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Seattle Sounders Legends: Top 5 Best Players

Seattle Sounders Club Legends

Since their inception in 2009, the Seattle Sounders have been one of the most consistent teams in Major League Soccer.

Aside from that wobble in 2022, the Sounders have always finished towards the top of the Western Conference and made it to the playoffs, even winning it twice. What’s more, they won the US Open Cup three times in a row in their first three years, then once more in 2014 when they also won the Supporter’s Shield. Oh, and as of 2024 they are one of only 3 MLS clubs to have won the CONCACAF Champions League (now Champions Cup).

A soccer club doesn’t earn those kinds of honors without some absolute ballers on the pitch, and the Seattle Sounders have certainly had their fair share of talent. Think back to the days of Kasey Keller who excelled despite being in his 40s, and what about Obafemi Martins, who turned up and banged goals in for fun for 3 seasons before heading off to China. Then there’s Jordan Morris, the home grown kid who has been a bit unlucky with injuries but could well end up being a one-club man by the time he retires. Brad Evans, Chad Evans, Cristian Roldan, Fredy Montero…

There are many more names I could list, all of whom did fantastic things for the club, but they aren’t on this list. This is a list of the small handful of players who did more for the Sounders than anyone else. Through time served, impact made and trophies won, the following players are all undeniably Seattle Sounders legends.

5. Zach Scott: 2002-2016

Zach Scott Seattle SoundersSome people might question my choice here given the players I have left out. But club legends come in many forms, and Zach Scott is an unsung hero who I think deserves more recognition.

Scott was one of the few players who transitioned with the Sounders from the USL to MLS and managed to stay the course. In fact, he spent his entire career in Seattle, signing for the original team in 2002 and finally retiring in 2016, still wearing the Rave Green jersey.

Although he won silverware with Seattle in the USL, we are only interested in his MLS career. Being an original member of the team he was there for all 4 of their US Open Cup wins, and he also helped them win the Supporter’s Shield in 2014 and the MLS Cup in 2016. Talk about going out on a high.

Zach Scott played a centre back or right back, and proved to be a solid no-fuss defender. He wasn’t technically gifted, he wasn’t particularly skilful, but he knew his job and he did it well. Scott used his physicality to great effect, excelling in one-on-one situations and aerial duels, using his strength and timing to shut down attackers. He was brave too, often putting his body on the line for the sake of the team.

His versatility along the back line also made him a very useful player when the squad had issues with injury, and he would outwork anyone on the field, earning him the respect of fans and team mates. He took 51 yellow cards and was sent off 4 times, second only to Osvaldo Alonso, and was constantly fighting for his place in the team and winning, which tells you a lot about his spirit.

Scott became known as ‘Mr. Sounder’ by the fans, partly due to his on field achievements but also because of the work he did in the community. With a moniker like that, how can he not be considered a club legend?

4. Stefan Frei: 2014-????

Stefan Frei Seattle SoundersThe Seattle Sounders had their most successful season ever in 2014, which just so happens to be when Stefan Frei turned up at Lumen Field.

Coincidence? I don’t think so.

Frei has been their number one shot stopper ever since, spending over a decade at the club and being heavily involved in every major trophy they have won since. That means he has won every single gong it is possible to win in MLS apart from the Leagues Cup. His honors include 2 MLS Cups, one US Open Cup, one Supporter’s Shield, and one CONCACAF Champions League.

Known for his athleticism and his ability to pull off extraordinary saves, Frei was also a loud voice at the back and a leader of the team. His ability to distribute the ball with precision fit perfectly into the Sounders’ possession-based style of play, and he was instrumental in their success during his time. Arguably his finest moment came when he pulled off this miracle in the 2016 MLS Cup final:

That save kept the Sounders in the game which they ultimately won on penalties. Had Toronto gone 1-0 up, it would probably have been a very different story.

On a personal level, Frei is the Sounders’ record appearance holder, has won MLS Save of the Year twice, was the MLS MVP in 2016 and an MLS All Star in 2017. The fans love him, and he loves them.

Stefan Frei is everything it means to be a club legend. He is still on the roster, but at 39 years of age at the time of writing, retirement can’t be far off.

3. Osvaldo Alonso: 2009-2018

Osvaldo Alonso Seattle SoundersEvery club wants a player like Ozzie.

An original member of the inaugural 2009 team, Osvaldo Alonso stayed with the Sounders for 10 seasons, giving them the best years of his career and winning four US Open Cups, an MLS Cup, and a Supporter’s Shield along the way.

Although he was a defensive midfielder, calling him that doesn’t do him justice. He was the engine of the team, displaying tactical intelligence, incredible stamina, and he lead by example.

He was a nightmare to play against. Fearless, very aggressive, but also defensively aware, he could break up attacking play with crunching tackles and well timed interceptions like few others. His club record of 75 yellow cards and 3 reds tells you all you need to know about how Alonso battled in midfield. His was given the nickname, ‘The Honey Badger’, and it suited him. He was a real warrior.

He was no thug though. Alonso was a great passer of the ball and he had vision too, often starting an attacking play with an astute long ball, and his calmness under pressure helped to team control the pace of games.

No one would question his work rate either, or his commitment. During the 2016 MLS Cup final he played through injury to ensure his team took home the trophy. He had a sprained left knee so was effectively playing on one and a half legs, but you would never have known. His dedication was something else.

He is often referred to as the heart and soul of the Sounders during his time there, and every fan has a soft spot for him.

2. Nicolás Lodeiro: 2016-2023

Nicolas Lodeiro Seattle SoundersNicolás Lodeiro really hit the ground running when he joined the Seattle Sounders in 2016.

He immediately established himself as their creative dynamo, winning the first of two MLS Cups in the year he signed, another in 2019, and adding the CONCACAF Champions League in 2022.

He joined as a high profile designated player half way through the 2016 season, when the Sounders were struggling for form and faced the very real possibility of not qualifying for the playoffs. His impact was astounding, and many credit him with saving the season. He was recognised more widely too, winning MLS Newcomer of the Year. He came from Boca Juniors but had also played in Serie A in Italy, so he brought that European quality with him.

A quintessential playmaker, Lodeiro combined technical brilliance, vision, and work rate to excellent effect. His clinical passes and incisive through balls led to a club record 62 assists during his 8 years as a Sounder, and he scored 58 goals himself. He was a master of set pieces, very clever with his movement, and thrived in high pressure situations, often delivering key goals or assists in the club’s hour of need.

He became the team captain in 2019, the same year he was selected as an MLS All Star, and was in the MLS Best XI a year later. He proved to be a charismatic leader, which was no surprise since he always had plenty of personality.

When Lodeiro left the club in 2023, he recorded an emotional farewell to the fans and was in tears. I bet many of the fans felt the same way.

Just read some of those comments. What a player.

1. Clint Dempsey: 2013-2018

Clint Dempsey Seattle SoundersMLS is well known for marquee signings, and Clint Dempsey definitely fits that description for the Sounders.

He signed midway through the season in 2013, brining English Premier League pedigree and plenty of attention with him. He was one of the most prominent American players in Europe at the time, as well as a staple in the USA team, and this did wonders for the club’s global reputation. It gave them a boost nationally too, especially when Dempsey was featured on the front cover of Fifa 15.

Clint stayed with the freakin’ Sounders for six seasons, bagging an MLS Cup, a Supporter’s Shield and US Open Cup during his time. He was the club’s top scorer when he left, netting 57 times in 136 appearances and providing 26 assists to boot. That record may have been broken since, but Clint’s impact was immense, and it would have been even more had he not been diagnosed with a serious heart condition in 2016.

Sounders fans loved Dempsey, because his attitude fit the club perfectly. He was fiercely competitive with a no nonsense approach to the opposition, and he brought a swagger to his game. A charismatic player with flair who could fit in anywhere at the top of the field, his versatility added to his value and made him unpredictable in the face of defenders. He could dribble with the best of them, and was technically sound too.

A fan favourite even now, he remains one of the most recognisable players in the club’s history.