Last summer, it was Chelsea and Barcelona. This summer, Seattle will welcome another set of big boys to Qwest Field.
Sounders FC jumped on the international friendlies train on Wednesday, announcing two summer matches against foreign clubs: Argentine powerhouse Boca Juniors on May 26 and Scotland’s Celtic on July 18.
"We promised our fans a diverse flavor of international soccer and are thrilled to bring Boca and Celtic to the Pacific Northwest," said Sounders FC owner and general manager Adrian Hanauer in a statement. "These two storied clubs have secured their place as elite franchises during the last century."
Boca are one of Argentina's most popular clubs, as well as the most successful on the international front, with three world club championships and six Copa Libertadores championships. Among Boca’s most famous alumni are Diego Maradona and Carlos Tévez; the club currently boasts popular Argentine veterans Juan Román Riquelme and Martín Palermo.
The Buenos Aires giants will become the first Argentine club to play in Seattle and the first South American club to visit since 1983.
Celtic, meanwhile, are making their fourth trip to Seattle and third to Qwest Field. Winners of a record 34 Scottish Cups and 42 league championships, the "Bhoys" from Glasgow boast a huge worldwide fan base. They are instantly recognizable for their green-and-white hooped jerseys. Celtic were the first British club to win a European championship in 1967.
The announcement of Celtic has aggravated some local bloggers. Dave Clark, of SounderAtHeart.com and a member of the Sounders FC Membership Association Council, penned a piece on his website urging the club to rethink Celtic’s visit, citing a “history of violence and religious bigotry.”
The club has made three visits to Seattle in the past 30 years. Celtic met the NASL Sounders in 1981 and returned to face Manchester United in 2003 and Chelsea in 2004 in friendlies at Qwest Field.
Boca will also be traveling to Los Angeles on their U.S. tour to face the Galaxy at the Home Depot Center on May 23, while Celtic are in talks to face archrival Rangers at Boston's Fenway Park on July 21.
