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MLS Seattle Sounders FC

Sounders FC News & Notes

January 6, 2010 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Seattle Sounders FC News Release


Sounders FC Management, Coaches Head to Florida Combine

Eight members of the Sounders FC management and coaching staff will be in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for the adidas MLS Player Combine. The combine features 75 top pro prospects and begins Friday and concludes January 12 at the Central Broward Regional Park.

General manager Adrian Hanauer and technical director Chris Henderson will be joined in Florida by head coach Sigi Schmid and his staff of assistants: Brian Schmetzer, Ezra Hendrickson, Tom Dutra, David Tenney and Kurt Schmid.

Earlier this week, MLS announced the complete Generation adidas Class of 2010, plus the signing of several college seniors.

"This is a pretty deep class, with a lot of similarities to the 2009 class," said Henderson. "From this group, both the Generation adidas players and the next group of college seniors, there will be some players who make an impact right away in 2010."

There are 12 players signed to Generation adidas Class of 2010. In addition to training and playing with an MLS team, Generation adidas players receive educational grants to further their college education. Generation adidas players do not count against an MLS team's salary budget. The 2009 Generation adidas class produced seven first round selections in last year's SuperDraft. The Sounders FC took Steve Zakuani (Seattle Sounders FC) with the first overall pick. Omar Gonzalez, chosen third overall by the Los Angeles Galaxy, went on to become the 2009 MLS Rookie of the Year

The three finalists for the M.A.C. Hermann Trophy, awarded to the top player in Division I, are all signed. Corben Bone of Wake Forest and Teal Bunbury of Akron, are members of the 2010 Generation adidas class. Akron's Andre Akpan is one of the League's collegiate senior signings. The M.A.C. Hermann Trophy winner will be announced on Friday, January 8 in St. Louis.

Seattle Holds Three Picks in 2010

The 2010 MLS SuperDraft will be held on Thursday, January 14, beginning at 11 a.m. PT at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. The SuperDraft will run approximately four hours from start to finish with the first hour being broadcast live on ESPN2. The remainder of the draft can be followed on MLSnet.com.

The SuperDraft will be comprised of four rounds with a total of 64 picks (16 per round). Philadelphia Union, the League's expansion team, will draft first. Sounders FC holds three selections in this year's draft.

Seattle's 2010 SuperDraft Picks:

Round 1 (Pick 11)

Round 2 (Pick 27)

Round 3 (No Pick; Traded Rights to Pick 43 to Houston for Defender Patrick Ianni)

Round 4 (Pick 59)

Seated at the Sounders FC draft table in Philadelphia will be General Manager Adrian Hanauer, Technical Director Chris Henderson, Head Coach Sigi Schmid, Assistant Coach Brian Schmetzer and Assistant Coach/Scout Kurt Schmid.

Details on a post-draft teleconference with Sounders FC representatives will be distributed next week.

Last Year's SuperDraft

Here is a look at Seattle's 2009 SuperDraft; the first in Sounders FC history:

Round 1 (1st overall) - Akron forward Steve Zakuani

As a rookie, Zakuani was a key contributor to the Sounders FC run to the playoffs and U.S. Open Cup championship. In MLS play, Zakuani started 26 of 31 appearances and scored four goals and had four assists, ranking 3rd on the team in total points. He had the game-winning assist in the U.S. Open Cup semifinal in added extra time against Houston.

Round 2 (16th overall) - Wake Forest defender Evan Brown

Brown did not see action in league play. He made two appearances at the right back position in U.S. Open Cup play-in games, as a reserve vs. Real Salt Lake (4/28) and starter vs. Colorado (5/26). Brown also played in friendlies versus Chelsea and Barcelona.

Round 3 (31st overall) - Azusa Pacific defender Jared Karkas

Karkas trained with the club during preseason, and again in the spring but did not make the final roster.

Round 4 (59th overall) - Harvard midfielder/forward Michael Fucito

Fucito played in three preseason games for Seattle, scoring one goal before returning to school to finish his studies. He rejoined Seattle in early June after graduation and was signed for the remainder of the season, although he was immediately placed on the disabled list with sesamoiditis in his right foot. Other than two friendlies, Fucito did not see action in 2009.

Media Credential Applications Available Now for 2010 MLS SuperDraft

Media planning to cover the 2010 MLS SuperDraft in Philadelphia can apply for credentials online now by using the following link http://sum.iwebreg.com/apply. Media members who have applied recently for credentials to MLS/SUM events should sign in with the same email address and password previously used. New applicants must create a user login through the online application.

Media credential applications must be received by January 8 at 6 p.m. ET. Credentials from previous MLS matches or other soccer events, including 2009 MLS All-Stadium and Team season credentials, will NOT gain media access to this event.

Phoenix Here We Come

Before the senior squad's February preseason training in Arizona, the Sounders FC/Washington Youth Soccer ODP teams in the 1993-96 age groups for the boys and girls will head south to Phoenix for competition in the U.S. Youth Soccer Region IV Championships from January 16th through the 19th.

The ODP regional brings the top state teams from Region IV together for competition to help select the regional and national team pools for the youth age groups. For roster lists and information regarding the teams and competition, please go to www.wsysa.com and look under "programs". These players have been training and preparing for this competition since September of 2009.

"We look forward to showcasing the talent that exists in the Northwest and within Washington Youth Soccer," said Darren Sawatzky, Sounders FC Director of Youth Development. "The partnership between Sounders FC and Washington Youth Soccer has fostered player development that will be evident during our competition in Phoenix."

Support Seattle's Candidacy to Host World Cup Matches

Fans can lend their support to Seattle and the United States' bid to host the FIFA World Cup in 2018 or 2022. Seattle is one of 27 cities under consideration to host games, with both Qwest Field and Husky Stadium listed as potential venues. The online petition for Seattle is available at http://www.gousabid.com/city/local/seattle-wa/.

Throw-Ins

Brad Evans began participating in the U.S. National Team annual winter training camp in Carson, California on January 4. He will be excused from camp later for his wedding, to take place Saturday in the Southern California area. Evans, 24, is one of 30 mostly domestic-based players being called to U.S. Soccer's National Training Center at The Home Depot Center... The MLS SuperDraft is held in conjunction with the annual convention of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. The 2011 NSCAA Convention will be held in Baltimore... MLS Cup will remain at a neutral site for the 2010 season, MLS Commissioner Don Garber announced on Monday. MLS is currently evaluating candidate cities and host venues for MLS Cup 2010 and will announce the site during the first quarter of the year. MLS Cup 2009 was hosted by Seattle.

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