CARSON, Calif. -- Sigi Schmid is out in Seattle.
Days before Seattle Sounders FC host the LA Galaxy, the club announced that they have "mutually parted ways" with longtime head coach Sigi Schmid after an eight-year tenure.
Longtime Sounders assistant and former USL Sounders manager Brian Schmetzer will serve as interim head coach.Schmid ends his eight-year tenure in Seattle with a final regular season record of 115-79-56.
“I want to thank Seattle Sounders FC for the opportunity to lead this club over the past eight years, with particular gratitude to Adrian Hanauer, Joe Roth and the rest of the club’s ownership group. I’d also like to thank my coaches and technical staff for the support they’ve given me, and most importantly I want to thank my players for their tremendous effort throughout the years,” Schmid said in a statement. “I’m proud of the success we’ve achieved in winning five major trophies in Seattle, qualifying for the postseason for seven-straight seasons. My only disappointment is that we were unable to bring home an MLS Cup to our tremendous fans, who have always been supportive through good times and bad. In closing, I want to thank the Sounders FC organization, the club’s fans and the city of Seattle for this amazing run.”
The 63-year-old led the Sounders to seven MLS Cup Playoff appearances, four U.S. Open Cup titles, and an MLS Supporters' Shield win in 2014.
After the announcement, Galaxy defender Robbie Rogers, a former player on Schmid at Columbus Crew SC took to Twitter to react to Schmid's departure from Seattle.
