sold,[24] giving them the most season ticket holders in MLS.[25]Sigi Schmid was introduced as the club's first head coach on December 16, 2008, after leaving theColumbus Crew following theirMLS Cup victory.[26]
Seattle Sounders FC entered MLS as the league's 15th team and played its first home match on March 19, 2009, in front of a sold-out crowd of 32,523, defeating theNew York Red Bulls 3–0.[27] During the pre-match ceremonies, the firstGolden Scarf was awarded to MLS Commissioner Don Garber.[28] Seattle was the first MLS expansion team to win its first three matches, and they did so with ashutout in each.[29] The club set a state record for attendance at a soccer match on August 5, 2009, when 66,848 attended afriendly match withFC Barcelona,[30] a record which was later broken when they hostedManchester United in front of 67,052 fans,[31] and later in the 2019 MLS Cup againstToronto FC with 69,274 in attendance.
On September 2, 2009, the Sounders became the second MLS expansion team in league history (Chicago was the first) to win theU.S. Open Cup tournament in its first season.[32] They did so by defeatingD.C. United 2–1 on the road atRFK Stadium. In winning the U.S. Open Cup tournament, they qualified for the preliminary round of the2010–11 CONCACAF Champions League.[32]
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 berth with a come-from-behind victory over theKansas City Wizards 3–2 at Kansas City.[33] 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.[34] Its inaugural season came to an end in the2009 MLS Cup Playoffs with a loss in the conference semifinals to theHouston Dynamo by a 1–0 aggregate score in atwo-legged series.[35] 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 theStarfire Sports Complex) were sold out.[36]
Before the first match of the Sounders'second season, the club increased the number of season ticket holders to 32,000.[37] The first match of the season was played at Qwest Field, with Seattle hosting a new MLS expansion team, thePhiladelphia Union. The Sounders won 2–0 on goals from Brad Evans and Fredy Montero. However, Seattle followed the win 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 last 15 matches, and clinched a playoff berth for the second consecutive year with a 2–1 win on October 10, 2010, at Kansas City.[38] They finished the season with 14 wins, 10 losses, and 6 ties. In the playoffs, the Sounders were eliminated in the conference semifinals by theLos Angeles Galaxy on a 3–1 aggregate score.[39] The club broke its own single-season attendance record, averaging 36,173 fans per match,[40] and again sold out every league match.[41]
The Sounders also competed in two additional 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, beatingIsidro Metapán 2–1 on aggregate, but was eliminated in the group stage.[42] In the U.S. Open Cup, Seattle won matches at Portland and at home against the Los Angeles Galaxy andChivas USA before reaching the final, which they hosted at Qwest Field against theColumbus Crew. On October 5, 2010, Seattle won theU.S. Open Cup final, 2–1, becoming the first team since 1983 to repeat as U.S. Open Cup champions.[43] The final was played in front of a U.S. Open Cup record crowd of 31,311,[44] and the victory ensured Seattle's return to theChampions League in 2011.[45]
The Sounders began the2011 season by hosting the opening match of the MLS season for the third straight year, losing 1–0 to the Los Angeles Galaxy.[46][47] The season also saw the entrance of thePortland Timbers andVancouver Whitecaps FC into MLS, allowing for the revival of theCascadia Cup;[48] the Sounders won the cup with an unbeaten record against both clubs.[49] On April 22, 2011, in a match against theColorado Rapids, Seattle's star midfielderSteve Zakuani suffered a broken leg in a challenge by the Rapids'Brian Mullan, which ended his season.[50] Despite setbacks and a slow start to the season (the club won just 3 of its first 10 matches), the Sounders went on to finish the season with the second-best record in the league at 18 wins, 9 draws, 7 losses, and qualified for the playoffs for a third consecutive year.[51] On October 4, 2011, Seattle won itsthird consecutive U.S. Open Cup, becoming the first club to do so in 42 years, as they defeated the Chicago Fire 2–0 in front of another tournament record crowd of 35,615 at CenturyLink Field.[52] In theMLS playoffs, Seattle lost its Western Conference semifinal series 3–2 on aggregate toReal Salt Lake. The club lost the first leg 3–0 in Salt Lake, and could only net two goals in the second leg at home.[53]
Sounders midfielderMauro Rosales was recognized by the league as the 2011 Newcomer of the Year.[54] In 2011, Seattle again broke its own league record for average attendance at 38,496. On October 15, 2011, the club hosted the third-largest crowd ever for a single MLS match, as 64,140 people attended the final regular season home match against the San Jose Earthquakes, billed as a sendoff for goalkeeper Kasey Keller.[55] In the2011–12 CONCACAF Champions League, Seattle became only the second MLS team in history to win a competitive match in Mexico, defeatingC.F. Monterrey 1–0 on August 23, 2011.[56] The club finished second in its group and advanced to the quarterfinals, losing 7–3 on aggregate to eventual runners-upSantos Laguna after taking a 2–1 lead at home and losing 6–1 in Mexico.[57][58]
Seattle opened the2012 season with a run of five straight wins in April and May,[59] 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 rehabilitation, against the Colorado Rapids.[60] Seattle reached theU.S. Open Cup Final for the fourth consecutive year, becoming the first team to do so since 1937,[61] but lost toSporting Kansas City in a penalty shootout after a 1–1 draw.[62] In Champions League group play, the team advanced to the knockout round with four straight wins, each including a goal fromSammy Ochoa.[63] The Sounders finished third in the Western Conference and qualified for the playoffs, where they advanced out of the first round for the first time in the team's history.[64] In the Conference Championship, Seattle fell 3–0 to Los Angeles in the first leg 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 anaway goal.[65] The 2012 season ended without a major trophy for the Sounders, for the first time in their MLS history, and the team failed to qualify for the2013–14 CONCACAF Champions League.[66] The top scorer in league play was 28-year-old strikerEddie Johnson, who scored 14 goals in his first season with the club; he earnedComeback Player of the Year honors for his performance, which came after an unsuccessful stint with multiple European clubs.[67]
During the 2013 preseason, the Sounders signed their firsthomegrown player, right backDeAndre Yedlin,[68] veteran defenderDjimi Traoré,[69] and forwardObafemi Martins, who paid hisrelease clause to his Spanish club.[70] Longtime forward Fredy Montero left Seattle on loan to Colombian clubMillonarios F.C. in January and, by July, was loaned toSporting CP in Portugal with an option to buy; Montero was sold permanently to Sporting in 2014.[71][72] The Sounders began the2013 season with theknockout round of the 2012–13 Champions League, facing Mexican clubTigres UANL in the quarterfinals. After losing 1–0 in the away leg and conceding anaway goal in the return leg, the Sounders scored three unanswered goals in the second half to win 3–1 and advance to the semifinals. With the win, the Sounders became the first MLS team to eliminate a Mexican team in the knockout stage of CONCACAF Champions League.[73] Seattle once again played Santos Laguna in the semifinal, but failed to advance after losing 1–0 at home and drawing 1–1 inTorreón.[74] The Sounders continued their five-year streak of setting a new MLS average attendance record, reaching 44,038 in 2013.[75]
The Sounders began the MLS season with a run of five matches without a win, the worst start in the team's history, due to injuries to key players.[76] The Sounders failed to advance in the U.S. Open Cup after losing to second-divisionTampa Bay Rowdies in the third round, marking the end of the team's seven-year streak of appearances in the later rounds.[77] As players returned to the team, Seattle improved to a six-win, four-loss record in 14 matches by late June.[78] In August 2013, the Sounders completed the signing ofU.S. national team captainClint Dempsey fromTottenham Hotspur for $9 million, the largest transfer deal in the league's history, and a record salary of $32 million over four years.[79] The team's continued run of wins put them into Supporters' Shield contention in September, coming within one point of the league-leading Red Bulls,[80] but fell to fourth place in the conference after a run of four straight losses in October.[81][82] The Sounders beat the Colorado Rapids 2–0 in the knockout round, and drew rivals Portland in the conference semifinal.[83] 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.[84]
The Sounders continued to break the MLS average attendance record for the fourth and fifth consecutive year in 2012 and 2013, with an average of 43,144 and 44,038, respectively.[85] The higher attendances were helped by the opening of additional sections in the Hawks' Nest,[86] as well as the opening of the upper deck of CenturyLink Field for select regular matches.[87] The August 25, 2013, home match against the Portland Timbers drew a crowd of 67,385, the second-largest standalone attendance in league history.[88]
After a disappointing 2013 season, the Sounders replaced starting goalkeeper Michael Gspurning with Toronto'sStefan Frei. Several veteran players, including Eddie Johnson, Patrick Ianni, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Mauro Rosales, and Steve Zakuani, left the club as part of a major restructure;Brad Evans was named as club captain.[89]Marco Pappa, an experienced MLS player and Guatemalan international, was added to the team. Homegrown playerDeAndre Yedlin was transferred toTottenham Hotspur but was loaned back to Seattle until the end of the MLS season.[90]
The Sounders advanced to the2014 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final and defeated thePhiladelphia Union inextra 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 firstSupporters' Shield.[91]
Entering the playoffs as the top seed, Seattle defeated FC Dallas on theaway goals rule and advanced to the Western Conference Championship to face the LA Galaxy once again. The Sounders tied the Galaxy onaggregate 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.[92]
FormerReal Salt Lake general managerGarth Lagerwey was hired by the club in January 2015, replacing Adrian Hanauer.[93] Seattle was unable to repeat their successes in the 2014 season. The season started with several key wins that saw the team at the top of the Western Conference by June.[94] During a2015 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 pocketbook, though he would be called away for the2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup.[95][96]
The injury and suspension of the team's main attacking duo led to poor performances over the summer, with Seattle winning only one match in nine games. By late August, Martins had recovered and led the team to an eight-match unbeaten streak to secure a playoff spot, finishing fourth in the Western Conference. The Sounders had also successfully topped their group in the2015–16 CONCACAF Champions League, beating the Vancouver Whitecaps andClub Deportivo Olimpia, with two wins, one draw, and one loss.[97]Paraguayan internationalNelson Haedo Valdez was signed as the club's newestDesignated Player, and was joined by fellow international signingsAndreas Ivanschitz andRomán Torres in August 2015;[98]Erik Friberg also returned to the club after his stint in Europe.[99]
During the playoff's opening 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 previous playoff matchups.[100] The playoff run would end in the next round, the Western Conference semifinals against FC Dallas, during apenalty shootout after both teams were tied onaggregate score afterextra time inFrisco, Texas.[101][102] In November 2015, Adrian Hanauer was made majority owner of the club, succeeding Joe Roth.[103] The club set a new attendance record during the 2015 season, with an average attendance of 44,247.[104]
Prior to the 2016 season, Obafemi Martins abruptly left the club to sign withShanghai Greenland Shenhua F.C. in theChinese Super League,[105] a move that would hamper the Sounders' offense during the season. The move was mitigated somewhat by the signing of homegrown productJordan Morris.[106] Lagerwey also tradedMarco Pappa andLamar Neagle to other clubs in the offseason.[107]
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 shot,[108] Schmid left the club on mutual terms and was replaced by long-time assistant coachBrian Schmetzer.[109][110] The same day, the club announced their signing of Uruguayan midfielderNicolás Lodeiro on a designated player contract,[111] as well as the return of former designated playerÁlvaro Fernández.[112] Despite the sluggish start as well as the loss of midfielderClint Dempsey, who was forced in August to stop playing after evaluations for an irregular heartbeat,[113] the Sounders rose from ninth place to fourth place in the Western Conference and qualified for the2016 MLS Cup Playoffs, with eight wins, two losses, and four draws. Schmetzer was named as permanent head coach as a result.[114]
At the end of the regular season, Jordan Morris was named theMLS Rookie of the Year after scoring the most goals of any American rookie in MLS (12),[115] and Nicolás Lodeiro was namedMLS Newcomer of the Year for his 4 goals and 8 assists in 13 appearances.[116] The Sounders advanced from the Knockout Round of the playoffs through a 1–0 win overSporting Kansas City, and beatFC Dallas 4–2 on aggregate to return to the Conference Final.[117][118] The Sounders then defeated theColorado Rapids 3–1 on aggregate in the final, clinching a spot in their first-ever MLS Cup.[119] On December 10, 2016, the Sounders defeatedToronto FC 5–4 in apenalty shootout, to winMLS Cup 2016, their first MLS championship in franchise history, going the whole match without a shot on goal.[120] The team's performance was called a "cinderella season" and hailed as one of the most dramatic MLS seasons to date.[121]
The Sounders began their title defense with the signings of two academy graduates and several veteran players from MLS and abroad.[122] Dempsey also returned from his hiatus and scored in his first match before being called up to the U.S. national team for World Cup qualification.[123] The season began with only five wins in the first 17 matches, but was followed by a 13-match unbeaten streak and additional wins to clinch a second-place spot in the Western Conference.[124][125][126] In the playoffs, the Sounders beat the Vancouver Whitecaps and Houston Dynamo to win the Western Conference and return to theMLS Cup, once again facing Toronto at BMO Field.[127] Seattle lost 2–0 to Toronto, who clinched the first domestictreble in MLS history.[128]
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 championsC.D. Guadalajara. During the Round of 16, Jordan Morris injured hisACL and was deemed unfit to play for the rest of the season.[129] Without Morris and several injured starting players, the Sounders lost nine of their first 15 matches and were placed bottom of the Western Conference by June. The club signed a new Designated Player, Peruvian forwardRaúl Ruidíaz, that month and began a long unbeaten streak that resulted in a playoff position in late August.[130][131]
On September 1, the club broke the MLS record for most consecutive wins in the post-shootout era, having won eight consecutive matches. They then extended that win streak to nine games as they beat Vancouver 2–1 on September 15, before eventually losing to the Philadelphia Union on September 19.[132] 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.[133] Minority owner Paul Allen died from complications related tonon-Hodgkin lymphoma on October 15, 2018, leaving his stake in the Sounders to an estate executed by his sisterJody Allen.[134] Seattle then faced the Portland Timbers in the Conference Semifinals, losing the away leg 2–1 and winning the home leg 3–2 to tie the series on aggregate after extra time. In the ensuing penalty shootout, Portland won 4–2; the home leg is considered to be one of the best playoff matches in league history due to its dramatic finish.[135][136]
The 2019 season began with the loss of team captain and inaugural season playerOsvaldo Alonso, who was released into free agency and signed withMinnesota United FC before the season began.[137] DefenderChad Marshall, who had joined in 2014, announced his retirement from professional soccer on May 22, leaving unexpectedly mid-way through the season.[138] Despite the loss of these two players, in addition to the suspension ofRomán Torres for ten matches for testing positive for aperformance-enhancing substance in August,[139] the Sounders finished 2nd in the Western Conference and 4th in the overall league table. They qualified for a berth in the 2020 CONCACAF Champions League and earned a record 11th appearance in the MLS Cup Playoffs, which would use single-elimination matches for the first time in league history.[140][141]
The Sounders defeated FC Dallas 4–3 in the first round with a hat-trick from Jordan Morris, who had been named MLS Comeback Player of the Year following his return from an ACL tear.[142] The team then won against Real Salt Lake at home and traveled away to play in the Conference Finals against Supporters' Shield winners Los Angeles FC, where they won 3–1.[143][144] Seattle hosted theMLS Cup final against Toronto FC, playing them for the third time in four years, and won 3–1 to clinch their second championship. The match drew an attendance of 69,274, setting records for the team and any sporting event at CenturyLink Field.[145]
Seattle opened the 2020 season with theCONCACAF Champions League, where they lost in the round of 16 toC.D. Olimpia in apenalty shootout after a 4–4 aggregate draw.[146] The Sounders played two regular season matches at home before MLS suspended all activities on March 12, 2020, due to the worseningCOVID-19 pandemic, which had been affecting the Seattle area for several weeks.[147] The league returned in theMLS is Back Tournament, played in theOrlando area, and the Sounders earned a 1–1–1 record in group play. They advanced to the round of 16, where they lost 4–1 to Los Angeles FC.[148] The team then resumed hosting matches withno spectators at CenturyLink Field (renamed Lumen Field near the end of the season) and primarily played against West Coast teams due to limited travel.[149][150]
The Sounders cancelled an away match against the LA Galaxy in August to join amulti-sport boycott to protest racial injustice.[151] They later set a franchise record for largest margin of victory with a 7–1 home win against the San Jose Earthquakes on September 10.[152] The team clinched their 12th consecutive playoff berth and finished second in the Western Conference.[153] In the playoffs, the Sounders defeated Los Angeles FC and FC Dallas to host Minnesota United FC in the Western Conference Final.[154] Minnesota took a 2–0 lead in the second half, but Seattle responded with three goals in the final 18 minutes to complete a comeback victory and secure a fourth MLS Cup appearance in five years.[155] The Sounders faced the Columbus Crew in the2020 MLS Cup final and lost 3–0 in front of 1,500 spectators atMapfre Stadium on December 12—the latest calendar date to host a league match.[156]
Seattle opened the 2021 season with a 13-match unbeaten streak, setting a new MLS record in the process, despite missing Nicolas Lodeiro, Jordan Morris, Stefan Frei, and Raul Ruidiaz to long-term injuries. Manager Brian Schmetzer switched to a 3–5–2 formation that led to only eight conceded goals during the streak.[157] The Sounders retained the Cascadia Cup with a 2–1–1 record, including a 6–2 away victory over the Portland Timbers.[158][159] The team also won twice against Mexican clubs UANL and Santos Laguna in the2021 Leagues Cup and advanced to the final, where they lost 3–2 toClub León inLas Vegas.[160] Seattle maintained their first-place position in the Western Conference despite several losses in the summer, but fell into a winless streak over the final six matches of the season to finish second in the West. They qualified for the playoffs but were eliminated in the first round by Real Salt Lake in a penalty shootout.[161]
The team qualified for the2022 CONCACAF Champions League as the best-performing MLS club without their own berth, replacing the slot reserved for the cancelled U.S. Open Cup.[162] In the round of 16, the Sounders were held to a scoreless draw toF.C. Motagua in Honduras but defeated them 5–0 in the second leg at home.[163] Seattle then faced Club León in a rematch of the Leagues Cup Final, winning 3–0 at home in the first leg and drawing 1–1 in the second leg to advance to the semifinals.[164] The team playedMLS Cup 2021 championsNew York City FC in the semifinals, winning 3–1 at home in the first leg and drawing 1–1 in the second leg to advance 4–2 on aggregate. The Sounders advanced to their firstChampions League final and faced Mexican clubUNAM, who hosted the first leg.[165] The two teams drew 2–2 and returned to Seattle, where the Sounders won 3–0 in front of 68,741, setting a competition attendance record. The Sounders became the first MLS club to win the CONCACAF Champions League with their 5–2 aggregate victory.[166] As CONCACAF champions, Seattle became the first MLS club to participate in theFIFA Club World Cup.[167]
The Sounders entered the U.S. Open Cup in the Round of 32 and drew 2–2 with theSan Jose Earthquakes. The ensuing penalty shootout took 11 rounds and was won 10–9 by San Jose.[168] The club resumed league play, where they had fallen to 13th place in the Western Conference, and used rotated lineups to balance a congested schedule; by early July, they had improved to fourth in the West.[169] Further injuries and players missing due to national team call-ups and suspensions caused the team to lose most of their matches over the following two months.[170] With a loss to Sporting Kansas City on the penultimate matchday of the season, the Sounders were eliminated from playoff contention. This marked the first time the club had failed to qualify for the MLS Cup Playoffs and ended a 13-year streak—the longest active streak in MLS and second-longest in major North American sports.[171]
On November 22, 2022, Lagerwey departed the club after a seven-year tenure to assume the role of President and CEO atAtlanta United FC.[172] The Sounders announced their appointment ofCraig Waibel as the club's new general manager and Chief Soccer Officer on November 30. He had been hired by the club in 2021 to serve as sporting director.[173] The team began their 2023 preseason in Seattle before a training camp inMarbella, Spain, to prepare for the2022 FIFA Club World Cup in Morocco. The Sounders entered in the second round against Egypt'sAl Ahly, the runners-up in the2021–22 CAF Champions League, and lost 1–0 to a late goal.[174] The club also qualified for theexpanded 2025 edition of the tournament due to their 2022 CONCACAF Champions League title.[175]
Ruidíaz became the top goalscorer in the team's MLS history on March 23, 2024, surpassing the 79-goal record set byFredy Montero.[176]
The original badge design resembles aheraldic shield, and consists of two layers which represent "the partnership between the ownership, the community, the players and the fans". The logo incorporates theSpace Needle, an internationally recognized Seattle landmark. The official team colors are Sounder Blue, signifying the waters ofPuget Sound; Rave Green, representing the forests of thePacific Northwest; and Cascade Shale, representing theCascade Range to the east of Seattle.[177] Fans chose a name for the team in an online poll held between March 27 and 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.[178] Despite the names having been selected through fan research and internal committees, the omission of the traditional Sounders name embittered many in the Seattle community.[179][180]
In response to the backlash, the team added a fourthwrite-in option for the team name, allowing for any name to be suggested on the ballot.[181] 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".[182] Upon announcing the name of the club, 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."[183] TheNASL team was originally named in a public contest, with "Sounders" announced as the winner on January 22, 1974.[184]
The Sounders have usually played in a rave green primary jersey with varying colors and designs for their secondary and third kits.[185] The club's third kits in early years used bright colors, such as "electricity yellow" andcyan, but were later replaced with more muted colors; they primarily saw use during non-league matches.[186][187] Athrowback kit was introduced as a secondary jersey in 2017 and features the NASL Sounders logo and a design inspired by white jerseys used by the pre-MLS incarnations of the team.[185] The secondary jersey was changed in 2019 to a black-and-pink design inspired by a colorfulsunset during a 2014 match against the Portland Timbers.[188] It was followed in 2021 by a dark purple jersey with orange and yellow accents to evoke the style of Seattle musicianJimi Hendrix; the jersey was designed in partnership with his family and features Hendrix's signature.[189] An updated secondary kit inspired by martial artist and actorBruce Lee—who lived in Seattle and is buried in the city—was released in 2023, the 50th anniversary of his death. The jersey is primarily red with a stylized dragon on the front and includes yellow and black accents as well as the symbols ofJeet Kune Do and Lee's signature.[190]
A new logo and brand design was unveiled on September 26, 2023, ahead of the 2024 season—the club's 50th anniversary. It used colors and elements from previous Sounders logos around a simplified version of the shield, which contained the Space Needle and omitted all text except for 1974, the year of the club's founding.[191][192] A set of secondary and tertiary logos were also added, including anorca, the "SFC" wordmark, and acarnation—which are traditionally given by Sounders players to fans at the end of the final home match of the season.[192][193] An updated wordmark for the Sounders incorporates a wave-like element to reference the 1974 logo.[192] The rebrand was developed by the club and design consultants through fan surveys and input from community members.[194] The first home jersey under the rebrand, named the Anniversary Kit, was unveiled ahead of the 2024 season and features aquapinstripes on a green background; several elements were inspired by jerseys from earlier incarnations of the Sounders.[195] The 2025 secondary jersey, named the "Salish Sea Kit", uses shades of blue that are arranged in triangularSalish weaving patterns designed in collaboration with three artists from Coast Salish tribes. The jersey includes theSouthern Lushootseed phrasex̌ax̌aʔ ti qʷuʔ and its English translation ("water is sacred") on the front and a stylizedorca tail on the back.[196]
The team's ownership revealed the first Sounders jersey on May 28, 2008, and announcedMicrosoft as the team's sponsor in a five-year deal worth approximately $20 million.[197] As part of the agreement,Xbox branding appeared on the front of the Sounders' jerseys and throughout the stadium, beginning with theXbox 360 andXbox Live and later replaced with theXbox One (simply shown as "XBOX").[198] Despite hiring a consultant to explore other jersey partnerships in 2012,[199] the Microsoft sponsorship was repeatedly extended with a one-year contract in 2013, for the following season, and 2014, lasting through the end of the 2016 season.[200][201] The second extension came amid rumors thatEmirates was interested in a sponsorship as part of their marketing campaign in Seattle.[202] The jersey has been modified several times to include promotions for Xbox games, includingHalo 5 andGears of War 4.[203][204]
The Sounders contracted talent firmWME-IMG to explore new jersey sponsorship and other advertising opportunities in 2017, shortly before the expiration of the Microsoft contract.[205] On January 17, 2019, the team announced that Seattle-based online retailerZulily would become the jersey sponsor in a multiyear jersey deal at an undisclosed fee. Zulily also took over sponsorship of the NWSL'sSeattle Reign, but naming rights to the pitch at CenturyLink Field was not part of the contract.[206][207] The club's first sleeve patch sponsor,WaFd Bank, was announced in July 2020 ahead of theMLS is Back Tournament.[208] In 2021, the Sounders announced a multi-year partnership with thePuyallup Tribe of Indians to sponsor the right sleeve on kits, with theEmerald Queen Casino on primary kits and the tribe's emblem on secondary kits.[209]
Providence Health & Services was announced as the club's new jersey sponsor at a Renton event on January 20, 2023. The 10-year sponsorship was brokered byOak View Group and signed for an undisclosed amount.[210][211] The choice of Providence as sponsor was criticized by fans and several organizations, including the Emerald City Supporters and the Sounders FC Alliance Council, due to the healthcare system's policies on abortion, transgender care, and treatment of low-income patients.[212]
| Period | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor | Sleeve sponsor |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009–2018 | Adidas | Xbox | — |
| 2019 | Zulily | ||
| 2020 | WaFd Bank | ||
| 2021–2022 | Emerald Queen Casino | ||
| 2023–present | Providence |
Seattle Sounders FC plays home matches at Lumen Field in Seattle, also home to theSeattle Seahawks.[213][214] Former Sounders minority owner, the late Paul Allen, was also the owner of the Seahawks, who have a 30-year lease on CenturyLink Field.[215] Because of this relationship, the Sounders made use of Lumen Field without paying rent.[216] 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.[217] For Sounders matches, thefield was called "The Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field" as part of the sponsorship deal with Microsoft from 2009 to 2018.[218] The field was renamed in 2022 to the "Emerald Queen Casino Pitch at Lumen Field".[219]
Lumen Field is a 69,000-seat stadium designed for both teams.[214] The Sounders artificially limit the stadium's capacity for MLS matches, with certain seating sections covered with tarpaulins to provide "a more intimate atmosphere". However, the club does open the entire stadium for international friendly matches[213][220] and some league matches.[221] The team's original business plan expected only 12,000 tickets per game.[222] Based on high initial demand, capacity for the stadium was limited to 24,500 for the beginning of the inaugural 2009 season.[213] However, owing to continued high demand, capacity has been increased multiple times,[220][223] to 38,500 for the 2012 season[224] and to 39,115 for the 2015 season and 37,722 in 2019.[1][225]
The Sounders have opened additional sections at Lumen Field for international friendlies, MLS Cup finals, and select regular season matches. The final home match of the 2011 season, coinciding with the retirement of goalkeeper Kasey Keller, drew 64,140 spectators and was the first Sounders regular season match to open the stadium to full capacity.[226] The following season had three full-capacity matches, including a fixture against the Portland Timbers in October with 66,452 spectators, the second-largest stand-alone attendance in MLS history.[227] The record was surpassed during the following year's home match against the Portland Timbers in August with 67,385 in attendance.[228] The Sounders set their attendance record with MLS Cup 2019, which was played in front of 69,274 at Lumen Field—surpassing all other sporting events in the stadium's history.[229]
The 2020 season was suspended after two matches due to theCOVID-19 pandemic, after which the Sounders played home matchesbehind closed doors. The following season saw capacity gradually increase from 7,000 in March to normal capacity in June, along with required proof of vaccination or a negativeCOVID-19 test to comply with state guidelines.[230] The largest attendance during the pandemic era came during adoubleheader withOL Reign against their respective Portland opponents in August 2021, which drew 45,737 people for the MLS fixture.[231]
While the Sounders currently play onFieldTurf, Lumen Field has previously had temporary natural grass installed for international soccer events.[232][233] In 2012, an updated FieldTurf surface was installed and certified by FIFA with a 2-star quality rating, the highest possible rating.[234] If an MLS rule change requires natural grass playing surfaces, the field will be permanently replaced with natural grass.[235] A new turf surface, based on the Revolution 360 brand developed by FieldTurf, was installed in early 2016 as part of the extended lease after noticeable wear on the former surface.[217][236]
The team's training facilities and offices were located at theStarfire Sports Complex inTukwila from 2008 to 2024.[237][238] Starfire remains used to host U.S. Open Cup matches due to its smaller size. Sounders representatives have said they prefer the more intimate atmosphere for smaller cup matches.[239] Another alternate venue in the area isT-Mobile Park (formerly Safeco Field), a baseball stadium adjacent to Lumen Field; it was considered for a potential2018 CONCACAF Champions League match if the Sounders had advanced to the semifinals due to a scheduling conflict with another event at Lumen Field.[240] A new training facility, named theProvidence Swedish Performance Center & Clubhouse, opened in February 2024 at anoffice park inRenton at the site of the formerLongacres horse racetrack.[237][241] It was announced in 2022 and features 300,000 square feet (28,000 m2) of office space, four training fields, and a public clubhouse.[242] Providence was announced as the naming rights sponsor for the facility in April 2024.[243]
The Sounders FC Alliance was established at the request of minority ownerDrew Carey, who was named its chairman.[244] Based on the fan association at FC Barcelona, members of the Alliance have the ability to vote on the removal of the general manager and on other 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 meeting and other team perks. Members may also 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 manager Adrian Hanauer was held in late 2012. After 13,775 votes registered, Hanauer was retained by the Alliance.[245]
Carey also requested that the Sounders have their own marching band, the first of its kind in MLS.[246] This led to the creation of Sound Wave, a 53-member marching band consisting of brass and marching percussion.[247] The band plays music from multiple genres, such as Latin, rock and pop,[247] and sits on the north end of Lumen Field.[248] The March to the Match, in which fans march fromOccidental Park to Lumen Field before each home match, has been accompanied by Sound Wave.[249] The club'sfight song is "Salute to the Olympians" byHenry Mancini, which had been adopted by the NASL Sounders in 1974 and later used by the USL Sounders.[250][251]
Besides the Alliance, there are four recognized, independentsupporters groups for the Sounders.[252]Emerald City Supporters (ECS), which formed in 2005 to support the USL Sounders, is the largest supporter group and sits in the south end of the stadium (nicknamed the "Brougham End")[253] in sections 121–123.[254] The Eastside Supporters, established in 2010 to recognize fans from theEastside region, are located in section 150.[252]Gorilla FC, ananti-fascist supporters group that fundraises for charitable causes in the Puget Sound region, is based in section 120.[255][256] The North End Faithful sit in the north end of the stadium.[257]
TheSeattle–Portland andSeattle–Vancouver rivalries formed among the respective NASL teams in the mid-1970s and carried on through to the USL and MLS. In 2004, the fan-basedCascadia Cup was created to formalize the competition between the Seattle,Portland, andVancouver USL teams.[258] The trophy is exchanged by the three teams' supporters groups and is based on the results of certain regular season matches.[259] 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.[260][261]
The fan-createdHeritage Cup competition with theSan Jose Earthquakes began in the 2009 MLS season. MLS teams that carry on the names of their NASL predecessors are eligible to compete, but the Timbers and Whitecaps declined to participate.[262] The winner is determined by league results over the final two matches in regular season play, followed by aggregate score if teams are tied.[263][264] The rivalry cup's trophy was commissioned by the Soccer Silicon Valley Community Foundation and designed by a San Jose Earthquakes fan in collaboration with Sounders supporters.[263]
Although there is no official rivalry between the Sounders andLos Angeles Galaxy, the two teams have met several times in the MLS Cup Playoffs.[265] The relationship between former head coachesBruce Arena and Sigi Schmid, the two most successful in league history, also played a factor in the clubs' rivalry.[266] Schmid later served as the Galaxy's head coach from 2017 to 2018, shortly after his departure from the Sounders.[267]
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The ownership group of the club is composed of three owners and an ownership group composed of 17 families. The majority owner isAdrian Hanauer, the former owner of the now defunct USL-1 team Seattle Sounders. Independent minority owners include the estate ofPaul Allen, Microsoft co-founder and owner of the Seattle Seahawks and Portland Trail Blazers, owned byJody Allen; andDrew Carey, comedian and game show host.[268]Seattle Reign FC of theNational Women's Soccer League has been owned by the Sounders andthe Carlyle Group since 2024;[269] Hanauer and his mother Lenore were previously minority owners of the team from 2019 to 2020, though there was no affiliation between the two clubs.[270][271] 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 financial operations.[222] This arrangement ended on April 30, 2014, with the Sounders becoming a fully independent business operation.[272]
Joe Roth was the majority owner from 2007 to 2015, when he ceded the role to Hanauer, who was replaced as general manager earlier that year.[273] Roth departed the club's ownership group in 2019.[274] He was replaced by Seattle Futbol Club LLC, formed by 11 families with ties to the Seattle area including formerMicrosoft executiveTerry 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.[274][275] Myerson arranged for the investment through his connections and negotiations that took 15 months to complete. The expanded ownership group will have an executive board to decide on club matters.[275] Peter Tomozawa and Donna LeDuc joined the new minority ownership group shortly afterwards, with Tomozawa taking over as president of business operations.[276] In October 2020,Seattle Kraken team presidentTod Leiweke and his wife, Tara, were announced as additional part-owners of the team.[277] Retired baseball playerKen Griffey Jr. and his wife, Melissa, also joined the ownership group the following month.[278] The team gained three additional part-owners in August 2023, comprising the families ofAmazon executive Adam Selipsky,system integration consultant Rick Cantu, and real estate developer Jay Stein.[279]
Brian Schmetzer is the Sounders' current head coach. He was promoted to interim head coach from his role as assistant coach afterSigi Schmid parted ways with the club on mutual terms in July 2016.[109] Schmetzer was made permanent head coach in November 2016, following the team's qualification for that year's playoffs.[280] The club's assistant coaches arePreki,Freddy Juarez, andAndy Rose;[281][282] until 2021, the other assistant coaches under Schmetzer wereGonzalo Pineda (now head coach ofAtlanta United FC) andDjimi Traoré.[283] Tom Dutra was hired in 2008 as the club's goalkeeper coach.[284][285]
Garth Lagerwey was hired fromReal Salt Lake in January 2015 as the club'sgeneral manager and President of Soccer, replacing Adrian Hanauer.[93] He left the club in November 2022 and was replaced byCraig Waibel, another former member of Real Salt Lake's staff.[172][173] Prior to his appointment, Waibel was serving as the club's technical director, having replaced former MLS player andEverett nativeChris Henderson in January 2021; Henderson had served in the role from January 24, 2009, until he left the club to joinInter Miami CF.[286][287] Former Sounders defenderTaylor Graham was hired as the club's Vice President of Business Operations in 2012,[288] replacing longtime Seattle Seahawks executive Gary Wright.[289] Tacoma nativeHugh Weber was hired as the club's President of Business Operations in February 2023, replacing Tomozawa, who was named CEO of Seattle's organizing committee for the2026 FIFA World Cup;[290][291] Tomozawa kept his ownership stake in the club despite his departure from club operations.[292]
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, as well as making the playoffs in its inaugural season.[293][294] Former Seahawks and Sounders CEO Tod Leiweke was recognized by the Puget Sound Business Journal as the newspaper's 2009 Executive of the Year.[295] Gary Wright was named MLS Executive of the Year in 2009.[296] In 2012, he was named Seattle Sports Star Executive of the Year.[297]
A 2015 study byForbes ranked the Sounders number one in the league in terms of annual revenues ($50 million) and operating income ($10 million). Consequently, the Sounders were also ranked as the most valuable franchise ($245 million) in MLS – a 717% increase over the expansion fee it paid to join the league.[298] The financial success of the team is driven in large part by their high attendance figures and local popularity.[298] In 2019, the club announced that they would becomecarbon neutral by reducing emissions and purchasing offsets. They were the first professional soccer team in North America to make a commitment to carbon neutrality.[299]
The Sounders organization announced in 2014 that it would field a second-divisionreserve team in theUnited Soccer League, managed by the team and partially owned by members of a fan-owned group.[300] The team, initially namedSeattle Sounders FC 2 (S2), began play at theStarfire Sports Complex in 2015, under the management of former assistant coachEzra Hendrickson.[301] In 2017, the Sounders announced that the team would move toCheney Stadium inTacoma, with business operations transferred to theTacoma Rainiers baseball club, ahead of a planned rebrand andsoccer-specific stadium that had been planned to open in 2020.[302][303] The team was renamed theTacoma Defiance ahead of the2019 season and began playing more matches in Tacoma.[304] They moved toMLS Next Pro, a new reserve league for MLS teams, in 2022 following the end of the USL Championship's affiliation agreement.[305]
The Sounders established their affiliatedacademy team in 2010, and hired managerDick McCormick and technical directorDarren Sawatzky to develop local players.[306] The academy fields teams in four age levels in theU.S. Soccer Development Academy system,[307] and is affiliated with youth clubs in Washington, North Carolina, and Central California.[308][309] Several academy products have been signed by the Sounders under the MLSHomegrown Player Rule, includingDeAndre Yedlin,Sean Okoli,Jordan Morris, andHenry Wingo.[310]
In January 2012, the Sounders announced a partnership for the Tacoma Tide, an amateur team in theUSL Premier Development League, to rebrand asSeattle Sounders FC U-23 and appointDarren Sawatzky as head coach.[311] This team would field former academy players during their summers off from university teams.[312] This branding agreement was terminated by the Sounders in January 2020.[313]
From 2000 until 2020, the Sounders had a licensing agreement with an amateur women's team,Seattle Sounders Women, that first played at Memorial Stadium and then moved to the Starfire Sports Complex.[314][315] The team was sold to the Tacoma Tides ownership group in 2006, but retained the Sounders name. This agreement was kept after the men's team joined MLS and was terminated by the Sounders in January 2020, leading the women's side to join the umbrella of amateur organization Sound FC.[316] Abeach soccer team, alsonamed the Sounders, was fielded for the 2011 and 2012 editions of theMundialito de Clubes.[317][318]
In June 2024, the Sounders announced their acquisition ofNational Women's Soccer League sideSeattle Reign FC as managing partner alongside the Carlyle Group. The front office for the Reign will move to Longacres and share facilities with the Sounders.[269]
Beginning with the 2023 season, all MLS matches would be streamed worldwide byApple onMLS Season Pass with most matches behind apaywall and some available for free. The league-wide deal replaces existing television and streaming contracts, including local partnerships for the Sounders and national broadcasts on linear and cable television.[319]
From 2014 to 2022, television rights in English for regionally-broadcast matches were held byFoxowned-and-operated stationKCPQ and sister stationKZJO within the Seattle market. English television broadcasts were called byKeith Costigan alongside former Sounders goalkeeperKasey Keller for color commentary and former Sounders midfielderSteve Zakuani for analysis.[320] Previously, matches aired onKING-TV andKONG from 2009 to 2013.[321] Matches were televised in Spanish onUnivision stationKUNS, anchored by Jaime Mendez with analysts Diego Arrioja andJhon Kennedy Hurtado.[322][323] In 2018, the team renewed its agreements with KCPQ and KZJO; in addition, the team announced a new streaming deal withYouTube TV for exclusive rights to stream the team's matches within Washington state. This replaced a previous syndication deal withRoot Sports Northwest.[324] In 2020, the team switched its streaming rights toAmazon Prime Video.[325]
On radio, Sounders matches are called in English on950 KJR AM byDanny Jackson with analysis fromBrad Evans.[326] Prior to the 2023 season, the commentary crew included Matt Johnson with analysis fromWade Webber,Steve Zakuani, andPete Fewing. The station also airs a weekly show dedicated to the Sounders on Tuesdays.[323]KKMO (El Rey 1360 AM) broadcasts matches and a weekly show in Spanish with commentary from Mario Rodriguez, Carlos Tapia, and Felipe Maqueda.[323][327][328]
FormerSeattle SuperSonics announcerKevin Calabro and former U.S. soccer starGreg Vanney called the play-by-play for the local broadcasts during the Sounders' inaugural season in 2009.[329][330] For the 2010 and 2011 seasons, they were replaced by formerBBC cricket and general sport commentatorArlo White, who called English-language broadcasts without a partner.[331] In 2012, White was hired byNBC Sports Network to be the voice of their soccer coverage. That led to BBC commentatorRoss Fletcher becoming the club's television and radio play-by-play commentator beginning with the 2012 season, working alongside Kasey Keller as the color commentator.[332] Fletcher left the club at the end of the 2015 season and was replaced by Keith Costigan.[333][334]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
| Name | Nation | Tenure |
|---|---|---|
| Sigi Schmid |  Germany | December 16, 2008 – July 26, 2016 |
| Brian Schmetzer |  United States | July 26, 2016 – November 1, 2016 (interim) November 2, 2016 – present |
| Name | Nation | Tenure |
|---|---|---|
| Adrian Hanauer | United States | 2007–2015 |
| Garth Lagerwey | United States | 2015–2022 |
| Craig Waibel | United States | 2022–present |
| Name | Nation | Tenure |
|---|---|---|
| Chris Henderson | United States | 2008–2021 |
| Craig Waibel | United States | 2021–2022 |
| Henry Brauner |  Philippines | 2023–present |
| Ownership and senior management | |
|---|---|
| Majority owner | Adrian Hanauer(representing Hanauer Futból LLC) |
| Minority owner | Jody Allen(representingVulcan Sports and Entertainment) |
| Minority owner | Drew Carey |
| Minority owner | Terry Myerson |
| Minority owner | Katie Myerson |
| Minority owner | Russell Wilson |
| Minority owner | Ciara |
| Minority owner | Macklemore |
| Minority owner | Tricia Davis |
| Minority owner | Tod Leiweke |
| Minority owner | Tara Leiweke |
| Minority owner | Satya Nadella |
| Minority owner | Anu Nadella |
| Minority owner | Ken Griffey Jr. |
| Minority owner | Melissa Griffey |
| Minority owner | Amy Hood |
| Minority owner | Max Kleinman |
| Minority owner | Joe Belfiore |
| Minority owner | Kristina Belfiore |
| Minority owner | Soma Somasegar |
| Minority owner | Akila Somasegar |
| Minority owner | Chee Chew |
| Minority owner | Christine Chew |
| Minority owner | David Nathanson |
| Minority owner | Sabina Nathanson |
| Minority owner | Brian McAndrews |
| Minority owner | Elise Holschuh |
| Minority owner | Mark Agne |
| Minority owner | Tomoko Agne |
| Minority owner | Peter Tomozawa |
| Minority owner | Donna LeDuc |
| Minority owner | Adam Selipsky |
| Minority owner | Rick Cantu |
| Minority owner | Jay Stein |
| General manager and chief soccer officer | Craig Waibel |
| President of business operations | Hugh Weber |
| Sporting director and vice president of soccer | Henry Brauner |
| Director of development | Wade Webber |
| Head of professional player development | Craig Dalrymple |
| Coaching staff | |
| Head coach | Brian Schmetzer |
| Assistant coach | Preki |
| Director of goalkeeping | Tom Dutra |
| Assistant coach | Freddy Juarez |
| Assistant coach |  Andy Rose |
| National | ||
|---|---|---|
| Competitions | Titles[337] | Seasons |
| MLS Cup | 2 | 2016,2019 |
| Supporters' Shield | 1 | 2014 |
| U.S. Open Cup | 4 | 2009,2010,2011,2014 |
| Western Conference (Playoffs) | 4 | 2016,2017,2019,2020 |
| Western Conference (Regular Season) | 1 | 2014 |
| Continental | ||
| Competitions | Titles[337] | Seasons |
| CONCACAF Champions League | 1 | 2022 |
Individual Club Awards
| Season | League[338] | Position[339] | Playoffs[339] | USOC[340] | LC[341] | CCC[341] | Other | Average attendance[a] | Top goalscorer(s)[b][342] | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Div | League | Pld | W | L | D | GF | GA | GD | Pts | PPG | Conf. | Overall | Competition | Result | Player(s) | Goals | ||||||
| 2016 | 1 | MLS | 34 | 14 | 14 | 6 | 44 | 43 | +1 | 48 | 4th | 7th | W | QF | — | DNQ | — | — | 42,636[343] | Jordan Morris | 12 | |
| 2017 | 1 | MLS | 34 | 14 | 9 | 11 | 52 | 39 | +13 | 53 | 2nd | 7th | RU | Ro16 | — | DNQ | — | — | 43,666[344] | Clint Dempsey | 12 | |
| 2018 | 1 | MLS | 34 | 18 | 11 | 5 | 52 | 37 | +15 | 59 | 2nd | 4th | QF | R4 | — | QF | — | — | 40,641[345] | Raúl Ruidíaz | 13 | |
| 2019 | 1 | MLS | 34 | 16 | 10 | 8 | 52 | 49 | +3 | 56 | 2nd | 4th | W | R4 | — | DNQ | — | — | 40,247[346] | Raúl Ruidíaz | 15 | |
| †2020[c] | 1 | MLS | 22 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 44 | 23 | +21 | 39 | 2nd | 6th | RU | †NH[d] | — | Ro16 | †[353][e] | Raúl Ruidíaz | 14 | |||
| 2021 | 1 | MLS | 34 | 17 | 8 | 9 | 53 | 33 | +20 | 60 | 2nd | 3rd | R1 | †NH[d] | RU | DNQ | — | — | †25,125[355][f] | Raúl Ruidíaz | 19 | |
| 2022 | 1 | MLS | 34 | 12 | 17 | 5 | 47 | 46 | +1 | 41 | 11th | 21st | DNQ | Ro32 | — | W | — | — | 33,607[357] | Nicolás Lodeiro Raúl Ruidíaz | 12 | |
| 2023 | 1 | MLS | 34 | 14 | 9 | 11 | 41 | 32 | +9 | 53 | 2nd | 7th | QF | Ro32 | GS | DNQ | FIFA Club World Cup | R2[358] | 32,161[359] | Jordan Morris | 14 | |
| 2024[360] | 1 | MLS | 34 | 16 | 9 | 9 | 51 | 35 | +16 | 57 | 4th | 7th | SF | SF | QF | DNQ | — | — | 30,754[361] | Jordan Morris | 13 | |
| Total (as of 2024)[360] | 524 | 241 | 159 | 124 | 771 | 599 | +172 | 847 | W (1) | W (1) | W (2) | W (4) | RU (1) | W (1) | — | — | [362] | Raúl Ruidíaz | 86[363][342] | |||
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| # | Name | Seattle career | Total | MLS regular season | Playoffs | U.S. Open Cup | Champions League | Leagues Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jordan Morris | 2016–present | 87 | 69 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 4 |
| 2 |  Raúl Ruidíaz | 2018–2024 | 86 | 71 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
| 3 |  Fredy Montero | 2009–2014 2021–2023 | 79 | 59 | 0 | 10 | 9 | 1 |
| 4 |  Nicolás Lodeiro | 2016–2023 | 59 | 41 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 2 |
| Clint Dempsey | 2013–2018 | 57 | 47 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 0 | |
| 6 |  Obafemi Martins | 2013–2016 | 43 | 40 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | Cristian Roldan | 2015–present | 42 | 37 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| 8 | Lamar Neagle | 2009 2011 2013–2015 2017–2018 | 33 | 28 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| 9 | Will Bruin | 2017–2022 | 32[a] | 27 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 10 | Eddie Johnson | 2012–2013 | 29 | 23 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
Bold signifies a current Sounders player
| Year | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Total | Regular season | Playoffs | U.S. Open Cup | Champions League | Leagues Cup | |
| 2009 | Fredy Montero | 13 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2010 | 12 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2011 | 16 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2012 | 17 | 13 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | |
| Eddie Johnson | 17 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2013 | 12 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2014 | Obafemi Martins | 17 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2015 | 15 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2016 | Jordan Morris | 14 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2017 | Clint Dempsey | 15 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2018 | Raúl Ruidíaz | 13 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | 15 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2020 | 14 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2021 | 19 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| 2022 | 12 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| Nicolás Lodeiro | 12 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2023 | Jordan Morris | 14 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Bold signifies a current Sounders player
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)Seattle Sounders FC awards | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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