IN THIS ISSUE Editor-In-Chief Robert Casner
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Creative Director/Designer Ty Kreft Assistant Editors Alex Caulfield Kristi Bruner Kelly Schutz Matt Winter Danny Ciaccio Daniel Robertson Ryan Krasnoo
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2017 SCHEDULE
10
MEET THE TEAM
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BAD BLOOD
Cover Illustrator Pam Wishbow Contributing Photographers Dan Poss Corky Trewin Charis Wilson Jane Gershovich Mike Fiechtner Morale Supporter Maya Mendoza-Exstrom
CLOSER LOOK
Relive past glories against bitter rivals old and new coming up in May
It’s pretty self-explanatory
Find out which sports rivalries the First Team rates most highly
The story of the coffee shop gestures and goal celebrations that birthed the Seattle versus Portland rivalry into the MLS era WORDS BY ARI LILJENWALL
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SPLIT PERSONALITY
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THE SHIRT
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FRENEMIES
Hear from Steve Zakuani, who has played on both sides of the Seattle-Portland divide
A head-to-head comparison of Sounders and Timbers jerseys through the decades
How our international players balance club rivals with national team duty WORDS BY RYAN KRASNOO
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THE START OF SOMETHING REAL An examination of Sounders FC’s quietly fiery clashes with Real Salt Lake WORDS BY RYAN KRASNOO
© 2017 by Major League Soccer, LLC and Seattle Soccer, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written consent of Seattle Soccer, LLC is prohibited. Seattle Sounders FC 159 South Jackson, Suite 200 Seattle, WA 98104 887-MLS-GOAL SoundersFC.com
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ON THE COVER
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THE ADVENTURES OF JORDAN & CRISTIAN
Get to know illustrator Pam Wisbow, this month’s cover artist
The search for Stef’s lucky gloves continues as the boys explore Gas Works Park COMIC BY MLS WATERCOLORIST
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CLOSER LOOK
APRIL 26, 2015
Forward Clint Dempsey scores the winner from close range past scrambling Timbers goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey at CenturyLink Field.
DECEMBER 10, 2016
Captain Osvaldo Alonso finds his focus during the ceremonies prior to the 2016 MLS Cup, in which Sounders FC defeated Toronto FC.
AUGUST 14, 2016
Midfielder Nicolás Lodeiro reties his left boot following his iconic “shoe phone” celebration after scoring his first MLS goal against Real Salt Lake.
2017 SCHEDULE OPPONENT
DAY
DATE
TIME
TV
Houston Dynamo
Sat
March 4
5:30 PM
Q13 Fox
Montreal Impact
Sat
March 11
4:00 PM
JoeTV
New York Red Bulls
Sun
March 19
4:00 PM
FS1
Club Necaxa*
Sat
March 25
7:00 PM
JoeTV
Atlanta United FC
Fri
March 31
7:00 PM
FS1
San Jose Earthquakes
Sat
April 8
7:30 PM
Q13 Fox
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Fri
April 14
7:00 PM
Q13 Fox
LA Galaxy
Sun
April 23
1:00 PM
ESPN
New England Revolution
Sat
April 29
7:00 PM
JoeTV
Toronto FC
Sat
May 6
12:00 PM
ESPN
Chicago Fire
Sat
May 13
6:00 PM
ESPN2
Sporting Kansas City
Wed
May 17
5:30 PM
JoeTV
Real Salt Lake
Sat
May 20
2:00 PM
JoeTV
Portland Timbers
Sat
May 27
12:00 PM
Q13 Fox
Columbus Crew SC
Wed
May 31
4:30 PM
Q13 Fox
Houston Dynamo
Sun
June 4
7:00 PM
JoeTV
New York City FC
Sat
June 17
10:00 AM
ESPN
Orlando City
Wed
June 21
7:30 PM
JoeTV
Portland Timbers
Sun
June 25
1:00 PM
ESPN
Colorado Rapids
Tue
July 4
6:00 PM
Q13 Fox
Eintracht Frankfurt*
Sat
July 8
1:00 PM
JoeTV
D.C. United
Wed
July 19
7:30 PM
Q13 Fox
San Jose Earthquakes
Sun
July 23
7:30 PM
JoeTV
LA Galaxy
Sat
July 29
7:00 PM
ESPN
Minnesota United FC
Sat
August 5
5:00 PM
Q13 Fox
Sporting Kansas City
Sat
August 12
1:00 PM
JoeTV
Minnesota United FC
Sun
August 20
7:00 PM
FS1
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Wed
August 23
7:00 PM
JoeTV
Portland Timbers
Sun
August 27
6:30 PM
FS1
LA Galaxy
Sun
September 10
6:00 PM
FS1
FC Dallas
Sat
September 16
5:00 PM
JoeTV
Real Salt Lake
Sat
September 23
6:30 PM
JoeTV
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Wed
September 27
7:30 PM
JoeTV
Philadelphia Union
Sun
October 1
10:00 AM
ESPN
FC Dallas
Sun
October 15
4:30 PM
JoeTV
Colorado Rapids
Sun
October 22
1:00 PM
JoeTV
HOME MATCH
AWAY MATCH
RESULT
INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY All matches broadcast LIVE on KIRO Radio 97.3 FM | El Rey 1360AM
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MEET THE TEAM 12 SEYI ADEKOYA FORWARD
15 TONY ALFARO DEFENDER
6 OSVALDO ALONSO MIDFIELDER
3 BRAD EVANS DEFENDER
8 ÁLVARO FERNÁNDEZ MIDFIELDER
91 ONIEL FISHER DEFENDER
10 NICOLÁS LODEIRO MIDFIELDER
80 VICTOR MANSARAY FORWARD
14 CHAD MARSHALL DEFENDER
13 JORDAN MORRIS FORWARD
7 CRISTIAN ROLDAN MIDFIELDER
19 HARRY SHIPP MIDFIELDER
El Clásico – FC Barcelona and Real Madrid!
I’ll go with Stanford vs. Cal soccer. I always loved playing Cal.
23 HENRY WINGO MIDFIELDER
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COACHING STAFF
BRIAN SCHMETZER HEAD COACH
Q: WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SPORTS RIVALRY?
17 WILL BRUIN FORWARD
21 JORDY DELEM MIDFIELDER
2 CLINT DEMPSEY FORWARD
33 JOEVIN JONES DEFENDER
11 AARON KOVAR MIDFIELDER
32 ZACH MATHERS MIDFIELDER
35 BRYAN MEREDITH GOALKEEPER
1 TYLER MILLER GOALKEEPER
4 GUSTAV SVENSSON MIDFIELDER
5 NOUHOU TOLO DEFENDER
29 ROMÁN TORRES DEFENDER
DJIMI TRAORE ASST. COACH
GONZALO PINEDA ASST. COACH
Growing up, I loved Bayern Munich and TSV 1860 Munich. Right now, I would say Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer. They’re both incredible.
24 STEFAN FREI GOALKEEPER
Duke and North Carolina basketball. Being a part of it [at Duke] was very intense. Those were some of the best games I’ve ever attended.
University of Washington vs. University of Oregon football. Growing up as a Husky and being a fan of college football, it was always a big one for me.
TOM DUTRA GK COACH
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Nate Jaqua ‘chopping’ Roger Levesque down – the infamous goal celebration performed after Levesque scored 48 seconds into a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match against the Timbers at PGE Park.
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by Ari Liljenwall 13
Seattle Sounders face off against the Portland Timbers on
When the
May 27, it will be the 96th meeting between the sides since they first met at Civic Stadium as members of the North American Soccer League in Portland on May 2, 1975. That’s a lot of time for history to be made and bad blood to brew. Since then, Seattle-Portland has evolved into what is widely considered the top rivalry in Major League Soccer, with matchday atmospheres, elaborate (and occasionally antagonistic) tifo displays, as well as animosity between the teams and fan bases unmatched by any other the league has to offer. The reasons for that expand beyond geographic proximity. This is a rivalry rife with historic moments and stories that have all fed into making it what it is. Leading into this year’s initial clash at CenturyLink Field, Ari Liljenwall caught up with a few figures that are most familiar with the rivalry to discuss their favorite moments, scenes and memories.
Brian Schmetzer, Sounders Head Coach: “I remember [playing for the NASL Sounders] having to drive down on a bus, two and half, three hours down to Portland, get off the bus and play against a bunch of these older English first- and seconddivision players that they had on their roster back in the early ’80s. Those games were brutal for me as a young man because I had no idea and these guys were seasoned pros, they came from England, they all played in tougher leagues. Those were bloodbaths because what you had was a bunch of English guys that were used to it. Those games were really, really, hard. Hard games to play, animosity on both sides. Those were not easy games to play, but they certainly taught me a bunch of life lessons.” Roger Levesque, former Sounders USL and MLS midfielder/forward: “Over the course of the 10 years I played, we played so many games against Portland whether it was in the [USL] or MLS. Preseason, postseason, exhibition games, I’d be hardpressed to think of a team we played more. It seemed like every game produced some sort of event that would reignite the rivalry or push it even further. “In the USL days, it was obviously a much smaller scale. The guys I know who kind of kept the rivalry going were absolutely doing it out of not only love for the sport, but just pride, and pride in your city. That continued into MLS under a very different cast of characters. But you have guys like Zach Scott and Brian Schmetzer, who have done a great job of just conveying how much the rivalry means.” Tom Dutra, Sounders FC Director of Goalkeeping: “I think you’ve honestly got to give Portland and their fans a lot of credit. Even in the USL days, they always brought it. Even though it was a smaller crowd then, it was intense from the get-go. You’ve got to give them credit, the games were always very intense. Now it’s just a bigger stage. We bring a lot more fans down to the games, which is fun, and when they play us here, the atmosphere, there’s just nothing like it.” Steve Zakuani, former Sounders No. 1 draft pick and Timbers midfielder: “I just
think you have two fan bases that care a lot about the teams. They’re very, very close to each other. They both want to dominate the Pacific Northwest. They both want to be Soccer City, USA. I think they fight for a lot of the same things, they compete for the same trophies every year: Open Cup, MLS, MLS Cup, Supporters’ Shield, and they’re right there. They see each other a lot. In the MLS era, the fan bases compete to be the loudest fans, the most intimidating fans, and both teams want to be more successful off the field and on the field.” Don Ruiz, Sounders beat reporter, Tacoma News Tribune 2009-16: “I think the rivalry took off because soccer is relevant in the two cities. Portland loves soccer independently of its rivalry with the Sounders. Seattle loves soccer independent of its rivalry with the Timbers. The rivalry is just a multiplier. The fans who truly live and die with the LA Galaxy might have truly loathed Chivas USA. Maybe. And maybe the fans who live and die by the New York Red Bulls truly loathe New York City [FC]. “But the New York City metropolis isn’t really aware that rivalry is going on because MLS isn’t that meaningful in that community. In the Northwest, soccer is one of the major sports. It’s one of the ways the cities define themselves in terms of sports in a way that New York or L.A. don’t.”
You have two fan bases that care a lot about the teams. They’re very, very close to each other. They both want to dominate the Pacific Northwest. STEVE ZAKUANI
FORMER SOUNDERS & TIMBERS MIDFIELDER
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One of Schmetzer’s favorite moments from the rivalry actually took place in a coffee shop, another anecdote from the USL days. The team would bus to Portland on matchday and would frequently stop at a Starbucks located just outside of what is now Providence Park. One day, Schmetzer and a few of the other members of the Sounders coaching staff went into that Starbucks to grab coffee before the game. It was then that he had an interaction with a Timbers fan that he’ll never forget. Schmetzer: “So, I’m sitting there at this Starbucks with [Darren] Sawatzky, Tommy Dutra and some of the other USL guys. And as I’m sitting there, I make eye contact with this Timbers fan who is walking down the street. We lock eyes and he’s walking by me and we’re still looking at each other. I kind of turn my head and I follow him and he literally takes like 10 or 12 steps past where I was sitting and you could tell he’s consciously thinking about what he’s just seen. You could see his mind working. “So, he stops and then he turns around walks back up the hill, looks up at me and flips me off. Double bird. He realized, ‘Hey, that’s the Sounders coaching staff in that Starbucks.’ He flips me off and then he just turns and walks away down the street. I actually enjoy that story because, you know, OK, you can criticize Portland and the Timbers Army or whatever. But it’s not like they’re not passionate. So, I actually appreciated it in some weird, strange way.” Dutra: “That was definitely gasoline [for the rivalry] for me, just how much they hated seeing us at that Starbucks. The funny thing is my wife was actually in that same Starbucks three hours later. They saw her Sounders scarf and they were letting her have it for wearing that scarf, which is funny because she’s actually from Portland.”
I make eye contact with this Timbers fan who is walking down the street... He flips me off and then he just turns and walks away down the street. BRIAN SCHMETZER SOUNDERS HEAD COACH
On July 1, 2009, the Sounders traveled to PGE Park for a thirdround Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup matchup in Portland. Seattle was in the midst of its first MLS season, while the Timbers were still members of the USL. The Sounders didn’t know it at the time, but they were about to play one of the most iconic matches in club history, one that began with a jersey dispute. Schmetzer: “They wanted to wear green and we only packed our green. So, the start was fraught with controversy because Portland had to change out of [its] preferred uniforms. And they took that as gamesmanship. Like ‘Oh, here’s the big MLS club and they don’t have it together.’ I remember [current Timbers general manager] Gavin Wilkinson, who was the coach at the time, just going nuts that they had to change their jerseys. They thought [former head coach] Sigi [Schmid] was gaming them or something.” Ruiz: “It’s ironic in a way because there was also a jersey snafu in maybe the worst hour of Sounders history when they played the Timbers in the Open Cup at Starfire [in 2015]. The Sounders had to change jerseys at halftime and then that led to the red cards and to the [Obafemi Martins] injury and then, after that, truly the darkest halfyear in Sounders history.”
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On the bus ride to the game in 2009, Levesque had hatched a plan with teammate Nate Jaqua for how they would celebrate should one of them score a goal. As it turned out, they would get to use it just 48 seconds into the match after Levesque finished a diving header off a cross from Sanna Nyassi. Jaqua then put the plan into action, rushing over to a celebrating Levesque and, using his arms to mime an axe, proceeded to ‘chop’ him down like a tree. Levesque toppled over and sprawled his body out onto the PGE Park turf, sending Seattle’s traveling supporters into bedlam and forever cementing his 18
place in Sounders lore. The ‘48 seconds’ goal is still considered one of the most iconic tallies in franchise history – and turned Levesque into an unexpected villain in the eyes of Portland fans. Dutra: “So good. I think the best part is they were trying to get their tifo down and then, all of a sudden we score and here comes the tree chop. That was the best moment because here they are, celebrating the game and we already scored. To me, the timing of that, because they were celebrating with the tifo and we score a goal, and hearing Jaqua and Roger talk about it and their celebration and what not, it was fun to see it happen.” Zakuani: “[My favorite memory] is Roger’s goal, I think. I didn’t play in that game, they used to rest some of us for the Open Cup games, but I made that trip because I wanted
to see us play against Portland, and Roger’s goal – and that celebration that they did – I think that’s a strong memory for a lot of us. “I think every game Seattle and Portland play [is my favorite memory]. You get the best crowds, the best atmosphere, both team’s best efforts, so they’re all good. But that particular memory when they were still a USL team kind of introduced a lot of us newer guys to the rivalry.”
it was going to mean going forward. So there was this unexpectedness and uncertainty of what that moment was. It was almost bridging the gap from the USL to MLS and the rivalry of old to what it’s going to look like.” Schmetzer: “Roger Levesque, the nicest guy on the planet, becomes the evil villain as far as Portland fans are concerned? I find that just hilarious, that Roger could be a villain.”
Levesque: “I think that moment resonated so much because it was so unexpected. Not just me being in the spotlight in that moment and scoring that goal but the timing, 48 seconds in, no one even had a chance to take a breath. The stands were still filling up.
Ruiz: “For some reason, while Roger Levesque was one of the most likable guys I ever dealt with in the Sounders organization, the Timbers specifically didn’t like him. For him to do that kind of showboating celebration at their greatest moment of pain, they’ll remember that one forever.”
“But it was also a point in the rivalry where it was this transition from USL to MLS, both teams were in this kind of transition phase. I think people were still trying to wrap their heads around what the rivalry was and what
Levesque: “I loved [being the villain], just the irony behind it. Anything I could contribute to just the passion and the growth of the sport and have a little fun with it, I’m gonna be all in.”
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Xbox is a Proud Partner of Seattle Sounders FC
Heading into this year’s iteration of Sounders-Timbers, the stakes have never been higher. Seattle is coming off its first MLS Cup championship following a penalty-kick triumph over Toronto FC at BMO Field in December – just one season after the Timbers became the first Cascadia team to win an MLS Cup. And although they missed the playoffs last season, Portland has shot out of the gate in 2017, boasting an attack that looks to be one of the most fearsome in MLS. Simply put, life is pretty good for supporters for either team these days and with the onfield success that both have experienced, the intensity of the rivalry only figures to magnify. Ruiz: “Deep, deep down inside, both probably respect each other in the sense of the Northwest getting soccer in a way that the rest of the country doesn’t. But I think there’s also a genuine dislike and the feeling, to some degree, that if you’ve got the bragging rights of the Pacific Northwest, you’ve got the bragging rights of United States soccer.”
I think it mirrors the growth of soccer in this country. That base of people continues to grow. BRIAN SCHMETZER SOUNDERS HEAD COACH
Schmetzer: “I think it mirrors the growth of soccer in this country. I think you go to the rivalry between the cities, the big-brother, little-brother complex, Portland vs. Seattle, the fact that our cities are geographically close and yet have different vibes in each city, that’s part of it. And from a people perspective, there have been a lot of people from Portland and from Seattle that have stayed in their communities. They remember the games. That base of people continues to grow. There’s a lot of players who played in the USL First Division who have played in the rivalry that are now coaching kids or are grown up and have their own kids, you get that human element of people who were involved in the rivalry themselves. “It starts to become part of the fabric of everyday life. Soccer in this country is taking off. It’s just a combination of all of this groundswell of stuff that makes our rivalry such a good one.”
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On what makes Seattle-Portland so special...
The fan bases compete to be the loudest fans, the most intimidating fans, and both teams want to be more successful off the field and on. Lots of people who live between Seattle and Portland have to choose which team they’re going to support. On what creates a rivalry...
I think most of them are created by proximity. The North London derby between Arsenal and Tottenham, the Glasgow derby between Rangers and Celtic.
On the best part of playing for the Sounders...
I built a great rapport with the fan base. All the support I received when I was injured and then all the way through my comeback was great.
On how Seattle changed him...
I was drafted with Seattle’s first pick ever, so from the beginning I felt a strong tie to the city. I grew as a person, as a man, and as an individual.
On where his loyalties fall now...
I spent more time with Seattle – five seasons compared to one in Portland. I have stronger ties here. I live here, played more games here. I’m just a Seattle person. 22
SPLIT PERSONALITY with Steve Zakuani
On the best thing about playing for the Timbers...
Waking up every day, driving to work and being around all my friends, not just teammates, but my friends.
On his decision to play in Portland...
It was the people who were there. My college coach who brought me from London to the States. Darlington Nagbe who is one of my best friends. To be with them every day was a great opportunity, especially after the injury I had.
His favorite rivalry moment...
It’s probably Roger Levesque’s goal. I didn’t play in that game, they used to rest some of us for the [Lamar Hunt U.S. Open] Cup games, but I made the trip because I wanted to see us play against Portland and Roger’s goal – and that celebration – that’s a strong memory for a lot of us.
Retired midfielder Steve Zakuani was selected first overall in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft by the Sounders, whereby he became a fan favorite. Zakuani also played for Portland providing a unique perspective on the Seattle-Portland rivalry having seen it from both sides. We sat down with Steve to get his perspective on the biggest, baddest derby in the United States.
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Manufactured by Nike, this clean jersey featured white-over-gold “Timbers” lettering on the chest. Portland used these uniforms on the road in 1982, and while the Oregon side eventually conceded the West Division title to its northern neighbors, the Timbers were able to secure a 1-0 road victory in their first match of the season in Seattle in these timeless jerseys.
1982 CLASSIC GREEN & GOLD
NASL GOLDEN YEARS
ORIGINAL HERITAGE 1982
Arguably the most famous Sounders jersey of the era, this was the kit of the Seattle team that fell just short of the league title to the New York Cosmos at the 1982 Soccer Bowl. Current boss Brian Schmetzer donned this uniform for his hometown side, signing with the club in 1980. The distinct light blue collar and trim are echoed in this season’s Heritage Kit, as the club’s current secondary uniform pays homage to this beloved jersey.
The Timbers have become most closely associated with their signature ponderosa and moss green hues in recent years, and their first-ever away shirt established their classic look in 1975 with this clean jersey made by adidas, featuring the iconic three stripes over the shoulders. The Timbers wore a white home strip until the 1977 campaign, when the switch to a green home jersey was made.
1975 TIMBER GREEN
While Seattle began NASL play in 1974, it was with Portland’s entry into the NASL the following year that a feud was born. The Sounders took the first-ever meeting between the two sides with a 1-0 win, and the white home kit came to define Seattle in the NASL era. The darker shade of green in the trim and lettering of the 1975 home jersey was worn by the players that earned the first home victory over Portland on August 2, 1975.
THE ORIGINALS
The fiercest soccer rivalry in the United States resumes this month, with the first of three 2017 matchups between Seattle and Portland. In a rivalry that has been defined by big personalities, bigger moments and a tribal sense of civic identity, we take a look back at some of the most iconic jerseys from both sides over the past 42 years. Seattle and Portland have battled through four decades and five competitions, beginning in the North American Soccer League (NASL) in 1975. The rivalry continued through the Western Soccer League (WSL), A-League and United Soccer League (USL), before finally reigniting in the topflight in 2011.
SOUNDER WHITE 1974
THE SHIRT
GREATEST HITS
Since joining MLS in 2009, Sounders FC has maintained a Rave Green primary kit. In 2017, though, the familiar look comes with a special bonus – a star above the crest – after Seattle claimed its first MLS Cup in a thrilling penalty-kick shootout against Toronto FC last December at BMO Field. It was the same kit the club wore on that bitter cold December evening in Toronto, as well.
SOUNDERS PITCH BLACK 2014-2015
TIMBERS THROWBACK 2014-2015
SOUNDERS SUPER CYAN 2012-2013
The Timbers became the first Cascadia side to win the MLS Cup in a 2-1 victory at Columbus Crew SC’s MAPFRE Stadium on December 6, 2015. After scoring a goal 27 seconds into the contest and adding another seven minutes later, the Timbers held on for the win. Portland wore its primary kit in the championship match, etching this jersey into its history forever.
2014-2015 CHAMPIONSHIP GREEN
THE CHAMPIONS
RAVE GREEN CHAMPS 2016-2017
2009 COMMISSIONER’S GREEN In 2009, the USL incarnation of the Timbers – wearing this forest green Nike jersey ringed with white collar and sleeves – marched to their second regular season championship after riding a USL-1 record 24-match unbeaten streak. While they took the Commissioner’s Cup, they would fall short of postseason glory.
USL GLORY DAYS
Prior to joining MLS in 2009, the Sounders enjoyed a successful run in the USL First Division, winning championships in 2005 and 2007 under current Head Coach Brian Schmetzer. The 2007 white Nike kit, simple in design and functionality - and occasionally paired with blue Sounders shorts included three stars over the Sounders crest symbolizing past championships in 1995, 1996, and 2005.
EMERALD CITY WHITE 2007
One of the most touching moments of the Seattle Sounders’ 2016 MLS Cup win is one you didn’t see. Deep in the heart of BMO Field in Toronto, amidst the sticky floors doused in champagne and the jubilant roaring from the visitor’s locker room, Jozy Altidore walked silently, alone, toward the noise. Jozy Altidore shares a congratulatory embrace with Jordan Morris outside the Sounders’ locker room after the 2016 MLS Cup.
ltidore’s towering header — the one that led to The Save from Stefan Frei, the star on his kit, the star tattooed on his left hand — had just nearly given Toronto FC its first league title. Instead, he approached a celebration, a ghost of what could have been, in search of Jordan Morris. Championship hat backward and overwhelmed with emotion, Morris met Altidore outside the locker room. The two embraced. “It was such a class act after how frustrated they were losing a big game like that,” Morris recalled. “It meant a ton and just shows the type of guy he is. He’s a great player on the field, but for me especially coming into camp, he’s been a mentor and a guy I look up to a lot. To have the class to come over to do that just speaks to his character.” Altidore and Morris were two of U.S. national team head coach Bruce Arena’s four forward selections, along with Morris’ teammate and the U.S.’ second all-time leading goalscorer Clint Dempsey, for March’s two crucial CONCACAF 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. Altidore, 27, has over 100 caps, while Morris, 22, is just starting to cement his place on the international stage. Altidore is impressed with what he sees from Morris and expects him to continue to contribute for club and country. “He has a lot going for him,” Altidore said of Morris. “He’s a humble kid, which I think helps a lot because he stays hungry for the right reasons. I think he can be a really big star for the U.S. national team and for MLS.” Morris and Altidore’s relationship has grown because of how Altidore has taken Morris under his wing. Altidore turned pro at 16 and understands how difficult it is to shoulder the inevitable weight that comes from being a U.S. soccer prodigy. When Altidore first joined the national team, he and Freddy Adu were the only young players in the mix and were forced to bear the brunt of the hype, the lofty expectations, and the unwavering spotlight.
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“All the attention was always on us,” Altidore said of he and Adu. “Now we have three, four, five guys who are coming through and they share those responsibilities.” Morris has become increasingly comfortable at the international level because of how welcoming and receptive Altidore has been. Toronto FC midfielder and U.S. captain Michael Bradley has also taken a devoted interest in Morris and has been vital to his continued growth and development. Bradley knew Morris was special the first time he saw him play. The U.S. was training at Stanford University in Palo Alto, Calif., ahead of the 2014 FIFA World Cup. ThenU.S. head coach Jurgen Klinsmann invited Morris to train with the national team for a couple days before Morris lined up against the U.S. in a scrimmage. The national team won handily, but Morris scored Stanford’s lone goal. “His ability to play up front and run and work and be mobile and be such a handful and then still when he got in certain positions, score a goal or set up goals, that part was special, and you could see that he had qualities that really made him different,” recalled Bradley. “As time has gone on and the more time that I’ve spent with him, the more time I’ve played with him and as we’ve become teammates and friends, I can’t speak any more highly of him and what he’s all about.” Said Altidore last December ahead of MLS Cup: “I remember looking over at [then-U.S. national team assistant coach] Andi Herzog, saying, ‘Is it too late to bring this guy along with us to Brazil?’ He was terrific.” While Morris did not go to Brazil, Dempsey did, and he became the first American to score in three World Cups. After missing over six months while recovering from an irregular heartbeat, Dempsey returned to the international stage during March’s World Cup qualifiers with a vengeance. He recorded a hat trick in his first match
against Honduras before adding another tally in Panama four days later. He and Altidore dominated offensively and their pairing as a second striker and No. 9, respectively, looked as good as it ever has. “The last two games worked really well, [Altidore] does a great job of holding the ball up and can create opportunities for people and also for himself,” Dempsey said. “It’s great to play alongside a player with his quality.” Added Altidore: “We’re both pretty good soccer players, just footballers alone, and we’re both goal-dangerous. We share the load and attention on defenses. That makes it work really well. We play different styles at the same time, so we give the defenses a different look and that’s worked well for us for a long time.” The dynamic between club and country in world football is unlike anything in any other sport. Six weeks ago, Dempsey, Morris, Altidore and Bradley trained together, played together, put their right hands over their hearts and sang the national anthem together. On May 6, they will line up on opposite sides of the field, temporary adversaries before donning the U.S. kit again in June for the next two crucial rounds of World Cup Qualifiers and in July for the Gold Cup. Bradley knows that everyone understands the deal. Part of what comes with being an international in a domestic league is playing against national team teammates as club opponents on a weekly basis. “When you look all around the world, the best national teams have a strong majority of their players who are playing in their domestic league, many of whom play together for the same clubs,” said Bradley. “The reality of our league is that the players are a little more spread out than they are in other leagues across the world, but you start to see that more and more.” Of Arena’s initial 24-man roster he called into camp ahead of those March WCQs, 19 currently play in MLS. It represents a rather large change in selection from Klinsmann
It’s always fun [to play against your international teammates], but it’s never easy... They’re talented guys and you always like to play against good players. –Jozy Altidore
TORONTO FC & USMNT FORWARD
to Arena, yes, but also signifies a cultural shift in the way American players view their domestic league. Even just five years ago, Bradley, Altidore, Dempsey, Tim Howard, Jermaine Jones, Sacha Kljestan and Alejandro Bedoya plied their trades abroad. Now home, the opportunity to build a better rapport behooves everyone. “That’s a really positive thing for us as players,” Bradley said, “but also for the league and everybody in our country to be able to watch these types of players on a weekly basis.” Familiarity may not breed contempt for the U.S. internationals competing against one another in MLS, but it doesn’t mean they won’t prepare the same way or approach the match any differently. They are aware, perhaps more than anyone, of how talented their opposition is. “[Altidore] is a quality player who scores goals, and any time you play against him, you have to be aware of where he is on the field,” said Dempsey. “It’s always fun [to play against your international teammates], but it’s never easy because you know what their qualities are like,” added Altidore. “They’re talented guys and you always like to play against good players. Those are memorable games.”
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by Ryan Krasnoo
How mutual respect and high-stakes matches set the stage for a rivalry with Real Salt Lake to blossom.
Up until the second leg of the 2012 MLS Cup Playoffs, the Sounders had known nothing but postseason heartbreak.
class saves in that series for both sides. It continued to the second leg and you knew that one mistake was going to end it, and sure enough that happened.”
Despite regular-season success in their first three years in Major League Soccer, Seattle could not advance past the Western Conference semifinals. In 2009, the Sounders fell 1-0 to the Houston Dynamo after extra time in the second leg. In ’10, they lost 3-1 to the LA Galaxy. And in ’11, they fell behind 3-0 to Real Salt Lake in the first leg at Rio Tinto, a series Seattle dropped 3-2 after coming up just short in the return home match.
Added head coach Brian Schmetzer, then a Sounders assistant: “In those historical moments in our club, [then-head coach Sigi Schmid] used to say it pretty good, I used to like the way he said it. ‘We always want to be the first: the first to do this, or the first to do that.’ That was the first group of players that won a playoff series.
But on an unusual 60-degree evening in Utah on Nov. 8, 2012, after battling to a scoreless draw in Seattle six days before, the Sounders finally found a breakthrough — from the most unlikely of places. Mario Martinez joined Seattle that August on loan from Honduras’ Real España and had played just four matches down the stretch of the regular season. Yet, there was Martinez, streaking down the left flank begging Fredy Montero to send a pass in his direction. Montero dropped a beauty of a chip to the left side of the 18-yard-box and Martinez let it bounce once before unleashing a howitzer of a one-timed, leftfooted strike past a helpless Nick Rimando and into the far corner. “Amazing, amazing goal,” recalled Sounders General Manager & President of Soccer Garth Lagerwey, who was RSL’s GM at the time. “What I remember about that whole series was how good the goalkeeping was by [Michael] Gspurning and Rimando. I bet there were 10 world-
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Martinez would play only 17 total games with the Sounders before returning to Real España. His series-clincher against RSL was remarkably his only tally for Seattle. “We finally got over the hump of beating them away from home in a game that really meant something for us,” said Brad Evans, whose run and subsequent pass to Montero set up Martinez’s goal. “That was a massive one and one I’ll always think of.”
“The psychological damage that that goal produced gave us an upper hand in that rivalry,” he continued, “because once we beat them, it gave us the, ‘Hey, we can do this,’ type of mentality.” RSL had already done it. They defeated the LA Galaxy to win the 2009 MLS Cup in the Sounders’ inaugural year — and they won at then-Qwest Field in Seattle. “For the longest time, we thought we were bulletproof in Seattle because we won a title on that field,” said Lagerwey. “We had all these memories that were warped relative to everybody else because it’s such a tough place to play in. The support was always there, but we were dumb enough to think that we were always going to win because we won a title there.” This was elevated by the fact that matches between Seattle and RSL always seemed to count for something a little more than your average game. From back-to-back playoff series to the 2015 and ’16 Decision Day clashes, every game had heightened value and each side had competitive, tough-nosed players suiting up.
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Mario Martinez celebrates his winner against Real Salt Lake in the 2012 Western Conference Semifinals with Fredy Montero and Osvaldo Alonso.
Osvaldo Alonso and Kyle Beckerman are arguably MLS’ two best defensive midfielders in league history. Their possession and vision are superb, yes, but the way they physically boss a midfield and disrupt attacks by planting themselves just above their respective back lines make playing against them incredibly frustrating. “I always played against Alonso,” said former RSL attacking midfielder Javier Morales, now with FC Dallas. “He’s a great guy, but on the field he’s so competitive, and I’m the same.” Added Evans: “On the field, it doesn’t matter what team he’s playing against, Kyle is generally out for blood. One thing I’ll always remember is that they played a 4-4-2 diamond and it was always an Achilles’ heel for us going down there and wondering, ‘How are we going to play this game?’ “For us, you want to beat the best,” Evans continued, “and for them I think they saw us as the better team at the time, and it was, ‘Who can be better?’” Since the 2009 season, Seattle and RSL are two of the three winningest MLS clubs. Their prolonged consistency in production is unlike anything the league has seen.
It’s no wonder then why, despite no contrived marketing aimed at pitting the two franchises against each other, the intensity and loathing between the Sounders and Real Salt Lake grew from inherent circumstances. “I think the thing you see is that the rivalry becomes organic, it becomes natural because when you play big games against somebody, somebody has to win and somebody has to go home, and those tend to be pretty memorable games,” said Lagerwey. “It was definitely organic because it wasn’t something that the league made up, which can tend to happen,” said Evans. “We kind of created this rivalry…It’s a rivalry of proximity but also a rivalry of two really good teams playing against each other at the right time.” In the grand scheme of things, the SeattleRSL rivalry may never quite match those in Cascadia or against the LA Galaxy, but the mutual respect and old-fashioned, bareknuckled attrition is as robust as any MLS has to offer. “It’s two teams with good dudes who just want to battle each other,” said Evans. “It doesn’t get the press coverage or the build-up a week out, but it’s more of an internal thing. It’s still a big one for us.”
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ON THE COVER
Pam Wishbow, who hails from “the stinky part” of New Jersey, has called Seattle her home for the past five years. Her unique style of illustration is informed by her explorations in a variety of print-making processes that she explored while studying art at the Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia. A full-time freelance artist, she has done work for clients such as Seattle Weekly, MailChimp and Verity Credit Union. Her work has been featured in both local and national publications, including Illustration Now!, Examiner, Juxtapoz, and LineworkNW. About living and working in Seattle, she explained that her favorite part is: “The rain. It isn’t the same kind of rain I’ve experienced living elsewhere, it is rarely so hard that you would need an umbrella and it’s just kind of moody, cozy, and makes me want to stay inside reading or working with a cup of coffee.” In addition to embracing the city’s iconic weather, Pam has also fallen for its soccer team – much to the chagrin of her New York Red Bulls supporting brother. Though not a traditionally vigorous follower of sports, she has found Sounders FC irresistible.
ARTIST LOCATION PORTFOLIO
“I’ve not lived many places where I have felt team pride,” she said. “I am pretty captivated if I’m out and there’s a game on.”
FOLLOW
Pam Wishbow Seattle, WA PamWishbow.com @PamWishbow
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MILK ISN’ T ORANGE. SO WHY IS YOUR C HEESE?
NATURALLY
WHITE
Cheddar.
Make URBANE part of your game day ritual. Featuring sustainable and farm-to-table fresh ingredients found locally in the Pacific Northwest, Urbane is the perfect location for pre and post match gatherings. Offering easy access to the Link Light Rail, join us for our daily happy hour specials. Urbane is located in Hyatt at Olive 8, the official hotel of Seattle Sounders FC and the only dual LEED and Green Seal certified hotel in town. Happy Hour 4p – 6:30p (daily) 1639 8th Ave (at Olive) 206.676.4600 urbaneseattle.com
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