Seattle Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer is on the short list of candidates to coach the team in its debut Major League Soccer season in 2009 as Sounders FC. Jose Miguel Romero went in search of players who’ve been under his charge over the past few years to see if they think he’s up to the job. The answer: maybe.
“I think it would be difficult for him, but he definitely knows the city in and out,” said the Houston Dynamo’s Brian Ching, who played for the Sounders for a year in 2002. “He knows which players from the Sounders that can make the transition [to MLS]. I thought he was a great coach when I was there and he handles the players right.”
Colorado Rapids goalkeeper Preston Burpo, who played at Seattle for nine years, said he hopes Schmetzer “is lucky enough” to get the position, but doubts whether he will get the head coaching position. “He’s done a wonderful job for that club, so I think in some capacity they’ll keep him around,” Burpo said. “Whether as a head coach or assistant or whatever they deem to be [his best role].”
Sounders minority-owner and GM Adrian Hanauer said Schmetzer “has many of the attributes that we are searching for in a head coach. His character, his winning mentality, his success leading his teams on the field, his ability to coach attractive soccer, his management style, are all qualities that we appreciate in Brian.” He said the team has just begun formally interviewing candidates, and that the Sounders’ ownership group will make the final decision.