Seattle Sounders FC is an American soccer club founded in 2008, after the city of Seattle was awarded a Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise. Sounders FC began playing competitive soccer in the 2009 season. It plays its home games at Lumen Field, competing in the Western Conference of the MLS. The current Sounders FC is the third soccer team from Seattle to bear the Sounders nickname. The tradition was started by Seattle's North American Soccer League team in 1974, and continued by the city's United Soccer Leagues side, formed in 1994. [1] The current Sounders FC is an entity distinct to both of these clubs, and played its first MLS game on March 19, 2009. [2]
As of the start of the 2021 season, a total of 125 players have participated in at least one league match for Sounders FC. Raúl Ruidíaz is the club's all-time top goal scorer, and Nicolás Lodeiro is club's all-time leader in assists. [3]
A Major League Soccer club's active roster consists of up to 30 players. All 30 players are eligible for selection to each 18-player game-day squad during the regular season and playoffs. [4] Players who were contracted to the club but never played a regular season MLS game are not listed below.
All statistics are for MLS regular season games only, including the group stage of the 2020 MLS is Back Tournament, and are correct as of October 19,2024 [update] .
Key
DF = Defender
MF = Midfielder
FW = Forward/striker
In their history the Seattle Sounders FC have used three primary goalkeepers. US national team member and Seattle area native [142] Kasey Keller was the goalkeeper for the team's first three seasons. In November 2011, just shy of his 42nd birthday, Keller retired. Austrian Michael Gspurning was brought in as Keller's replacement in 2012. After two seasons Gspurning and the Sounders FC front office were unable to come to an agreement on a contract and Gspurning was released. [143] Toronto FC traded Stefan Frei to the Sounders in December 2013. Frei would be the first choice goalkeeper for the Sounders from the 2014 season to present.
Name | Country | Years | Games | Conceded | Shutouts [nb 1] | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Terry Boss | Puerto Rico | 2009–2011 | 1 | 1 | 0 | [144] |
Stefan Cleveland | USA | 2020–2023 | 29 | 37 | 4 | [145] |
Ben Dragavon | USA | 2009 | 1 | 1 | 0 | [146] |
Chris Eylander | USA | 2009 | 1 | 2 | 0 | [147] |
Stefan Frei | Switzerland | 2014– | 325 | 375 | 99 | [148] |
Michael Gspurning | Austria | 2012–2013 | 49 | 50 | 18 | [149] |
Marcus Hahnemann | USA | 2012–2014 | 4 | 4 | 1 | [150] |
Kasey Keller | USA | 2009–2011 | 93 | 97 | 30 | [151] |
Bryan Meredith | USA | 2011–2012, 2017–2019 | 13 | 17 | 3 | [152] |
Tyler Miller | USA | 2016–2017 | 2 | 5 | 0 | [153] |
Troy Perkins | USA | 2015 | 4 | 3 | 0 | [154] |
Spencer Richey | USA | 2021 | 2 | 0 | 2 | [155] |
Andrew Thomas | Russia | 2021– | 7 | 8 | 2 | [156] |
Andrew Weber | USA | 2012, 2013 | 6 | 7 | 0 | [157] |
MLS regulations permit teams to name eight players from outside of the United States in their rosters. However, this limit can be exceeded by trading international slots with another MLS team, or if one or more of the overseas players is a refugee or has permanent residency rights in the USA. [158] As of April 24,2023 [update] , 67 players from outside the United States have played in MLS for Seattle Sounders FC.
Country | Number of players | Games |
---|---|---|
Argentina | 3 | 99 |
Australia | 1 | 63 |
Austria | 2 | 83 |
Brazil | 5 | 222 |
Cameroon | 1 | 190 |
Colombia | 5 | 489 |
Costa Rica | 2 | 148 |
Cuba | 1 | 277 |
DR Congo | 1 | 80 |
Denmark | 2 | 4 |
Ecuador | 1 | 100 |
El Salvador | 2 | 162 |
England | 2 | 147 |
France | 3 | 67 |
Gambia | 2 | 39 |
Germany | 1 | 12 |
Grenada | 1 | 10 |
Guatemala | 1 | 49 |
Ivory Coast | 1 | 3 |
Honduras | 1 | 13 |
Jamaica | 3 | 83 |
Mali | 1 | 42 |
Martinique | 1 | 74 |
Mexico | 4 | 146 |
Nigeria | 1 | 72 |
Norway | 1 | 15 |
Panama | 1 | 69 |
Paraguay | 1 | 31 |
Peru | 1 | 138 |
Puerto Rico | 1 | 1 |
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 1 | 15 |
Russia | 1 | 6 |
Scotland | 1 | 6 |
Slovakia | 1 | 89 |
Somalia | 1 | 32 |
South Korea | 1 | 59 |
Spain | 1 | 43 |
Suriname | 1 | 91 |
Sweden | 4 | 212 |
Switzerland | 2 | 330 |
Trinidad and Tobago | 2 | 101 |
Uganda | 1 | 26 |
Uruguay | 2 | 266 |
USA | 79 | 3,157 |
In addition to competing in Major League Soccer every year, Sounders FC participate in other competitions such as the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and the CONCACAF Champions League. Below is a list of players who have not appeared in a league match, but have played for the team in other competitions.
Major League Soccer (MLS) is a men's professional soccer league sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation, which represents the sport's highest level in the United States. The league comprises 30 teams. MLS is headquartered in Midtown Manhattan.
James Riley is an American former soccer player who played as a defender and is currently the head coach for USL League Two club Ballard FC. Riley previously spent eleven seasons in Major League Soccer (MLS) with the New England Revolution (2005–2007), San Jose Earthquakes (2008), Seattle Sounders FC (2009–2011), Chivas USA (2012), D.C. United (2013), LA Galaxy (2014), and the Colorado Rapids (2015). Riley served as the captain of the Cascadia soccer team in the 2018 ConIFA World Football Cup.
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Seattle Sounders FC is an American professional soccer club based in Seattle, Washington. The Sounders compete in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Western Conference. The club was established on November 13, 2007, and began play in 2009 as an MLS expansion team. The Sounders are a phoenix club, replacing the second-division franchise that played in the American Professional Soccer League (APSL), A-League, and USL First Division (USL-1) from 1994 to 2008, and carrying the same name as the original Sounders franchise that competed in the North American Soccer League (NASL) from 1974 to 1983.
Marcelo Nicolás Lodeiro Benítez, commonly known as Nicolás Lodeiro, is a Uruguayan professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Major League Soccer club Orlando City.
Michael Gspurning is a retired Austrian footballer who played as a goalkeeper.
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Seattle has had professional soccer clubs for over four decades who have played in various leagues since the 1970s. These include three incarnations of the Seattle Sounders FC, playing in the North American Soccer League, United Soccer League, and Major League Soccer.
Seattle Sounders FC is a Major League Soccer team, sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation, based in Seattle, Washington with origins that go back to the 1970s and the North American Soccer League.
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