Real Salt Lake takes on Seattle Sounders FC for the second time this season on Sunday at CenturyLink Field. RSL bested the Sounders 2-1 back in March, but much has changed for both sides. Here are three things to know about the Sounders.
Born in 1974
Soccer in Seattle is an institution. Originally part of the North American Soccer League in 1974 and then part of the A-League/USL starting in 1994, the Sounders name has endured three separate clubs once the MLS club adopted the name prior to kicking off Seattle’s inaugural season in 2009. In that time, the team has featured local players who have become legends within the club as well as international stars.
Meet The New Boss
Sigi Schmid served as head coach from the first match in 2009 until two weeks ago when he and the club parted ways and Brian Schmetzer – his top assistant from day one – took over as interim head coach. Schmetzer is hardly new to the first chair on the bench, though. Prior to launching the MLS club, Schmetzer was the head coach of the USL club from 2002-2008, winning USL championships in 2005 and 2007 and Coach of the Year honors in 2002. He ended up being a finalist for the head coaching job eventually filled by Schmid. In his playing days, Schmetzer played for the Sounders in the NASL after signing at 17 years old in 1980.
Not A One-Man Show
Clint Dempsey grabs all the headlines, but the Sounders are hardly a one-man show these days. In addition to the former U.S. National Team captain, Seattle also deploys an attack that includes rookie standout and Seattle-area native Jordan Morris and the recently added former Boca Juniors playmaker Nicolas Lodeiro. Dempsey netted a hat trick last week in a 3-1 win over Orlando City in a match that put much of that attack on display, with Morris and Lodeiro both finishing with two assists on the day.
