Sigi Schmid‘s eight-year tenure in Seattle has come to and end.
The Sounders announced on Tuesday that him and the club have agreed to mutually part ways. This comes during a challenging 2016 season where the Rave Green currently find themselves ninth in the Western Conference and ten points out of a playoff spot. The club also has just one win in their last seven MLS regular season games.
OFFICIAL: #Sounders, Sigi Schmid mutually agree to part ways: https://t.co/Pj8RBLYUCm pic.twitter.com/5s40QG2NLt
— Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) July 26, 2016
Seattle Sounders Part Ways with Head Coach Sigi Schmid
Sounders owner Adrian Hanauer released a statement along with the announcement of Schmid’s departure thanking him for his contribution to the organization. He also stated the need for a new direction.
“Sigi Schmid has been an invaluable member of Sounders FC since the club’s MLS launch, leading our organization to numerous trophies and a consistent winning culture for seven seasons,” Hanauer said. “Sigi departs the club with our utmost respect and gratitude for his years of service. Ultimately the club and Sigi agreed that a change was needed at this time, but Sigi’s legacy will always be a part of our history. He has my sincere appreciation for all that he committed to our team and community.”
Schmid was named head coach in 2009, coinciding with the club’s move to MLS. Over the course of his time with the Sounders, the club was among the more successful in the league. This was especially true in U.S. Open Cup play. Seattle captured the trophy four times under Schmid including three in a row from 2009-2011.
The 63-year-old Schmid led the Sounders to the MLS playoffs in all seven of his previous seasons as coach. This included two trips to the Western Conference Finals as well as a Supporters’ Shield in 2014. Seattle never finished worse than fourth in the West during that time.
But what eluded the club and what ultimately defined Schmid’s time in Seattle was the inability to win an MLS Cup. His previous two coaching stints in the league saw both sides win that ultimate prize. On both occasions, it was the first championship in team history, first with the LA Galaxy in 2002 and later with Columbus Crew SC in 2008.
Effective immediately, Brian Schmetzer will assume the role of interim head coach. The long-time assistant coached the Sounders when they were in USL from 2002-08. In that time, the club won two championships at that level and made the U.S. Open Cup semifinals on two occasions (2007, 2008).
Seattle’s first game of the post-Schmid era takes place this coming Sunday when they host the LA Galaxy. The game kicks off at 1 PM PT and will be televised nationally on ESPN.
