Seattle Sounders FC are quickly becoming the benchmark for incoming Expansion Franchises after new media reports are indicting the northwest club is set to turn a profit in 2009.
Head over to Jose Romero’s (of The Seattle Times) blog to keep up on the latest from the Sounders FC pre - season sidelines.
From the Seattle Times:
Seattle Sounders FC made its first-ever draft pick Thursday morning, selecting University of Akron forward Steve Zakuani with the first overall pick of the 2009 Major League Soccer SuperDraft in St. Louis.
Zakuani, a 20-year-old under classmen who signed an MLS contract before his college eligibility was complete, was born in the Congo in Central Africa before moving to England at age 4. He played for the Arsenal youth team there before an ACL injury in 2003 ended his opportunity to advance through that club’s system. He landed in Akron when a scout noticed him.Steve Zakuani went to the Seattle Sounders FC first overall
| Pick | Player | Pos. | MLS Team | Previous Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Steve Zakuani | F | Seattle Sounders FC | Generation Adidas Cleveland Internationals |
| 2 | Sam Cronin | M | Toronto FC | Wake Forest University Carolina Dynamo |
| 3 | Omar Gonzalez | D | Los Angeles Galaxy | Generation Adidas |
| 4 | O’Brian White | F | Toronto FC | University of Connecticut |
| 5 | Peri Maroševi? | F | FC Dallas | Generation Adidas Chicago Fire Premier |
| 6 | Rodney Wallace | D | D.C. United | Generation Adidas |
| 7 | Chris Pontius | F/M | D.C. United | UC Santa Barbara |
| 8 | Matt Besler | D | Kansas City Wizards | University of Notre Dame |
| 9 | Michael Lahoud | M | Chivas USA | Wake Forest University Carolina Dynamo |
| 10 | Kevin Alston | D | New England Revolution | Generation Adidas |
image:seattle times
Seattle Sounders FC midfielder Freddie Ljungberg underwent surgery to repair a hip condition, the club announced today. The player is expected to make a full recovery and his projected return to training is 10-12 weeks.
Image via DailyMail
NEW YORK (December 12, 2008) – Major League Soccer announced today that the Columbus Crew and Seattle Sounders FC resolved a potential contractual issue regarding former Crew coach Sigi Schmid. Columbus acquired allocation money and cash from Seattle, thus releasing Schmid from contractual obligations and allowing him to proceed with his contract negotiations with Seattle. In connection with this matter, Major League Soccer found no evidence of tampering by Seattle Sounders FC.
And the Sounders position?
Seattle Sounders FC general manager Adrian Hanauer’s official statement on the matter:
“We believe Sigi is the best coach in Major League Soccer and we are thrilled to have the opportunity to
pursue contract negotiations with him,” said Hanauer. “There were never any improprieties and the
league’s statement confirms this. There was some language in his contract that was ambiguous, but rather
than going through a long, drawn out process we came to an agreement.”
Image via Cache
Columbus Crew President & General Manager Mark McCullers issued the following statement on Sigi Schmid’s status as Crew head coach:
Sigi Schmid is officially a candidate to be named head coach of Seattle Sounders FC, a prospect made clear by his appearance Thursday at Seahawks headquarters. Schmid and general manager Adrian Hanauer met Thursday and are expected to continue the discussion about the job Friday.
Image via Daylife
The Seattle Sounders hope to tap into the social networking craze to help build fan support leading into the Major League Soccer expansion team’s inaugural season in the spring.
More after the jump…
