A year after populating its initial roster, the Seattle Sounders FC now faces the prospect of losing a player in the MLS Expansion Draft. Ten of the League's 15 existing teams will lose one player to the Philadelphia Union during the draft on Wednesday.Sounders FC submitted its list of 11 protected players on Monday.
Protected players: Osvaldo Alonso (MF), Brad Evans (MF), Leo Gonzalez (DF), Jhon Kennedy Hurtado (DF), Patrick Ianni (DF), Nate Jaqua (FW), Kasey Keller (GK), Freddie Ljungberg (MF), Tyrone Marshall (DF), Fredy Montero (FW), Steve Zakuani (MF)
Unprotected players: Terry Boss (GK), Evan Brown (DF), Chris Eylander (GK), Michael Fucito (MF), Taylor Graham (DF) Stephen King (MF), Sebastien Le Toux (MF), Roger Levesque (FW), Lamar Neagle (DF), Sanna Nyassi (MF), James Riley (DF), Zach Scott (DF), Nathan Sturgis (DF), Peter Vagenas (MF), Tyson Wahl (DF)
Give Us Your Full 90 Again in 2010!
Sounders FC are currently accepting deposits for 2010 season tickets. To join, please visit SoundersFC.com or call 877-MLS-GOAL.
Sigi's Back Home
Sounders FC Head Coach Sigi Schmid was released from Bellevue's Overlake Hospital on Monday. Schmid was hospitalized for four nights after being diagnosed with pneumonia. He had been admitted last Thursday after experiencing difficulty breathing.
MLS Executive Awards
The 2009 MLS Club Executive Award Winners were announced prior to the MLS Cup in Seattle last Sunday, and the Sounders FC was presented a total of eight individual and group awards by Commissioner Don Garber.
Doug Hamilton Executive of the Year: Gary Wright, Seattle Sounders FC Community Relations Department of the Year presented by MLS W.O.R.K.S: Seattle Sounders FC Operations Director of the Year: Bart Wiley, Seattle Sounders FC Concessionaire/Merchandiser of the Year: Sue Harris, Seattle Sounders FC Ticketing Executive of the Year: Chuck Arnold, Seattle Sounders FC Ticket Sales Team of the Year: Seattle Sounders FC Public Relations Award, Team: Seattle Sounders FC Marketing Executive of the Year: Stephanie Gray, Seattle Sounders FC
Bound for Europe
Two members of the coaching staff will go overseas next month to observe techniques used by European clubs. Fitness coach David Tenney will travel to Holland from November 30 through December 9, visiting with peers for Ajax Amsterdam, PSV Eindhoven, and SC Heerenveen. Goalkeeper coach Tom Dutra will be a guest of VfB Stuttgart and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim of the German Bundesliga from December 4-16.
Vegas Tryouts
Sounders FC will host an invitational tryout in Las Vegas from December 18-20. Approximately 70 slots are open to domestic and foreign players coming out of college or now out of contract with USL teams.
MLS Cup Attendance
Attendance for last Sunday's MLS Cup was 46,011--the largest for a final since 2002 and the fourth-largest in League history. The crowd ranks No. 7 for soccer since Qwest Field opened in 2002 and No. 10 in Seattle history.
The top 10 Seattle attendances are as follows:
66,848 August 5, 2009 Qwest Field Seattle v Barcelona (friendly)
66,830 August 9, 2006 Qwest Field Real Madrid v D.C. United (friendly)
66,722 July 22, 2003 Seahawks Stadium Manchester United v Celtic (friendly)
65,289 July 18, 2009 Qwest Field Sounders FC v Chelsea (friendly)
58,218 April 9, 1976 Kingdome Seattle v New York (friendly; Pele 2 goals)
56,416 April 16, 2008 Qwest Field Mexico v China (friendly)
56,256 August 25, 1977 Kingdome Seattle v Los Angeles (NASL playoffs)
49,606 August 9, 1980 Kingdome New York at Seattle (NASL)
47,052 May 31, 2008 Qwest Field Brazil v Canada (friendly)
46,011 November 22, 2009 Qwest Field Los Angeles v Salt Lake (MLS Cup)
The top 10 Qwest Field soccer attendances are as follows:
66,848 August 5, 2009 Qwest Field Seattle v Barcelona (friendly)
66,830 August 9, 2006 Real Madrid v D.C. United (friendly)
66,722 July 22, 2003 Manchester United v Celtic (friendly)
65,289 July 18, 2009 Sounders FC v Chelsea (friendly)
56,416 April 16, 2008 Mexico v China (friendly)
47,052 May 31, 2008 Brazil v Canada (friendly)
46,011 November 22, 2009 Los Angeles v Salt Lake (MLS Cup)
35,807 October 29, 2009 Seattle v Houston (MLS Conference semifinal)
33,108 October 24, 2009 Seattle v Dallas (MLS)
32,776 August 20, 2009 Seattle v New England (MLS)
The top 10 MLS Cup Playoffs attendances are as follows:
61,316 October 20, 2002 Gillette Stadium Los Angeles 1, New England 0 (Final)
57,431 October 26, 1997 RFK Stadium D.C. United 2, Colorado 1 (Final)
51,350 October 25, 1998 Rose Bowl Chicago 2, D.C. United 0 (Final)
46,011 November 22, 2009 Xbox Pitch/Qwest Los Angeles v Salt Lake (Final)
44,910 November 21, 1999 Foxboro Stadium D.C. United 2, Los Angeles 0 (Final)
39,859 November 18, 2007 RFK Stadium Houston 2, New England 1 (Final) 39,159 October 15, 2000 RFK Stadium Kansas City 1, Chicago 0 (Final)
35,807 October 29, 2009 Xbox Pitch/Qwest Seattle 0, Houston 0 (Conference Semi)
34,643 October 20, 1996 Foxboro Stadium D.C. United 3, Los Angeles 2 (Final) 32,744 October 16, 1998 Soldier Field Chicago 2, Los Angeles 1 (Semifinal)
Seattle Hosts Union, 2010 First Kick
The 2010 MLS season will begin where 2009 finished-in Seattle. Sounders FC will face Philadelphia Union on March 25 on the Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field. The match will be nationally televised by ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. PT.
The complete MLS schedule will be released in February, 2010. Each team will play 30 games, facing each team twice (home and away).
Twelve other teams will begin their 2010 season on March 27. MLS Cup champion Real Salt Lake will host Seattle in its home opener on April 10 at Rio Tinto Stadium.
Throw-Ins
Steve Zakuani was one of 26 Generation adidas graduates listed by MLS this week. Zakuani was signed to the program prior to becoming the top choice in the 2009 SuperDraft. Members of Generation adidas do not count against an MLS team's salary budget... Kasey Keller celebrates his 40th birthday on Sunday, November 22. Leo Gonzalez turned 29 on November 21...Seattle's Fado Irish Pub is among the finalists for U.S. Soccer Best Soccer Bar. Online voting began this week at ussoccer.com.
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