Sounders FC Training Now Underway
With the opening match of its second season less than nine weeks away, preseason training is underway for the Seattle Sounders FC. The team will train daily through Friday at both the Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila and the Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton.
The Sounders FC will travel to Arizona on February 3, with training in Casa Grande through February 11.
From February 15 through February 26, Seattle will train and compete in La Manga, Spain. Sounders FC will face Norwegian champion Rosenborg BK in the opening Group A match at the La Manga Cup on February 18. Sounders FC will face either Denmark's FC Norsjalland or Norway's Stabak on February 21. The tournament concludes with crossover matches to determine final placement on February 25 and 26.
The MLS regular season begins March 25 with Sounders FC hosting Philadelphia Union in the MLS First Kick 2010.
Fans, Players Raise Funds for Haiti Relief
Two of the Sounders FC supporters groups, Gorilla FC and Emerald City Supporters, hosted events on January 23 to raise funds for Haiti earthquake relief. The Gorilla FC gathering featured Steve Zakuani, James Riley and Patrick Ianni signing autographs and posing for photos at the George & Dragon Pub. A capacity crowd attended and over $12,000 was raised. All proceeds went to Doctors Without Borders.
At the same hour, the ECS event at the Atlantic Crossing featured appearances by Coach Sigi Schmid, Assistant Coach Brian Schmetzer and Goalkeeper Coach Tom Dutra, plus MLS SuperDraft selections David Estrada, Michael Seamon and Jamel Wallace. Nearly $2000 was raised for the Red Cross efforts in Haiti.
Remarkable Notes from 2009
Sounders FC and its fans set the bar high in their first season. Seattle became the first expansion team since 1998 to finish with a winning record-going 12-7-11-and qualify for the MLS Cup Playoffs. Four players represented Seattle in the MLS All-Star Game and five players were finalists for League year-end awards.
Forward Fredy Montero, the 22-year-old Colombian who led the club with 12 goals, was voted the Newcomer of the Year and midfielder Freddie Ljungberg, the top playmaker with nine assists, was named to the MLS Best XI.
Sigi Schmid, a finalist for MLS Coach of the Year, became the career leader in regular season wins with 125.
Sounders FC finished tied for the League's top defensive record, allowing 29 goals in 30 matches.
Seattle smashed the MLS season attendance record, averaging 30,943 per regular season match. The crowd of 35,807 for the first leg playoff with Houston established a record for a conference semifinal.
RTC Programs Begin February 1
Beginning on February 1, the Sounders FC Regional Training Center (RTC) weekly program begins at five locations:
Central-Tukwila (Starfire Sports Center)
North Boys-Snohomish (Glacier Peak High School)
North Girls-Everett (Lincoln Field)
South-Puyallup (Sparks Stadium)
Southwest-Vancouver (Kiggins Bowl)
The programs at the Spokane and Yakima RTCs will reconvene when weather conditions are appropriate.
Preseason Training List
The following players are confirmed to join the Sounders FC for preseason training: Goalkeepers (4): Terry Boss, Chris Eylander, Kasey Keller, Patrick Lane; Defenders (11): Taylor Graham, Leo Gonzalez, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Patrick Ianni, Tyrone Marshall, Lamar Neagle, James Riley, Zach Scott, Nathan Sturgis, Tyson Wahl, Jamel Wallace#; Midfielders (10): Osvaldo Alonso, Brad Evans, Michael Fucito, Josh Gardner, Stephen King, Freddie Ljungberg, Yakir Lusky, Sanna Nyassi, Michael Seamon#, Peter Vagenas; Forwards (7): David Estrada#, Nate Jaqua, Roger Levesque, Fredy Montero, Tye Perdido, Jarrod Smith, Steve Zakuani.
#SuperDraft selection
invitee
Throw-ins
Tyrone Marshall departs Wednesday to join the Jamaica National Team for its Sunday, January 31, home friendly with Canada in Kingston. Marshall will return on February 1...Sanna Nyassi celebrates his 21st birthday on January 31. Top MLS SuperDraft selection David Estrada will be 22 on February 4.
