Seattle Sounders FC sign assistant coaches Gonzalo Pineda, Preki and Djimi Traore to contract extensions

Seattle Sounders assistant coach Gonzalo Pineda

The band is staying together in Seattle.


Seattle Sounders FC signed assistant coaches Gonzalo Pineda, Preki and Djimi Traore to contract extensions, the club announced Tuesday.


This comes a little more than a month since the Sounders signed head coach Brian Schmetzer to a multiyear extension.


The Sounders also extended contracts of Club Director of Goalkeeping Tom Dutra and High Performance Director & Technical Advisor Adam Owen.


“I’m very pleased to retain a coaching staff that has helped this club to a tremendous amount of success,” Sounders FC general manager and president of soccer Garth Lagerwey said in a statement. “Our coaches come from all over the world and each bring something very unique to our team. I look forward to their continued efforts as we head into another campaign.”

Pineda, who reportedly interviewed for the D.C. United head coaching job this offseason, enters his fifth season as assistant coach. Preki is embarking on his fourth season and Traore, who finished a storied playing career in Seattle, is entering his sixth season as assistant coach.


Dutra is a Sounders FC original who has overseen the club’s goalkeeping during its entire existence in Major League Soccer and Owen enters his second season in a dual role of high performance director and technical advisor.


“My coaching staff is talented, diverse and brings a wealth of knowledge to the club,” Schmetzer said. “Their standards align with the club and are forged by their experiences as successful players and coaches in the modern game. They are true professionals, dedicated to improving first team performance and helping the young players achieve success.”