List of Seattle Sounders FC managers

Seattle Sounders FC is a Major League Soccer (MLS) team that has played in the Western Conference since their debut in the 2009 season as an expansion franchise. The Sounders have had two manager since their inaugural MLS season: Sigi Schmid and Brian Schmetzer.

Schmid joined the team ahead of their inaugural season and coached for seven full seasons until his departure in July 2016; he led the Sounders to four U.S. Open Cup titles and a Supporters' Shield.[1] He was replaced by Brian Schmetzer, who was named as caretaker manager after serving as assistant coach. Schmetzer had previously managed the club in the USL First Division and played for the NASL franchise in the 1980s. Schmetzer was named permanent head coach in November 2016, ahead of the team's first MLS Cup championship.[2]

Managers

As of December 31, 2025[3]

This list includes all those who have managed the club since 2009, when the club joined Major League Soccer for the first time, whether managing on a full-time or caretaker basis. Games played include all regular season and MLS Cup Playoffs matches, and the win percentage is calculated from the total of games.

Key
† Caretaker manager
‡ Caretaker manager before being appointed permanently

MP = Matches played; W = Matches won; L = Matches lost; D = Matches drawn; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against. Only includes MLS records. See Major League Soccer records and statistics.

Name Nationality From To MP W L D GF GA Win%1 Notes
Sigi Schmid  Germany December 16, 2008 July 26, 2016 324 156 103 65 – – 48.15% Has the most regular season coaching wins in Major League Soccer history (228).[4]
Brian Schmetzer†  United States July 11, 2009 1 1 0 0 2 1 100.00% Schmid unavailable due to family obligations, vs. Houston Dynamo[5]
Brian Schmetzer†  United States October 22, 2012 1 1 0 0 3 1 100.00% Schmid unavailable due to suspension, vs. FC Dallas[6]
Brian Schmetzer†  United States March 14, 2015 1 0 1 0 2 3 0.00% Schmid unavailable due to family obligations, vs. San Jose Earthquakes[7]
Brian Schmetzer†  United States September 5, 2015 2 1 1 0 3 2 50.00% Schmid unavailable due to health issue, vs. Toronto FC and San Jose Earthquakes[8]
Brian Schmetzer‡  United States July 26, 2016 Incumbent 341 160 96 85 506 390 46.92% Made permanent head coach on November 2, 2016.[2]
  • 1Win% is rounded to two decimal places.

Records

Honors

As of December 31, 2025
Name Nat Tenure Trophies Honors
Sigi Schmid  Germany 2009–2016 5
Brian Schmetzer  United States 2016–present 8

Most games managed

As of December 31, 2025[3]
Manager Games
Sigi Schmid 324
Brian Schmetzer 341

Earlier managers

The table lists managers since Seattle Sounders's election to Major League Soccer during it time in the North American Soccer League. It also includes the American Professional Soccer League and the USL First Division which took place between 1994 and 2008:

Assistant managers

Since the 2009 season, several assistant managers have been with the club:

Current staff

Position Staff Since
General Manager and Chief Soccer Officer Craig Waibel 2022
Head Coach Brian Schmetzer 2016
Assistant Coach Preki 2018
Assistant Coach Freddy Juarez 2021
Assistant Coach Ricardo Clark 2026
Goalkeeper Coach Tom Dutra 2008
Head of Fitness Adam Centofanti
Director of Scouting Sean Henderson

Updated to match played May 2026
Source: SoundersFC.com

See also

References

  1. ^ Pentz, Matt (July 26, 2016). "Sounders part ways with longtime coach Sigi Schmid". The Seattle Times. Retrieved December 4, 2016.
  2. ^ a b Pentz, Matt (November 2, 2016). "Sounders remove interim tag, hire coach Brian Schmetzer on a full-time basis". The Seattle Times. Retrieved December 4, 2016.
  3. ^ a b MLS Communications Department, Elias Sports Bureau (February 9, 2026). "2026 Fact and Record Book". Major League Soccer. pp. 28, 81, 115. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
  4. ^ Kennedy, Paul (July 26, 2016). "MLS Spotlight: Sigi Schmid's long run in Seattle is over". Soccer America. Retrieved December 4, 2016.
  5. ^ "Ianni spins in winner for Sounders FC". SoundersFC.com. July 11, 2009. Retrieved March 21, 2015.
  6. ^ "Sounders Handle Dallas FC 3-1". KHQ.com. October 22, 2012. Retrieved March 21, 2015.
  7. ^ "Sigi Schmid to miss tonight's San Jose match due to family commitment". SoundersFC.com. March 14, 2015. Retrieved March 21, 2015.
  8. ^ "Sigi Schmid missing Seattle Sounders game vs. Toronto FC due to health issue". MLSsoccer.com. September 5, 2015. Retrieved September 13, 2015.
  9. ^ "Brian Scmetzer". Soundersfc.com. Retrieved March 21, 2015.
  10. ^ "Ezra Hendrickson". Seattle Sounders FC. Soundersfc.com. February 15, 2014. Retrieved March 21, 2015.
  11. ^ "Ante Razov". Seattle Sounders FC. Soundersfc.com. January 23, 2015. Retrieved March 21, 2015.
  12. ^ a b Evans, Jayda (August 12, 2021). "Sounders lose top assistants in Gonzalo Pineda and Djimi Traore". The Seattle Times. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
  13. ^ Rodriguez, Alicia (January 13, 2018). "Seattle Sounders appoint former MLS Coach of the Year Preki assistant coach". MLSsoccer.com. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
  14. ^ a b Evans, Jayda (January 24, 2022). "Former Sounders player Andy Rose 'over the moon' to now be a Sounders assistant coach". The Seattle Times. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
  15. ^ a b Evans, Jayda (January 12, 2026). "Sounders bringing Paul Arriola along slowly after ACL injury". The Seattle Times. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
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