The Seattle Sounders have been a flagship club for Major League Soccer since the team entered the league in 2007. The Sounders have been a part of Seattle for more than 40 years, playing in various professional leagues before joining MLS. Once in MLS the team kicked off with a bang! The Sounders won champions and play to a regular attendance of 33,000 fans per game.
The game day atmosphere is among the best in the league and the fans have been paid in fold by the team. The Sounders have won 2 MLS Cups and 4 U.S. Open Cups to go along with 4 Western Conference titles. The team has not been shy to make big acquisitions with players like Clint Dempsey, Nicolas Lodeiro, and the clubs first big addition Fredrik Ljungberg.
The Seattle Sounders have become a benchmark for all of MLS and one of the best stories in all of American professional sports. Here are the 15 greatest Seattle Sounders in their MLS era!
15. Steve Zakuani
Steve Zakuani was a huge fan favorite of the Seattle Sounders, the Congolese winger was lighting fast down the flank and played in 80 games and scored 17goals. Injuries sidelined him for his last three seasons with the Sounders, but there was no question he was a big part of their coming out party. Zakuani won 2 U.S. Open Cups with the team.
14. Mauro Rosales
What a difference a change of scenery makes, Mauro Rosales came to the Sounders after a very rough spell at River Plate and reinvigorated his career. The Argentine midfielder gave the expansion side some veteran experience. Rosales won 1 U.S. Cup and played 64 games for the team.
13. DeAndre Yedlin
DeAndre Yedlin represents the future of MLS, a young American that starts his career and plays well to get to Europe. Yedlin was solid as a rookie and then a second-year pro on the right side. He was speedy, good dribbler, and USMNT material. Yedlin would be sold to Spurs and now plays at Newcastle United.
12. Brad Evans
Brad Evans was a rock at the back for the Seattle Sounders, since the team’s expansion and following a stint with the Columbus Crew, Evans found a home in Seattle, playing in 200 MLS games and scoring 20 goals for the club. His play with the Sounders earned him 27 caps for the USMNT and he won various championships with the club.
11. Jordan Morris
Hometown talent Jordan Morris has been one of the faces of the club since he suited up for them in 2016. Morris has shown a lot of the characteristics that earned much praise, speedy, strong, and good finishing. Unfortunately, he has been hit by the injury bug, but the organization has never lost faith in him. Every time he seems to come back stronger, and his 35 goals in 105 games proves he is a contributor, winning 2 MLS Cups with the team.
10. Fredy Montero
The Colombian Fredy Montero was the team’s first true star player, the striker scored some amazing goals and was a silky dribbler and finisher. What can be argued is that Sounders fans and MLS wanted more, as Montero could never seem to truly explode, nonetheless he scored 47 goals in 119 games. Montero won three open cups and was later sold to Sporting in Portugal.
9. Cristian Roldan
The handy midfielder Cristian Roldan has been a workhorse for the Sounders since 2015, he has played over 100 games and scored some killer goals for the team. He has won 2 MLS Cups and his club form has handed him 19 caps for the USMNT. Roldan is another central figure of the club.
8. Raul Ruidiaz
When you think of game changers and blockbuster signings, you can’t leave out Raul Ruidiaz, one of the best recent signings in MLS history. The Peruvian international has 33 goals in 53 games, he is a constant and unpredictable pest for rival defenders. Ruidiaz has won 1 MLS Cup with the Sounders and has played in 2 finals.
7. Osvaldo Alonso
Ozzie Alonso, the heart and soul of the Sounders for over 10 years, was a rock in the middle, and a locker room leader off it. With over 250 games for the club and winner of 5 championships, he is a club legend. Alonso was forced to leave due to salary restrictions and questions about his age. His time in Seattle will not be forgotten.
6. Obafemi Martins
Obafemi Martins had a career revival in Seattle, he had come from Levante where his lone season was less than productive, but the former Inter Milan forward proved his worth in Seattle scoring huge goals and having a tremendous goal scoring ratio. Martins scored 40 goals in 72 games and formed a lethal tandem with Clint Dempsey. Oba was around for 1 U.S. Open Cup in 2014.
5. Kasey Keller
One of if not the greatest USMNT goalkeeper, Kasey Keller arrived in Seattle at the tail end of a legendary career which saw the American play in England, Germany, and Spain top flights. Keller played 93 games, was an inspiration on the field and won three U.S. Open Cups with the team.
4. Stefan Frei
It took the Sounders about 2 years to find an adequate replacement for Kasey Keller, and that replacement was Stefan Frei. Frei beats Keller on the ranking because he has been equally as amazing and has backed stopped the Sounders 2 MLS Cups. Frei has one of the best saves in an MLS Cup against Toronto and has over 200 appearances with the Sounders.
3. Chad Marshall
We are giving Chad Marshall his due, a two-team man his whole career, Marshall was a rock in defense for the Sounders and Crew. With over 400 MLS games, Marshall anchored the Crew and Sounders defenses and won 3 MLS Cups, 1 in Columbus and 2 in Seattle. A 4-time MLS best 11, Marshall is one of the best defenders in league history. He deserved much more than 12 caps on the USMNT.
2. Clint Dempsey
Clint Dempsey was simply electrifying. In this writer’s opinion the best USMNT and best player U.S. soccer has ever produced, yes, we know Pulisic and Gio Reyna will do much more than Clint eventually, but Dempsey was just amazing to watch. Dribbler, in your face attitude, and his ability to do something out of nothing was amazing. A player that you could kick, punch, and grab and would still find the net. It was not uncommon to see Dempsey end a game with a bloody nose or black eye. In Seattle “Douce” played 115 games and scored 47 goals. Dempsey won 1 MLS Cup and 1 U.S. Open Cup, unfortunately a heart condition forced him to retire and we were never able to see him and Nicolas Lodeiro truly play together albeit for a handful of games.
1.Nicolas Lodeiro
Yeah, even we are shocked, but Nicolas Lodeiro found a home in Seattle, the former Nacional and Boca Juniors midfielder has lived up to his play making reputation. Lodeiro came as a skilled DP and transformed himself into a leader and team captain. The Uruguayan has 58 assists in 121 games with the club on top of 33 goals. Since his arrival, the clubs two MLS Cups have been with his leadership, be it on decisive PKs or important plays. With a recent contract extension, the Sounders will be seeing more great things from Nicolas Lodeiro.