Blaise Nkufo. Christian Tiffert. Emanuel Cecchini. In some ways Léo Chú could be on that list.
They were big swings. They didn't work out. Other players may belong, too (Héber) though the swing there wasn't big. Josh Atencio was a U22 that they may have given up on too early (not the first time they've given up on a young player who went on to be something, though they got more for Josh than they did for Rogers, Serrano, Wingo).
Talent moves in and out of soccer teams all the time. The legends who stay for life are rare at all levels of the pro game.
Seattle's free money, that was actually earned by a wonderful joyous day in front of nearly 70,000 people pulling off history to live in immortality, is an opportunity. The historically risk averse organization has to be as big and bold as they were when they signed an upper pantheon coach (Sigi), when they signed an Invincible, when their locker room wooed Eddie, when their crowds convinced Clint, when their history pulled in Garth, when their ambition pulled in Oba, when their kindness attracted Nico. All of those moves also cost a lot of money.
They were big and bold – just like the list of failures up top.
Success defines the Seattle Sounders Football Club. That's why it is hosting three home games in the Club World Cup and three more games are going to be played here.
Fear does not define us.
Never known for ambition, this organization still pulled off making soccer work in a football stadium for 10 years of growth, won more games than any other team from 2009 to the present, won more trophies than any other team 2009 to the present, has a second coach that belongs in the upper pantheon (Schmetzer has the ppm and trophies to show for it).
The cards to play are still strong. An infusion of earned cash should be the power to be bold, to play three decent hands and only need to succeed on one of them.
Because if a costly U22 doesn't work out you move on, without regrets. A young player that leaves and does well later isn't a failure for the org – it is instead a sign that they helped create them (see again, Rogers, Wingo, Serrano).
Seattle never needed the beaches and media market to attract stars. We've built them right here. In MLS our legends are top jersey sellers. Our teams created icons, too. One is in the ownership group.
Players with that type of ambition take some money to convince.
Adrian & Co., you have that now.
And you still have everything that convinced Nico, Raul, Garth, Oba, Clint, Eddie, Freddie, Sigi and others to sign here.
Spend that money. Help us write more legends.
These fans will show out and reward it, because that's what we've been doing since 2009 and since 1974.
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Catching up on Sounder at Heart
Here's what you missed on the site this week.
Sounders
Next match: Saturday, March 29 at San Jose Earthquakes | 7:30 pm PT | MLS Season Pass
Seattle 4 pts, +2 in last 3 | San Jose 0 pts, -5 in last 3
- Everything you need to know ahead of Quakes-Sounders
- Opposition scouting report: San Jose Earthquakes
- Under The Lights: Scouting the San Jose Earthquakes
- What would Ryan Kent bring to the Sounders?
- Ryan Kent is apparently already in town
- Is Ryan Kent the answer?
- How will the Sounders’ Club World Cup windfall be spent?
- Realio’s Ratings: Are we doomed?
- FIFA finally announces Club World Cup prize pool
Reign
Next match: Sunday, March 30 at Angel City FC | 5 pm PT | CBSSN
Seattle 4 pts, +1 in last 2 | ACFC 2 pts, +0 in last 2
- Match preview: Seattle Reign vs. Angel City
- The Cooler Guild: A win at NC, are we kind of good?!?
- Valkyratings: Jordyn Bugg absolutely clowns on the Courage
Defiance
Next match: Wednesday, April 2 vs. Spokane Velocity | 7 pm PT | US Open Cup | YouTube
Tacoma 3 pts, +1 in last 2 | Spokane 1 PT, -1 in last 2
Spokane
Velocity: Saturday, March 29 at Greenville Triumph SC | 4 pm PT | ESPN+ & SWX
Zephyr: Thursday, April 3 vs. Brooklyn FC | 6 pm PT | Peacock+
Looking back at the news
Everything else you need to know
- The 2026 World Cup, heralded as a uniter, is facing divisive road blocks (The Guardian)
- The USL voted to adopt promotion and relegation. Now what? (Backheeled)
- CBS Sports adds the U.S. Open Cup to its streaming soccer lineup (Awful Announcing)
- 'Excited' Trinity Rodman looking forward to USWNT return (Pro Soccer Wire)
- Boston Legacy FC: NWSL expansion side unveils their new name ahead of joining league during 2026 season (CBS Sports)
- NWSL, Gotham FC, Orlando Pride address ‘incident involving hateful language’ directed at Barbra Banda (Yahoo Sports)
- From Drew Carey to Ken Griffey Jr., celebrities want a piece of Seattle sports teams (Puget Sound Business Journal)
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