2011 Seattle Sounders FC season


The 2011 Seattle Sounders FC season was the club's third season in Major League Soccer, the United States' top-tier of professional soccer. It was the Sounders FC organization's third year of existence; including all previous clubs, it was the 31st season of a soccer team bearing the Sounders name.

Background

The 2011 season is the third season for Seattle Sounders FC who began play in 2009 as the league's 15th team. In their inaugural season, Sounders FC became the second MLS expansion team in league history to win the U.S. Open Cup tournament in their first season. They did so by defeating D.C. United 2–1 on the road at RFK Stadium. In winning the U.S. Open Cup tournament, Sounders FC qualified for the preliminary round of the 2010–11 CONCACAF Champions League. During the preliminary round, they were paired up with the defending Primera División de Fútbol de El Salvador winners, Isidro Metapán. After winning the first leg by a score of 1–0, Seattle went to El Salvador to play the second.

Review

November

On 22 November 2010, Seattle made a trade with the Colorado Rapids for defenders Julien Baudet of France and Danny Earls of the Republic of Ireland for Peter Vagenas. Also, the list of the ten protected players for the 2010 MLS Expansion Draft was decided by the club. The draft took place on 24 November 2010 when both the Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps FC selected ten players from the Major League Soccer teams, including Sanna Nyassi and Nathan Sturgis from Seattle Sounders FC. Vancouver later traded Jamaican international O'Brian White to Seattle.

December

On 9 December 2010, Swedish club, BK Häcken reported that midfielder, Erik Friberg completed a three-year deal with the Seattle Sounders FC, bringing him over to the team. They also have announced a contract extension with captain Kasey Keller. On 15 December 2010, the Sounders selected Chris Seitz of the Philadelphia Union in the 2010 MLS Re-Entry Draft. The goalkeeper was later traded to FC Dallas for a fourth round pick of the 2012 MLS SuperDraft. Defender Tyrone Marshall was also selected in the draft by the Colorado Rapids.

February

The team traveled to Casa Grande, Arizona, just like before the 2010 season for preseason training.

March

On 9 March 2011, the Seattle Sounders FC played the defending MLS Cup champions, Colorado Rapids in the second Seattle Sounders FC Community Shield. The game was at Qwest Field, now called CenturyLink Field.
The Sounders opened up the 2011 regular season against the defending Supporters' Shield titleholders, Los Angeles Galaxy at Qwest Field. It was the third-consecutive MLS season that the league had its opening game in Seattle. The match was held on 15 March.

Match results

Preseason

Cascadia Summit

Seattle Sounders FC Community Shield

MLS regular season

Table

;Western Conference
;League

Results by round

Match results

MLS Cup Playoffs

U.S. Open Cup

CONCACAF Champions League

Preliminary round

Group stage

Team
Monterrey6402114+712
Seattle Sounders6312107+310
Comunicaciones6213813−57
Herediano6204611−56

Friendlies

Statistics

Appearances and goals

Squads

First Team squad

Major League Soccer squad

As of 12 September 2011.

Transfers

In

Out

Loan out

Club

Coaching staff

Management

Official sponsors

Source:

Kits

TypeShirtShortsSocksFirst appearance / Info
HomeRave GreenBlueRave Green
Home Alt.Rave GreenRave GreenBlueMLS, March 19 against New York
Home Alt. 2Rave GreenRave GreenRave GreenMLS, April 16 against Philadelphia
AwayShaleShaleShale
Away Alt.ShaleShaleRave GreenCCL, Group stage, September 27 against Comunicaciones
ThirdYellowYellowYellow

Recognition

MLS Player of the Week
WeekPlayerOpponentLink
10 Jeff ParkeSporting Kansas City
17 Fredy MonteroPortland Timbers
18 Mauro RosalesColorado Rapids
24 Lamar NeagleColumbus Crew
30/31 Kasey KellerSan Jose Earthquakes

MLS Goal of the Week
WeekPlayerOpponentLink
4 O'Brian WhiteChicago Fire
11 Lamar NeagleReal Salt Lake
14 Fredy MonteroToronto FC
15 Tyson WahlNew England Revolution
24 Lamar NeagleColumbus Crew
27 Álvaro FernándezD.C. United
28 Fredy MonteroVancouver Whitecaps

MLS Save of the Week
WeekPlayerOpponentLink
3 Kasey KellerSan Jose Earthquakes
4 Kasey KellerChicago Fire
12 Kasey KellerChicago Fire
23 Kasey KellerF.C. Dallas
30 Kasey KellerPhiladelphia Union
31 Kasey KellerSan Jose Earthquakes

MLS W.O.R.K.S. Humanitarian of the Month
MonthPlayerLink
March Fredy Montero

Miscellany

Stadium

On 23 June 2011, after the completion of CenturyLink's acquisition of Qwest, Qwest Field was renamed CenturyLink Field. CenturyLink picked up the five-year extension in the naming rights contract at that time, extending the contract to June 2019.

Allocation ranking

Seattle is in the No. 18 position in the MLS Allocation Ranking. The allocation ranking is the mechanism used to determine which MLS club has first priority to acquire a U.S. National Team player who signs with MLS after playing abroad, or a former MLS player who returns to the league after having gone to a club abroad for a transfer fee. Seattle started 2011 ranked No. 11 on the allocation list but on 26 August traded allocation positions with Chicago Fire to acquire Sammy Ochoa.

International roster spots

Seattle has 7 international roster spots. Each club in Major League Soccer is allocated 8 international roster spots, which can be traded. Seattle dealt one slot to Portland Timbers on 14 January 2011 for use in the 2011 season. There is no limit on the number of international slots on each club's roster. The remaining roster slots must belong to domestic players. For clubs based in the United States, a domestic player is either a U.S. citizen, a permanent resident or the holder of other special status.

Future draft pick trades

Future picks acquired: 2012 SuperDraft Round 4 pick acquired from FC Dallas.

Future picks traded: 2012 SuperDraft Round 3 pick traded to Chicago Fire.