Issue 21 | Sounders Monthly by Seattle Sounders FC

IN THIS ISSUE

2 9

CLOSER LOOK The Sounders give back, Stefan Frei shows off his back tattoo and CenturyLink Field glows during golden hour

2019 SCHEDULE Check out this year’s full slate

MEET THE TEAM

TOTAL FOOTBALL

24 26

Sounders players reveal their favorite players growing up

Kelvin Leerdam’s Dutch upbringing has him flourishing in Seattle WORDS BY RYAN KRASNOO

MLS MEETS BUNDESLIGA A look at Germany’s Borussia Dortmund, the Sounders’ summer friendly opponent

ANOTHER ONE Sounders Academy U-17s win Generation adidas Cup to add yet another title to their trophy case WORDS BY JOSEPH MONDELLO

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Ryan Krasnoo

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Rachel Johnson CONTRIBUTING DESIGNERS

Claire De Rocco Kristin Sheetz

10 QUESTIONS: BRAD SMITH Brad Smith opens up on his best goal celebration, his favorite superhero and more

ASSISTANT EDITORS

COVER PHOTOGRAPHER

COMMUNICATIONS

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Danny Ciaccio Pablo Mendicuti Alex Caulfield Kelly Schutz Brian Verdi Matt Winter

Mike Fiechtner

adidas Creators Network Mike Fiechtner Jane Gershovich Lindsey Wasson

© 2019 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

CLOSER LOOK

APRIL 18, 2019

Sounders midfielder Harry Shipp hands out RAVE Foundation soccer balls to kids at Shorewood Elementary School in Burien. Shipp, goalkeeper Bryan Meredith and defender Jonathan Campbell joined Sounders staffers to build gardens and share sustainability tips as part of Greener Goals week. 2

APRIL 21, 2019

Goalkeeper Stefan Frei salutes traveling supporters after the Soundersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; match with LAFC in Los Angeles.

APRIL 24, 2019

The Sounders and San Jose Earthquakes prepare for a match on a beautiful evening at CenturyLink Field.

AD 8

2019 SCHEDULE DATE

OPP ONENT

TIME

WATCH

SATURDAY, MARCH 2

VS FC CINCINNATI

7:00 PM

FS1, YOUTUBE TV

4-1

SATURDAY, MARCH 9

VS COLORADO RAPIDS

7:00 PM

JOETV, YOUTUBE TV

2-0

SATURDAY, MARCH 16

AT CHICAGO FIRE

10:00 AM

JOETV, YOUTUBE TV

4-2

SATURDAY, MARCH 30

AT VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC

7:00 PM

JOETV, YOUTUBE TV

0-0

SATURDAY, APRIL 6

VS REAL SALT LAKE

7:00 PM

JOETV, YOUTUBE TV

1-0

SATURDAY, APRIL 13

VS TORONTO FC

1:00 PM

JOETV, YOUTUBE TV

3-2

SUNDAY, APRIL 21

AT LAFC

4:00 PM

FS1, YOUTUBE TV

1-4

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24

VS SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES

7:30 PM

JOETV, YOUTUBE TV

2-2

SUNDAY, APRIL 28

VS LAFC

12:30 PM

ESPN, YOUTUBE TV

1-1

SATURDAY, MAY 4

AT MINNESOTA UNITED FC

5:00 PM

JOETV, YOUTUBE TV

1-1

SATURDAY, MAY 11

VS HOUSTON DYNAMO

7:00 PM

JOETV, YOUTUBE TV

WEDNESDAY, MAY 15

VS ORLANDO CITY SC

7:30 PM

JOETV, YOUTUBE TV

SATURDAY, MAY 18

AT PHILADELPHIA UNION

4:30 PM

JOETV, YOUTUBE TV

SUNDAY, MAY 26

AT SPORTING KC

3:00 PM

FS1, YOUTUBE TV

SATURDAY, JUNE 1

AT FC DALLAS

5:00 PM

JOETV, YOUTUBE TV

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5

AT MONTREAL IMPACT

4:30 PM

JOETV, YOUTUBE TV

SATURDAY, JUNE 29

VS VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC

7:00 PM

JOETV, YOUTUBE TV

WEDNESDAY, JULY 3

AT NEW YORK CITY FC

4:00 PM

JOETV, YOUTUBE TV

SATURDAY, JULY 6

AT COLUMBUS CREW SC

4:30 PM

JOETV, YOUTUBE TV

SUNDAY, JULY 14

VS ATLANTA UNITED FC

1:00 PM

ESPN, YOUTUBE TV

WEDNESDAY, JULY 17

VS BORUSSIA DORTMUND

7:30 PM

JOETV, YOUTUBE TV

SUNDAY, JULY 21

VS PORTLAND TIMBERS

6:30 PM

FS1, YOUTUBE TV

SATURDAY, JULY 27

AT HOUSTON DYNAMO

5:00 PM

JOETV, YOUTUBE TV

SUNDAY, AUGUST 4

VS SPORTING KC

7:00 PM

FS1, YOUTUBE TV

SATURDAY, AUGUST 10

VS NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION

1:00 PM

JOETV, YOUTUBE TV

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14

AT REAL SALT LAKE

7:00 PM

JOETV, YOUTUBE TV

SATURDAY, AUGUST 17

AT LA GALAXY

7:00 PM

ESPN2, YOUTUBE TV

FRIDAY, AUGUST 23

AT PORTLAND TIMBERS

7:00 PM

ESPN, YOUTUBE TV

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 1

VS LA GALAXY

3:00 PM

FS1, YOUTUBE TV

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7

AT COLORADO RAPIDS

6:00 PM

JOETV, YOUTUBE TV

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 15

VS NEW YORK RED BULLS

12:30 PM

ESPN, YOUTUBE TV

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18

VS FC DALLAS

7:30 PM

JOETV, YOUTUBE TV

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22

AT D.C. UNITED

5:00 PM

JOETV, YOUTUBE TV

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 29

AT SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES

4:30 PM

JOETV, YOUTUBE TV

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6

VS MINNESOTA UNITED FC

1:00 PM

JOETV, YOUTUBE TV

RESULT

Match dates and times subject to change. All time pacific. More info at soundersfc.com/schedule. PRESENTING PARTNER OF THE 2019 SOUNDERS FC SEASON

S TRE A M ALL M ATC HES LIVE ON YOU TU BE T V 9

MEET THE TEAM “WHO WAS YOUR FAVORITE SOCCER PLAYER GROWING UP?”

Jordy Delem Midfielder

Jordan Morris Forward

Brad Smith Defender

Stefan Frei Goalkeeper

Trey Muse Goalkeeper

Kim Kee-hee Defender

Kelvin Leerdam Defender

A: Wayne Rooney

Alfonso Ocampo-Chavez Forward

Víctor Rodríguez Midfielder

A: Adriano

Gustav Svensson Midfielder

Nouhou Defender

Román Torres Defender

Saad Abdul-Salaam Defender

Will Bruin Forward

Handwalla Bwana Midfielder

A: Diego Maradona

Danny Leyva Midfielder

Nicolás Lodeiro Midfielder

Alex Roldan Midfielder

Jonathan Campbell Defender

A: Thierry Henry

Chad Marshall Defender

A: Andrés Iniesta

Cristian Roldan Midfielder

Bryan Meredith Goalkeeper

A: Ronaldo (Brazilian)

Raúl Ruidíaz Forward

Harry Shipp Midfielder

TECHNICAL STAFF Garth Lagerwey

General Manager & President of Soccer

Chris Henderson

Sporting Director & VP of Soccer

Henry Wingo Midfielder

Brian Schmetzer Head Coach

Djimi Traore

Assistant Coach

Gonzalo Pineda Assistant Coach

Preki

Assistant Coach

Chris Little

Tacoma Defiance Head Coach & Academy Director of Coaching

Marc Nicholls

Director of Player Development

Tom Dutra

Club Director of Goalkeeping

Damian Roden

High Performance Director

Ravi Ramineni

Grant Clark

Team Administration Director

Vince Johnson

Team Services Director

Director of Soccer Analytics

ABOUT THESE PHOTOS Leerdam poses in Seattle’s historic Pioneer Square neighborhood

Kelvin Leerdam’s Dutch upbringing has him thriving in Seattle

BY RYAN KRASNOO PHOTOGRAPHS BY MIKE FIECHTNER

KELVIN LEERDAM KEEPS COUNTLESS NOTES. THEY SIT ON COUNTLESS PAGES OF COUNTLESS NOTEBOOKS. HE’S BEEN RECORDING EVERYTHING HE’S LEARNED FROM SOCCER SINCE HE WAS 17. NOW 28 AND IN HIS 12TH PROFESSIONAL SEASON, THE SEATTLE SOUNDERS DEFENDER CONTINUES TO WRITE THINGS DOWN.

ONE OF THE NETHERLANDS’ U-19 coaches told Leerdam to record everything he learned. The coach was impressed with Leerdam’s mental acumen and envisioned him, even before he made his professional debut at 18, as a coach later in life. He told Leerdam that the more he wrote down — exercises he learned, exercises he liked, things coaches said and did that he liked and didn’t — the more he’d already have at his disposal if and when the time came. It’s also served a therapeutic purpose, to clear his mind and reset his mentality. “[Writing has] helped me accept things quicker, let things go quicker from what coaches say or do, not reacting to some things,” said Leerdam. “The writing has helped me to let things go.”

Leerdam is still as mild-mannered as they come. He was born in Suriname, a small country of Dutch influence in northeast South America, nestled among French Guiana to the east, Guyana to the west and Brazil to the south. When he was 10, he and his family moved to Utrecht, the Netherlands, a city roughly 30 miles from Amsterdam. The transition was natural enough. The only major difference was winter. “I said to my mom, ‘The trees have no leaves,’” Leerdam said with a laugh. “That was the first thing I saw. I remember that.” Playing soccer eased the transition as well. Making friends was simple once everybody saw he could play. Soccer is an identity in tradition-rich Holland. Players grow up in what’s endearingly referred

to as Dutch Total Football, a philosophy made famous by the Netherlands national team in the 1970s. The system is founded upon the belief that any player on the pitch can take over the role of any other player. It’s fluid, effective and beautiful when executed properly. “I know how people see Dutch players,” said Leerdam. “I know people, especially in Europe, say they like Dutch players because tactically they are very well developed. It’s attractive the way Dutch teams like to play. It’s natural. “I like to play offensive soccer,” he continued. “I like it more than just waiting, I want to take initiative. That’s how I grew up. That’s all the coaches I’ve had in the Netherlands. They want to dominate the ball, they want to dominate the game. That’s how we like to play, and we want the opponent to do what we want and to play how we want them to play. It’s a natural way of thinking about the game. You want to let the offense enjoy and enjoy the pitch yourself.” Prior to his move to Seattle in summer 2017, Leerdam was a living testament to this approach. He said he hasn’t played

right fullback as long as people think he has. It’s a somewhat recent move for Leerdam, who has played every position except goalkeeper and striker in his professional career. “I had a coach,” Leerdam said, “[Peter Bosz], he’s now the coach of Bayer Leverkusen. He said to me, ‘Soccerwise, you’re a smart player. I believe you can play in every position. If I need you somewhere, you can play because I think you can adjust.’” Leerdam’s attack-minded approach to the game has been on display so far in 2019. Through just nine matches, he already has three goals, tied for second on the Sounders and first in MLS for all defenders. When asked if he and left back Brad Smith comprise one of the best fullback duos in Major League Soccer, Leerdam took it a step further. “I think [Smith and I] have to believe we are the best because I believe we have the best team,” Leerdam said. “You have to trust yourself, believe in yourself. Not to be arrogant, but as a team and as players individually, we have to believe we are the best. If we go like that in the

Zulily is proud to team up with local youth from Sounders FC community partners to present the Zulily Dream Team! 20

NOT TO BE ARROGANT, BUT AS A TEAM AND AS PLAYERS INDIVIDUALLY, WE HAVE TO BELIEVE WE ARE THE BEST. KELVIN LEERDAM

I KNOW PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY IN EUROPE, SAY THEY LIKE DUTCH PLAYERS BECAUSE TACTICALLY THEY ARE VERY WELL DEVELOPED. IT’S ATTRACTIVE THE WAY DUTCH TEAMS LIKE TO PLAY. IT’S NATURAL. KELVIN LEERDAM

game, we can beat everybody. Not to be arrogant, but confident. The way we play, the formation we play, it benefits me and Brad a lot. It makes us play to our strengths and makes us look better.” Despite the successes he’s had so far, Leerdam continues to push himself to improve. One, perhaps ironic, way is by making mistakes. In his third professional season with Feyenoord, Manager Ronald Koeman urged Leerdam to play freely and allow himself the opportunity to commit errors. Few things have changed Leerdam’s game more.

“Mistakes make you stronger, make you better,” said Leerdam. “At the end of your career, you’ll be your best self, the best player you could have been. Even if the fans are whistling or booing, go and make mistakes because that’s what’s going to make you better. “Most of the time, people are afraid to make mistakes,” he added. “It’s normal, it’s natural. You will learn. When you make it one time, you will not do it again. When you experience bad things in life, it can only make you stronger. It’s the same thing in football.”

MLS MEETS BUNDESLIGA The Seattle Sounders will host Germanyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Borussia Dortmund in an international friendly on Wednesday, July 17, at 7:30 p.m. PT. The match will be televised on JOEtv and YouTube TV. Tickets are available at SoundersFC.com/tickets.

GET TO KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE EUROPEAN GIANTS FULL CLUB NAME

STADIUM

MANAGER

Ballspielverein Borussia 09 e.v. Dortmund

Signal Iduna Park (capacity: 81,360) is the largest stadium in Germany. Dortmund routinely leads the world in professional club football attendance, including a global-best 80,230 fans per match this season, besting secondplace Manchester United and third-place Barcelona.

Lucien Favre (Switzerland)

NICKNAME BVB, Die Schwarz-Gelben (The Black and Yellows)

FOUNDED 1909

HONORS - One UEFA Champions League title - Eight German league titles - Four DFB-Pokals (German Cups) - Five DFL-SuperCups

Sounders Academy U-17s stormed through the 2019 GA Cup Champions Division to win their fourth title in two years

BY JOSEPH MONDELLO

SOUNDERS FC SUMMER CAMPS J U N E 24 - AU G U S T 3 0 A v a i l a b l e w e e k l y fo r age s 3 -1 6 a n d a l l a b i l i t i e s 25+ locations throughout Greater Seattle

Full Day: $285 Half-Day: $200 Advanced: $305 Emergence (Ages 3-5): $190

CAMPERS WILL RECEIVE One complimentar y ticket to a Sounders FC match

C a m p j e r s e y, s o c c e r ball and giveaways

Curriculum created by Sounders FC Academy Staf f

Chance to meet Sounders FC players and receive autographs

Camps are also supported by

THE SEATTLE SOUNDERS ACADEMY U-17S WON THE 2019 GENERATION ADIDAS CUP CHAMPIONS DIVISION, DEFEATING SPANISH SIDE VALENCIA CF 1-0 IN THE FINAL ON SATURDAY, APRIL 20, IN FRISCO, TEXAS. AS THE REIGNING CHAMPS OF THE GA CUP PREMIER DIVISION AND THE ONLY MLS CLUB TO EVEN ADVANCE TO THE TOURNAMENTâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S TITLE MATCH, SOUNDERS ACADEMY ETCHED ITS NAME IN HISTORY AS THE FIRST NORTH AMERICAN SIDE TO WIN THE EVENT.

WITH THE MATCH SEEMING DESTINED for penalties, First Team forward Alfonso Ocampo-Chavez’s cross found the head of Tacoma Defiance midfielder Ray Serrano, who guided his shot past the goalkeeper with only seconds remaining in the second period of extra time. Make no mistake, this is a massive benchmark for the Sounders, who had to go through Brazilian side Flamengo, Argentine powerhouse River Plate and England’s West Ham United to even reach the Champions Division Final.

“It was a wonderful experience,” said Head Coach Ryan Faithfull. “We knew the challenge of what it was going to be like going into it. The boys were really excited for the opportunity. It was a wonderful time. The players were phenomenal, on the pitch and off the pitch.” Undaunted by the occasion, Seattle raced out of the gates in the title match. Sounders First Team midfielder Danny Leyva nearly opened the scoring inside the first minute, but Valencia’s goalkeeper stood tall to deny him on the doorstep.

The Sounders controlled the first 10 minutes before the La Liga side clawed its way back into the match. Both teams traded spells of intricate possession as they tested each other out. It looked as if the Rave Green had drawn first blood in the 20th minute, when Defiance midfielder Danny Roblesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; shot crashed back off the crossbar and Ocampo-Chavez calmly dispatched the rebound, but he was whistled offside. It was a similar story in the second half, as both teams traded control of the match.

Valencia struck the woodwork twice, but the best chance of the afternoon fell to Ocampo-Chavez. He pressed Valenciaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s goalkeeper into a mistake but was unable to put the ensuing shot on frame. Extra time was a nervy affair, with both teams vacillating between cautiously playing for penalties and pushing numbers forward to find a winner. But in the dying embers of the match, Ocampo-Chavez, who won the Golden Boot with six goals and one assist in six matches, whipped in a cross that Serrano calmly redirected past

the goalkeeper for a historic victory. “Fonz is an incredibly hard-working striker, and an incredible professional as well,” said Faithfull. “He scored some big goals in the tournament — some late goals, some important goals — and also finished a hat trick against West Ham to kill the game off early. He’s got quite a lot of talent. He’s a promising young talent. But he’s still got a lot of work to do.” Added United States U-17 Head Coach Raphael Wicky, who was in attendance all week and recently called in OcampoChavez and Leyva for FIFA World Cup Qualifying: “They played really, really well, and I’m convinced they will be really important for our team. Alfonso is in great form, scoring a lot of goals at GA Cup as well as working hard for the team.” The Sounders Academy staff believes it’s critical to take young players out of their comfort zone by playing them up an age group and against international

players. Five of Seattle’s starters in the GA Cup Final were already under contract with the club on either the First Team or Tacoma Defiance, playing significant minutes at the professional level. “It comes from when [Head Coach] Brian [Schmetzer] brings them in to train with the First Team, or when they’re playing with us in USL games, it gives them great experience,” said Tacoma Defiance Head Coach and Academy Director of Coaching Chris Little. “They’re going to good environments and playing against older, established pros. All of those experiences continue to add up over time, which helps them evolve, grow and develop as players.” Throughout the past couple of years, the players on this U-17 team have beaten the likes of Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur, Everton FC, FC Basel (twice), Celtic FC and Saprissa. So, when the Sounders took on some of the best teams

ACROSS THE TOURNAMENT, EVERYONE GOT ON THE PITCH. THAT SAYS SOMETHING ABOUT THE ACADEMY, THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PLAYERS AND ALL OF THE HARD WORK THAT THE COACHES AND SUPPORT STAFF ARE PUTTING IN TO NOT JUST DEVELOP 11 GOOD PLAYERS, BUT A SQUAD OF 18. U-17 HEAD COACH RYAN FAITHFULL

in the world at this tournament, they weren’t flustered by the famous crests on the front of their opponents’ jerseys. “Me and [Director of Player Development] Marc [Nicholls] and [Director of Scouting] Sean Henderson were talking,” said Little. “Three years ago, just prior to me joining the club, I spent some time with the Academy. Sean was coaching his U-15 team, and we were all talking about how we were ever going to catch up with clubs like River Plate. We just thought they were so far ahead. All three of us were having a chuckle when we recalled that conversation. In three years, we’ve been able to bridge that gap.”

The young Sounders just won the GA Cup Champions Division by defeating some of the best young players in the global game. When facing top talents from around the world, soccer turns into a weak-link game. Players who are out of their depth are found out quickly and exposed. This is why Seattle’s historic run is so incredible, as every player on the squad stepped up and showcased his topnotch quality. “Across the tournament, everyone got on the pitch,” said Faithfull. “That says something about the Academy, the development of the players and all of the hard work that the coaches and support

COME EXPERIENCE THE VERY BEST OF SOUNDERS MATCHDAY We’ve bundled together four of the most high-profile home matches on the 2019 schedule into a four-match pack, starting at just $27 each match. From Cascadia rivalry matches to a summer clash against the LA Galaxy to a Decision Day showdown, these are four can’t-miss contests. Visit SoundersFC.com/4matchpack to purchase yours today.

VANCOUVER WHITECAPS SATURDAY, JUNE 29 | 7:00 PM

The last time these regional foes faced off, Seattle and Vancouver battled to a scoreless draw. Expect more goals this time around in a storied rivalry between the Sounders and Whitecaps that dates back to the 1970s when the two franchises competed in the North American Soccer League.

PORTLAND TIMBERS SUNDAY, JULY 21 | 6:30 PM

The league’s fiercest rivalry meets for a summer showdown in the biggest home match of them all. The Sounders won the West in 2016 and ’17, while the Timbers reached MLS Cup in ’15 and ’18. This contest marks the Timbers’ return to Seattle following the epic postseason battle that saw Portland defeat the Sounders last November.

LA GALAXY

SUNDAY, SEPT. 1 | 3:30 PM Since the Sounders joined MLS in 2009, the Rave Green joined the LA Galaxy as Western Conference powers. The only five-time MLS Cup champions, the LA Galaxy boast global stardom with star forward Zlatan Ibrahimović and new coach Guillermo Barros Schelotto, who formerly managed Nicolás Lodeiro at Boca Juniors and played alongside Chad Marshall in Columbus.

MINNESOTA UNITED

DECISION DAY | SUNDAY, OCT. 6 | 1:00 PM It all comes down to Decision Day, when the Sounders host Minnesota United. The Rave Green will look to hopefully solidify their playoff positioning and set a league record with their 11th consecutive postseason berth. The final day of the regular season also marks the return of Sounders legend Ozzie Alonso, who joined Minnesota last offseason. 36

staff are putting in to not just develop 11 good players, but a squad of 18. Everyone contributed.” Valencia, who defeated Seattle 1-0 in the group stage’s opening match, was the only team to defeat the Rave Green. The Sounders bounced back from that disappointing loss by rattling off four wins and four clean sheets for a rematch against the Spanish side in the title game. Determined to make a statement in the final, the young Sounders got their redemption. “All we’re trying to do is create a culture and an environment,” said Little. “In order

to get them to buy in, you need success. When you get success, people believe in it on the field in terms of the teams and players being successful, and then it’s the same thing in the pathways for the individual player. When people see Danny Leyva getting signed or Alfonso OcampoChavez getting signed, the Academy players start to think, ‘That could be me.’ “That’s the same on the field with these teams,” he continued. “When you win the GA Cup and you win the Youdan [Trophy], you start to get the culture where players expect to win. That becomes the standard and the culture of representing this club.”