Press Release

Seattle Sounders FC has traded for U.S. international forward Eddie Johnson, the club announced today. Johnson was selected by the Montreal Impact today with the No. 1 pick in Major League Soccer’s allocation process.

In exchange, Seattle sent forward Mike Fucito and midfielder Lamar Neagle to Montreal.

Johnson, 27, signed with MLS earlier this week after spending much of the past five years with Fulham of the English Premier League.

“Eddie is a high quality striker who is a very good finisher,” said Sounders FC technical director Chris Henderson, who coached Johnson at Kansas City. “We are very excited to have him join Sounders FC in our quest for another successful season.”

A member of the U.S. National Team since scoring in his debut in October 2004, Johnson has made 41 appearances with 12 goals for the senior team. He has scored eight goals in only nine FIFA World Cup qualifying appearances, and is the only U.S. player to score a hat trick coming off the bench (October 13, 2004).

Johnson became the first player in national team history to score in each of his first four appearances, three of which were 2006 World Cup qualifying matches. He is one of the most prolific scorers in U.S. Youth National Team history, tallying 37 career goals in 51 international youth games with the U-17s, U-20s and U-23s.

“It’s always difficult to part ways with two quality individuals who have contributed greatly to the success of our first three years,” said Sounders FC head coach Sigi Schmid. “We saw this as a unique opportunity to bring a player in with World Cup and international experience who can help us in our quest to win the MLS Cup.”

A native of Daytona Beach, Fla., Johnson returns to MLS where he began his professional career. He played four seasons for FC Dallas before joining Kansas City for two seasons, scoring 41 goals with 13 assists in 127 MLS appearances.

The six-foot forward spent four seasons with Fulham, signing with the EPL side in 2007. He made 19 appearances with the senior team. Johnson was loaned to English League Championship side Cardiff City for the 2008-09 season where he appeared in 30 games and scored two goals. In 2009 he was loaned to Aris of the Greek Super League, appearing in 12 games with one goal. Johnson’s stint in Europe ended with a loan to Championship side Preston North End where he scored one goal in 16 appearances.

Johnson will join the team on Saturday in Florida.

Fucito, 25, was selected by Seattle in the fourth round (46^th overall) of the 2009 MLS SuperDraft. In his three seasons with Sounders FC, he scored three goals with two assists in 23 appearances. Fucito added five goals with one assist in the 2010 and 2011 CONCACAF Champions League and also scored two goals in the 2011 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

Neagle, 24, was signed by Sounders FC on March 2, 2011. A native of Federal Way, Wash. he scored five goals with two assists in 23 league appearances in 2011, and added a goal in the MLS Cup Playoffs. Neagle was named MLS Player of the Week in August for his hat trick against the Columbus Crew.

Sounders FC hosts Mexico’s Santos Laguna in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals on March 7. Seattle opens MLS play on March 17 against Toronto FC on the Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field.

Transaction:Seattle Sounders FC (MLS) – Traded FW Mike Fucito and MF Lamar Neagle to Montreal Impact for FW Eddie Johnson

EDDIE JOHNSON

Position: Forward

Height: 6-0

Weight: 179

Birthdate: 3/31/1984

Birthplace (citizenship): Daytona Beach, Florida (United States)

Hometown: Dayton Beach, Florida

Previous Clubs: FC Dallas (2000-2005), Kansas City (2006-2007), Fulham (2007-2011; loan to Cardiff City, 2008-2009; loan to Aris, 2010; loan to Preston North End, 2011)

Andrew Duran has already trained with Sounders FC. (Chris Coulter Photo)

In an attempt to provide depth up front and on the back line Sounders FC selected a solid defender and target forward in the 2012 MLS SuperDraft.

Seattle’s first pick (#15 overall), Andrew Duran, who comes from Creighton University, will be attempting to earn a roster spot to help sure up Sigi’s defense. Although not a “popular” selection by the pundits, the 6’1″ defender has already spent some time with the Sounders. Sigi noted that he is two footed and can play on either side of the defense.

In the second round, Seattle selected Babayele Sodade- a 6’3″ forward from UAB.

Full Release

The Seattle Sounders FC selected Creighton University defender Andrew Duran with its top pick (15th overall) and University of Alabama-Birmingham forward Babayele Sodade with its second selection (34th overall) in Thursday’s Major League Soccer SuperDraft.

“We are excited about the draft,” said Sounders FC technical director Chris Henderson. “We put in a great amount of time following the players and we are very pleased with both players we came out with.”

“Andrew is a player that we like,” said Sounders FC head coach Sigi Schmid. “He is a player that’s very two-footed. He’s comfortable playing on the left side of the center in the back as well as the right side. He was the main defender on the team that was the best defensive team in the country last year so he’s got to be doing something right.”

Duran, a 22-year-old defender from Creighton University, was named the Missouri Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year and NSCAA All-American Second Team in 2011. He made 59 appearances with 48 starts in his five seasons at Creighton, including injury-shortened seasons in 2008 and 2010. He made a career-high 24 starts as a senior and earned College Soccer News All-American First Team honors. He helped lead Creighton to one of the best defensive performances in 2011 with a 0.2 goals against average and 19 shutouts, one shy of the NCAA record.

Duran, a native of Mokena, Ill., graduated from Creighton in December 2011 with a degree in marketing and has worked at a camp for children with cancer, Co-ho-lo, outside of Omaha for the past two years.

“I was overjoyed when I was picked by Seattle,” said Duran. “This organization does a great job with everything top down-from the ownership to everything that goes on there. I’m just overjoyed that I’m going there.”

With its second pick (34th overall) Seattle selected University of Alabama-Birmingham forward Babayele Sodade (pronounced Bah-bye-elle-EE Sho-Dahd-DAY). The 6-3, 195-pound forward scored 13 goals with five assists as a senior and was named to the All-Conference USA First Team. Sodade, 21, made 73 appearances with 29 goals and 11 assists in his four years at UAB. The native of Ontario, Canada was invited to the Canadian Olympic team camp in 2010.

“Sodade is a big presence up front, he’s got good pace,” said Schmid. “He showed well at the combine. He’s had a good career at UAB and he’s the kind of player who could be a surprise guy like [Sporting Kansas City forward] C.J. Sapong was last year.”

Andrew Wenger of Duke University was chosen No. 1 overall by the expansion Montreal Impact. Federal Way native Kelyn Rowe, a sophomore midfielder at UCLA, was taken with the No. 3 overall pick by New England. University of Washington midfielder Jacob Hustedt was selected by San Jose with the sixth pick of the second round.

The MLS Supplemental Draft, consisting of four rounds, will be held via teleconference on Tuesday. Preseason training begins January 19 at the Starfire Sports in Tukwila, Wash.

All SuperDraft selections are expected to report to Seattle for preseason training. Sounders FC will begin its fourth MLS season by hosting Toronto FC on March 17 on the Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field.

Sounders FC 2012 MLS SuperDraft Selections
Andrew Duran
1st Round, 15th Pick, 15th Overall
Position: Defender
Height: 6-1
Weight: 160
Birthdate: 9/26/1989
Hometown (Citizenship): Mokena, Illinois (USA)
College: Creighton (2007-2011)
High School: Lincoln-Way East HS

Babayele Sodade
2nd Round, 15th Pick, 34th Overall
Position: Forward
Height: 6-3
Weight: 195
Birthdate: 7/26/1990
Hometown (Citizenship): Windsor, Ontario (Canada/USA)
College: University of Alabama-Birmingham (2008-2011)
High School: Holy Names HS
Pronunciation: Bah-bye-elle-EE Sho-Dahd-DAY

Press Release

Seattle Sounders FC has signed Danish midfielder Christian Sivebaek following his transfer from Denmark’s FC Midtjylland, it was announced today. The signing will be finalized upon receipt of Sivebaek’s P-1 visa and International Clearance. Per Major League Soccer and club policy, terms of the transfer and contract were not disclosed.

“Christian is a player that we have been following for quite some time,” said Sounders FC technical director Chris Henderson. “He is a good one versus one dribbler who can provide consistent quality service to our strikers. He has good speed and physical presence.

“He has been an up and coming player in Denmark,” added Henderson, “and we are looking forward to adding Christian to our attacking arsenal.”

Sivebaek, 23, has played for Midtjylland in Denmark’s Superliga since 2006. He has been deployed at midfield and right back, appearing in 80 league matches and scoring six goals. Sivebaek has represented Denmark at various youth levels 19 times, scoring twice.

His father, John Sivebaek, also played professionally in Europe for 17 years, including seasons with Manchester United and France’s Saint-Etienne and AS Monaco. He was a member of Denmark’s 1992 European champions and the 1986 World Cup selection, and he earned 87 caps altogether.

“This is an exciting opportunity for me, to be joining such a club as Sounders FC,” said Sivebaek. “I am looking forward to playing in MLS and for one of the best and biggest teams in America. I am very impressed by the professionalism of the club, the high quality of players and staff, and the great number and passion of their fans.”

Sivebaek started with his hometown club, Vejle. At age 16 he became one of the first eight youths to join the Midtjylland Academy. He signed as a professional two years later.

Transaction: Seattle Sounders FC (MLS) – Acquired MF Christian Sivebaek from FC Midtjylland (Denmark)

Christian Sivebaek
Position: Midfielder
Height: 6-3
Weight: 194
Birthdate: 2/19/1988
Place of Birth: Saint-Etienne, France
Hometown (Citizenship): Vejle, Denmark (Denmark)
Pronunciation: SEE-veh-beck
Last Club: FC Midtjylland (2006-2011)
Previous Clubs: Skive IK (loan, 2008)

2012 Schedule

Date	Opponent	Location	Time	TV/Results	Type
Wednesday, March 07, 2012	Santos	Seattle, WA	7p	Fox Soccer
Wednesday, March 14, 2012	@ Santos	Torreon, Mexico	5p	Fox Soccer
Saturday, March 17, 2012	Toronto FC	Seattle, WA	7p	KING or KONG TV
Friday, March 23, 2012	Dynamo	Seattle, WA	7p	NBCSN
Saturday, March 31, 2012	Earthquakes	Seattle, WA	7p	KING or KONG TV
Saturday, April 07, 2012	@ DC United	Washington, DC	430p	KING or KONG TV
Saturday, April 14, 2012	Rapids	Seattle, WA	1p	KING or KONG TV
Saturday, April 28, 2012	@ Fire	Bridgeview, IL	530p	KING or KONG TV
Wednesday, May 02, 2012	Galaxy	Seattle, WA	7p	KING or KONG TV
Saturday, May 05, 2012	Union	Seattle, WA	1p	NBCSN
Wednesday, May 09, 2012	@ FC Dallas	Frisco, TX	530p	KING or KONG TV
Saturday, May 12, 2012	Real Salt Lake	Seattle, WA	7p	KING or KONG TV
Saturday, May 19, 2012	@ Whitecaps FC	Vancouver, BC	1p	KING or KONG TV
Wednesday, May 23, 2012	Crew	Seattle, WA	7p	KING or KONG TV
Saturday, May 26, 2012	@ Chivas USA	Carson, CA	730p	KING or KONG TV
Saturday, June 16, 2012	@ Impact	Montreal, QC	430p	KING or KONG TV
Wednesday, June 20, 2012	Sporting KC	Seattle, WA	7p	KING or KONG TV
Sunday, June 24, 2012	@ Timbers	Portland, OR	2p	ESPN
Saturday, June 30, 2012	@ Revolution	Foxborough, MA	430p	KING or KONG TV
Wednesday, July 04, 2012	@ Real Salt Lake	Sandy, UT	7p	KING or KONG TV
Saturday, July 07, 2012	Rapids	Seattle, WA	8p	NBCSN
Sunday, July 15, 2012	@ Red Bulls	Harrison, NJ	1p	ESPN
Wednesday, July 18, 2012	Real Salt Lake	Seattle, WA	8p	NBCSN
Saturday, July 28, 2012	@ Rapids	Commerce City, CO	6p	KING or KONG TV
Sunday, August 05, 2012	Galaxy	Seattle, WA	7p	ESPN2
Saturday, August 11, 2012	@ Earthquakes	Santa Clara, CA	730p	KING or KONG TV
Saturday, August 18, 2012	Whitecaps FC	Seattle, WA	1p	KING or KONG TV
Saturday, August 25, 2012	@ Chivas USA	Carson, CA	730p	KING or KONG TV
Sunday, September 02, 2012	@ FC Dallas	Frisco, TX	4p	KING or KONG TV
Saturday, September 08, 2012	Chivas USA	Seattle, WA	TBD	KING or KONG TV
Saturday, September 15, 2012	@ Timbers	Portland, OR	1230p	NBC
Sunday, September 23, 2012	Earthquakes	Seattle, WA	7p	KING or KONG TV
Saturday, September 29, 2012	@ Whitecaps FC	Vancouver, BC	6p	NBCSN
Sunday, October 07, 2012	Timbers	Seattle, WA	6p	ESPN
Sunday, October 21, 2012	FC Dallas	Seattle, WA	6p	ESPN
Sunday, October 28, 2012	@ Galaxy	Carson, CA	6p	ESPN

Official Release

Seattle Sounders FC announced today that the U.S. National Team has called in midfielder Brad Evans and defender Jeff Parke for a training camp that will run through January 26 in the United States and Panama.

The camp began January 3 in Phoenix and moves to the U.S. Soccer National Training Center at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. from January 13-20. The U.S. will host Venezuela on January 21 at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. On January 25 the U.S. faces Panama in Panama City.

Evans, 26, has four international caps. He was last called in by the USMNT for the February 2010 friendly with El Salvador, playing the full 90 minutes at right fullback. His first three appearances came during the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Evans is a native of Phoenix.

Now entering his sixth MLS season, Evans scored five goals and added five assists for the Sounders FC in 2011. He appeared in 20 MLS regular season matches, starting 17.

This will be Parke’s first national team call-in. The 29-year-old center back is a veteran of seven MLS seasons. Parke was Seattle’s 2011 Defender of the Year and started 28 league matches (38 in all competitions), scoring one goal.

Press Release

Seattle Sounders FC have signed Swedish international defender Adam Johansson to a multi-year contract, it was announced today. Johansson’s signing will be finalized upon receipt of his P-1 visa and International Clearance. Per Major League Soccer and club policy, terms were not disclosed.

Johansson, 28, has played the past seven years for IFK Göteborg in Sweden’s top league, the Allvenskan. He has made a total of 129 league appearances for Göteborg since 2005, scoring two goals. His pro career began with Västra Frölunda of the second tier in 2002.

“Adam has been a mainstay at Göteborg for years and we are very happy to add him to our defense,” said Sounders FC technical director Chris Henderson. “His leadership and experience are going to be a great compliment to the growth of our team.

“Adam is very good tactically and is smart in the way he joins the attack from the back,” added Henderson. “We are pleased he is also in the running for the starting right back role for Sweden as they prepare for the Euros.”

“I had a great stay in Seattle while meeting with officials from the club, and seeing the stadium and training ground,” said Johansson. “I got a really good feeling. It will be a new start for me, a new life. It’s going to be a good adventure.”

“The Sounders are one of the biggest teams in the United States,” added Johansson. “They want to be one of the top clubs in North and South America and have big crowds. I’m joining a club with a very good reputation.”

In 2009 Johansson made his full international debut for Sweden in a friendly with the U.S. at Carson, Calif. and later started in three World Cup qualifiers, playing on both the left and right side. His ninth and most recent cap came against Cyprus in February 2011.

After finishing runners-up in 2005, Göteborg claimed the Swedish double in 2007, and also claimed the cup in 2008 and 2009. The Angels were second in the league in 2009.

Transaction: Seattle Sounders FC (MLS) – Signed DF Adam Johansson

Adam Johansson
Position: Defender
Height: 5-11
Weight: 165
Birthdate: 2/21/1983
Place of Birth: Gothenburg, Sweden
Hometown (Citizenship): Gothenburg, Sweden (Sweden)
Pronunciation: Yo-HAWN-sun
Last Club: IFK Göteborg (2005-11)
Previous Clubs: Västra Frölunda IF (2002-04)

Argentinian, Mauro Rosales, will stay in Seattle for a few more seasons. (Chris Coulter photo)

Fan-Favorite and exquisite playmaker, Mauro Rosales has been re-signed by Sounders FC to a multi-year contract.

Press Release
Seattle Sounders FC has signed midfielder Mauro Rosales to a new multi-year contract. Per MLS and club policy, terms were not disclosed.

Rosales, 30, established a Sounders FC record for assists in 2011 with 13 in 26 league appearances, ranking third in MLS. He also scored five goals.

“Mauro was a huge impact on our team last year,” said Sounders FC head coach Sigi Schmid. “He played well and made others better with his service and use of the ball. We are pleased to have him back as a Sounder.”

Recognized as being a catalyst in Seattle’s surge in the Supporters’ Shield race, Rosales was a landslide winner for MLS Newcomer of the Year. Sounders FC finished second to the L.A. Galaxy for the league’s best record and qualified for the MLS Cup Playoffs. Seattle also won the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup for a third straight year and advanced to the quarterfinal round of the CONCACAF Champions League.

“I really am enjoying being here with the guys, with the team, with the people and the city,” said Rosales. “In the first year I was thinking just to play, to enjoy the game, and it was a season of great joy.”

“I want to express my gratitude to Adrian Hanauer, Chris Henderson, Sigi Schmid and my representative, Dario Sala, for making it possible for to play for Sounders FC, both this past year and going forward,” added Rosales. “I am very happy to be in Seattle, playing for our wonderful fans.”

The former Argentine international was named to the MLSsoccer.com Team of the Week a team-high seven times, and he was named MLS Player of the Week 18 after contributing a goal and assist in a 4-3 win over the defending MLS Cup champion Colorado Rapids.

“We were always very confident of reaching an agreement,” said General Manager Adrian Hanauer. “There was a great deal of trust between ourselves and Mauro and Dario Sala. They put their faith in us and we wanted to take care of Mauro. He has earned this contract through his outstanding play, his dedication to his craft and his commitment to this club, his fellow players and our coaches.

“It’s no wonder he has become such a fan favorite,” said Hanauer. “His love for the game is evident; he plays with passion and joy, with a flair and an acute sense for doing what the game demands. Mauro has helped make us a strong club and with him going forward we hope to only grow in strength.”

Rosales signed with Sounders FC on March 18 after playing from 2007-2010 for Buenos Aires giants River Plate. He has played nearly 400 matches for River Plate, Ajax and Newell’s Old Boys, and has been capped 10 times by the Argentina National Team, winning the Olympic gold medal in 2004, the 2001 FIFA U20 World Cup and the 2004 Copa America runners-up.

Rosales made a strong first impression as he recorded assists in his first two MLS starts and scored his first goal at home in a Cascadia Cup fixture against Vancouver. He either scored (two) or assisted (six) in five consecutive matches from August 20 to October 15, despite missing much of the final month of the season due to injury.

Sounders FC lost just three times with Rosales in the starting XI, going 13-3-6 in his 22 starts. Rosales led the team to several wins this season, highlighted by his late efforts in Kansas City when he scored and assisted in the dying minutes to give Seattle a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory. Seattle went 10-1-2 when Rosales scored or assisted.

Transaction: Seattle Sounders FC (MLS) – Re-Signed MF Mauro Rosales

Mauro Rosales
Position: Midfielder
Jersey Number: 10
Height: 5-8
Weight: 160
Birthdate: 2/24/1981
Place of Birth: Villa Maria, Cordoba, Argentina
Hometown (Citizenship): Villa Maria, Cordoba, Argentina (Argentina)
Pronunciation: MOU-ro Roh-SAH-les
Last Club: River Plate (2007-10)
Previous Clubs (chronological): Newell’s Old Boys (1999-04), Ajax (2004-07)

RENTON, WASH. – Seattle Sounders FC has signed Austrian goalkeeper Michael Gspurning, it was announced today. Per Major League Soccer and club policy, terms were not disclosed. Gspurning will be added to the roster pending receipt of his International Clearance.

Gspurning (pronounced guh-SHPURN-ing), 30, has been capped three times by Austria and played the past four seasons for Skoda Xanthi of Greece’s top flight.

“First off, you don’t replace Kasey Keller. What you’re looking for is a new goalkeeper,” said Sounders FC head coach Sigi Schmid. “We like Michael’s background and pedigree. We like his size. He’s got good feet so we can play through him and he’s very good on crosses, takes good angles and has good hands.”

Gspurning has made 96 career appearances in the top leagues in Austria and Greece and was a two-time All-Star in Greece’s Super League.

“There are many reasons I want to come to Seattle,” said Gspurning. “It is a very good team that plays in many competitions and Seattle has the best fans in Major League Soccer. When I think about the task in the next year, I feel very confident to come over and have the opportunity to be the new number one, and have success with the Sounders.

“I like to keep goal in difficult situations and make saves. With my height I am good at crosses and a solid goalkeeper. I like to push the team in a positive way. I want to help the Sounders and all of my teammates to play better. I can’t wait to come over to Seattle.”

The six-foot, five-inch Gspurning played his first several seasons in Austria, beginning in Austria Wien’s youth system and then DSV Leoben before joining ASKO Pasching of the Austrian Bundesliga in 2004. He was named the best goalkeeper in Austria’s First Division (second-highest league) in 2003/04 and had several call-ins to the Austria U-21 National Team.

Gspurning joined Skoda Xanthi in 2007 and became the first-choice keeper, playing 89 matches in his four seasons, including a career-high 29 in 2009/10. He posted 16 shutouts in 26 matches in 2008/09 and currently holds the record in Greece’s Super League for the longest road shutout streak at eight games. He was twice honored as the top foreign goalkeeper, playing in both All-Star games.

At Skoda Xanthi, Gspurning earned his first call-in to the Austria National Team. He made his international debut against Turkey in a 2008 friendly and started two World Cup qualifiers the following year, a 2-1 win over Romania and a 1-nil loss to eventual group-winners Serbia.

Gspurning will report to Seattle for preseason training camp in January.

Transaction: Seattle Sounders FC (MLS) – Signed GK Michael Gspurning

Michael Gspurning
Position: Goalkeeper
Height: 6’5
Weight: 209
Birthdate: 5/2/1981
Place of Birth: Graz, Austria
Hometown (Citizenship): Graz (Austria)
Pronunciation: guh-SHPURN-ing
Last Club: Skoda Xanthi FC (2007-11)
Previous Clubs (chronological): DSV Leoben (2001-04), ASKO Pasching (2004-06)

Use the Coupon Code 10DEAL to save $10 on a $50 purchase or the code 20DEAL to save $20 on a $100 purchase. Hurry, the sale runs through Monday 12/19.

Currently, all jackets are 20% Off!

Additionally, Seattle traded defender Tyson Wahl to Montreal “for allocation”.