COACH SPEAKING INTO EXISTENCE
Give Brian Schmetzer for his calculated coach-speak messaging. The greatest soccer coach in Sounders FC history and one of the best in MLS History. Bruce Arena’s five MLS trophies are a feat very few coaches in any sport have achieved.
Schmetzer’s former mentor and friend, Sigi Schmid, is one of four coaches who have won the MLS Trophy with three different teams. Cale Porter ( Portland Timbers 2015, Columbus SC 2020), Greg Vanney ( Toronto FC 2017, LA Galaxy 20240), Arena won two titles with DC United 1996, 1997 and three with LA Galaxy ( 2011, 2012, 2014). One could debate whether it is more difficult to consistently win one club or move around.
CONSISTENT WINNER
One thing Schmetzer has done, like his contemporaries, is win. Schmetzer has won the CONCACAF Champions League 2022, two MLS Cups in 2016 and 2019, the Supporters’ Shield in 2013-14, and now the Leagues Cup in 2025. Seattle’s favorite son has four Western Conference Championships ( 2106, 2017, 2019, 2020) and three Cascadia Cups in 2018, 2019, and 2021.
SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY SPENT
What sets Schmetzer apart from the other coaches is his ability to win with a big club that does not spend big. While the Sounders have spent some on big signing like Raul Ruidiaz, Clint Dempsey, and Obefami Martins it has not been at a consistent level. Last year, the club spent big money on Pedro De la Vega, and after battling injuries, he is now rounding into form.
MESSAGE OF GRIT AND DETERMINATION
Schmetzer’s ability to convey the ‘us against them’ mantra with a gritty, Pacific Northwest flavor has resonated with a trove of local players who have been promoted from the academy. The key to players embracing any coach’s message is authenticity, integrity, belief, and determination. It’s pretty easy for players to but into Schmetzer’s message about overcoming adversity when they find out their coach worked construction and taught soccer camps to make ends meet
That message also resonates with significant but not superstar players the club has signed. Stefan Frei, Albert Rusnák, and Osvaldo Alonso were outsiders who came to call the northwest their home as they embraced Schmetzer’s gritty, determined style of play on the pitch.
MESSAGE EARLY IN THE WEEK
Leading up to the final against Inter Miami, Schmetzer jokingly said during a press conference, “ they have Messi, we have Paul Rothrock, “, Schmetzer was cleverly instilling the us against them mentality. A way of respecting the Goliath, but with all due respect, we have a slingshot and know where to hit the giant. The messaging is centered on ‘we’ as a collective.
The Club took the mantra and ran with it. Any fan with a Lionel Messi jersey could trade it in for a Paul Rothrock jersey for free. A few hundred fans went for the exchange. A thousand fans kept their jerseys and bought tickets to the match. Make that 69,314 fans to be exact.
SPEAKING TRUTH INTO EXISTENCE
Schmetzer’s Pacific Northwest line up Andrew Thomas in goal, Reed Baker-Whiting at left back, Jackson Ragen and Yeirmar Gomez at center backs, Alex Roldan at right back, Cristian Roldan and Obed Vargs were the two pivots in the middle, with Pedro de la Vega on the left wing, Jesus Ferreira in the middle and Rothrock on the right with Osaze De Rosario up top.
Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano’s star-studded line had Oscar Ustari in goal, Jordi Alba at left back, Maimiliano Falcon and Gonzalo Lujan as twin centerbacks, and Ian Fray on the right. Rodrigo De Paul started at left midfield, with Sergio Busquest in the center and Yanick Bright on the right. Tadeo Allende was the left winger, Lusi Saurez up top and Messi on the right
So it’s no surprise that when the whistle blew to start the game in front of the green-clad stadium, the Sounders went after Messi and his mates.
ON THE FRONT FOOT AND NEVER LOOKED BACK
The Sounders stayed true to their scout and played as a collective. Early tackles and blocks by the back line set the tone. When in possession, the Sounders had purpose with De la Vega and Rothrock using width and pace. After two early misses, the Sounders took the lead in the 26th minute. A Ferreria pass sprung Alex Roldan, who crossed to a streaking De Rosario, who headed the ball into the back of the net for the 1-0 lead. The score line stayed the same at the halftime break.
NEAR MISSES AND SEPARATION
Inter Miami showed their class to start the second half when they dominated the first ten minutes of the half, but the advantage was wasted when Messi and Allende both missed from point-blank range. Sensing a need for change to balance the game in his favor, Schmeter inserted Kalani Kossa-Reinzo for De la Vega and Dany Leyva for De Rosario in the 60th minute.
The insertion of more young fresh legs was brilliant. The heavy legged Inter Miami players were chasing shadows and paid the price in the 80th minute. Georgi Minoungou, a 78th-minute substitute for Ferreria, was fouled by Inter Miami defender Yannick Bright in the penalty box at the 82nd-minute mark. Alex Roldan doubled the Sounders’ lead when he blasted the ball past Ustari and sent the Stadium into a frenzy.
PAULIE PRIME TIME DELIVERS
In their desperation for a goal, Inter Miami became stretched, and the Sounders made them pay in the 88th minute when Rothrock pounced on a loose ball and blasted it into the back of the Inter Miami goal for a 3-0 lead. A fairy tale ending to the game and the Sounders’ unprecedented Leagues Cup run.
Credit Francine Scott for Images
BIG PICTURE
Credit Schmetzer and his coaching staff for not only getting the tactics right but putting the players in a mental state where they would not be denied. The trophy was always going to be theirs if they believed Schmetzer used marketing, tactics, and trust, which instilled the belief in his players.
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