Seattle Sounders FC is a Major League Soccer (MLS) team that has played in the Western Conference since their debut in the 2009 season as an expansion franchise. The Sounders have had two manager since their inaugural MLS season: Sigi Schmid and Brian Schmetzer.
Schmid joined the team ahead of their inaugural season and coached for seven full seasons until his departure in July 2016; he led the Sounders to four U.S. Open Cup titles and a Supporters' Shield. He was replaced by Brian Schmetzer, who was named as caretaker manager after serving as assistant coach. Schmetzer had previously managed the club in the USL First Division and played for the NASL franchise in the 1980s. Schmetzer was named permanent head coach in November 2016, ahead of the team's first MLS Cup championship.
Managers
This list includes all those who have managed the club since 2009, when the club joined Major League Soccer for the first time, whether managing on a full-time or caretaker basis. Games played include all regular season and MLS Cup Playoffs matches, and the win percentage is calculated from the total of games.
+Key Caretaker manager Caretaker manager before being appointed permanently MP = Matches played; W = Matches won; L = Matches lost; D = Matches drawn; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against. Only includes MLS records. See Major League Soccer records and statistics. NameNationalityFromToMPWLDGFGAWin%1NotesSigi Schmid32415610365––48.15%Has the most regular season coaching wins in Major League Soccer history (228).Brian Schmetzer110021100.00%Schmid unavailable due to family obligations, vs. Houston DynamoBrian Schmetzer110031100.00%Schmid unavailable due to suspension, vs. FC DallasBrian Schmetzer1010230.00%Schmid unavailable due to family obligations, vs. San Jose EarthquakesBrian Schmetzer21103250.00%Schmid unavailable due to health issue, vs. Toronto FC and San Jose EarthquakesBrian SchmetzerIncumbent3411609685%Made permanent head coach on November 2, 2016. 1Win% is rounded to two decimal places.
Records Honors
NameNatTenureTrophiesHonorsSigi Schmid2009–20165MLS Supporters' Shield (1): 2014 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup (4): 2009, 2010, 2011, 2014Brian Schmetzer2016–present8CONCACAF Champions League (1): 2022 MLS Cup (2): 2016, 2019 Western Conference Championship (4): 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020 Leagues Cup (1): 2025
Most games managed
Manager Games Sigi Schmid 324 Brian Schmetzer 341
Earlier managers The table lists managers since Seattle Sounders's election to Major League Soccer during it time in the North American Soccer League. It also includes the American Professional Soccer League and the USL First Division which took place between 1994 and 2008:
John Best (1974-1976) Jimmy Gabriel (1977–1979) Alan Hinton (1980–1982 and 1994–1995) Laurie Calloway (1983) Neil Megson (1996–2000) Bernie James (2001) Brian Schmetzer (2002–2008)
Assistant managers Since the 2009 season, several assistant managers have been with the club:
Brian Schmetzer (2008–2016) Ezra Hendrickson (2009–2015) Ante Razov (2015–2016) Djimi Traoré (2016–2021) Gonzalo Pineda (2017–2021), departed to become head coach of Atlanta United FC Preki (2018–present), former MLS Coach of the Year with Chivas USA in 2007 Freddy Juarez (2021–present) Andy Rose (2022–2025) Ricardo Clark (2026–present)
Current staff {|class="wikitable" !Position !Staff !Since |- |General Manager and Chief Soccer Officer||| Craig Waibel||2022 |- |Head Coach|| Brian Schmetzer||2016 |- |Assistant Coach|| Preki||2018 |- |Assistant Coach|| Freddy Juarez||2021 |- |Assistant Coach|| Ricardo Clark||2026 |- |Goalkeeper Coach|| Tom Dutra||2008 |- |Head of Fitness|| Adam Centofanti || |- |Director of Scouting|| Sean Henderson||
See also Seattle Sounders (1974–1983) Seattle Sounders (1994–2008)
References