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Seattle Names Schmid First Head Coach
As expected, Seattle Sounders FC named Sigi Schmid, the only coach to ever win Major League Soccer's championship with two different teams, as their first head coach.
Dec 16, 2008 2:22:38 PM
Ending weeks of speculation, the Seattle Sounders made their choice of
a head coach final on Tuesday, installing the expected choice, Sigi
Schmid, as the man in charge of Major League Soccer's newest expansion
team.
The official announcement was broadcast live over the internet via the team's website.
The Schmid appointment did not come about without some controversy, as the coach had led the Columbus Crew to the MLS championship this past season. Columbus accused Seattle of tampering with their efforts to re-sign Schmid, but the charges were dropped after Seattle agreed to give Columbus an unspecified amount of allocation money.
Schmid has twice won the MLS Cup and is the only coach to do so with two different teams. He led the Los Angeles Galaxy to the championship in 2002. His run with the Crew was eerily similar in 2008, because both clubs also won the Supporter's Shield for the best regular-season record in the same year, and also featured a someone who would eventually become the Most Valuable Player in the league. In 2002, that was Carlos Ruiz. In 2008, Guillermo Barros Schelotto.
Columbus was able to retain Schelotto, but not Schmid.
While Schmid left the 2008 MLS champions voluntarily, such was not the case with the Galaxy. The hometown club of Schmid signed him after he had turned in several successful seasons as the coach of UCLA, the local college soccer powerhouse, who he led to three national championships. But the Galaxy fired Schmid in 2004.
He joined the Crew in 2006, and the team struggled for two seasons before putting together an excellent year in 2008.
One candidate stood out above all others," said part-owner Adrian Hanauer in announcing Schmid as Seattle's new coach "We were glad to get Sigi."
The move by the Sounders had long been anticipated. With the team somewhat formed, but the draft coming up, Seattle could not afford to have the team lack their leader.
"In 90 days we will play our first game," said Hanauer.
The Sounders have already signed Freddie Ljungberg as their designated player, and have also brought hometown hero Kasey Keller into the club as the primary goalkeeper.
Schmid was emotional when he made his opening remarks, mentioning that the move would give him an opportunity to be close to his younger brother, who lives in the city. His LA-based family is also closer now.
While Schmid did not elaborate on the reasons why he left Columbus, he emphasized that he was attracted to Seattle by the "commitment" the club showed.
As far as his plans for the team, Schmid said he intended to continue the ideal and procedures that had served him well in the past.
"If I can get the most out of every individual, then the rest will take care of itself," Schmid said. "I'm very happy to be here."
--Andrea Canales, Goal.com
The official announcement was broadcast live over the internet via the team's website.
The Schmid appointment did not come about without some controversy, as the coach had led the Columbus Crew to the MLS championship this past season. Columbus accused Seattle of tampering with their efforts to re-sign Schmid, but the charges were dropped after Seattle agreed to give Columbus an unspecified amount of allocation money.
Schmid has twice won the MLS Cup and is the only coach to do so with two different teams. He led the Los Angeles Galaxy to the championship in 2002. His run with the Crew was eerily similar in 2008, because both clubs also won the Supporter's Shield for the best regular-season record in the same year, and also featured a someone who would eventually become the Most Valuable Player in the league. In 2002, that was Carlos Ruiz. In 2008, Guillermo Barros Schelotto.
Columbus was able to retain Schelotto, but not Schmid.
While Schmid left the 2008 MLS champions voluntarily, such was not the case with the Galaxy. The hometown club of Schmid signed him after he had turned in several successful seasons as the coach of UCLA, the local college soccer powerhouse, who he led to three national championships. But the Galaxy fired Schmid in 2004.
He joined the Crew in 2006, and the team struggled for two seasons before putting together an excellent year in 2008.
One candidate stood out above all others," said part-owner Adrian Hanauer in announcing Schmid as Seattle's new coach "We were glad to get Sigi."
The move by the Sounders had long been anticipated. With the team somewhat formed, but the draft coming up, Seattle could not afford to have the team lack their leader.
"In 90 days we will play our first game," said Hanauer.
The Sounders have already signed Freddie Ljungberg as their designated player, and have also brought hometown hero Kasey Keller into the club as the primary goalkeeper.
Schmid was emotional when he made his opening remarks, mentioning that the move would give him an opportunity to be close to his younger brother, who lives in the city. His LA-based family is also closer now.
While Schmid did not elaborate on the reasons why he left Columbus, he emphasized that he was attracted to Seattle by the "commitment" the club showed.
As far as his plans for the team, Schmid said he intended to continue the ideal and procedures that had served him well in the past.
"If I can get the most out of every individual, then the rest will take care of itself," Schmid said. "I'm very happy to be here."
--Andrea Canales, Goal.com
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