Sounders Sign Fucito - updated with statement from Mike

by Dave Clark on Jul 3, 2009 3:21 PM PDT in Sounders: MLS Regular Season

It took several months, and finishing up at Harvard but Mike Fucito is finally a professional soccer player. In this week alone Sounders FC has now added two left side players in the Harvard product and Costa Rican Leo Gonzalez. Fucito did travel with the team to Argentina where he scored, and has trained for the least three weeks with Seattle Sounders FC.

Fucito was a top side player his last two years at Harvard, and knows something about rivalry as he traveled to Portland, not to mention the whole Red Sox/Yankees or Harvard/Yale things. Mike has teamed up with US National Team member Charlie Davies in youth programs and high school, and wore the armband when both were Seniors.

The other Forward at Harvard, Andre Akpan, was tempted with a Generation Adidas contract but chose to finish his studies at the Ivy League school.

Mike is stockier, and likely looks to transition to back up the Left and Right Wings maybe getting time in the CAM and Withdrawn Forward. One coach I talked to at the Combine mentioned his loss due to injury one of the reasons that depth was lost, and Coach Clark in Harvard figured that if healthy Mike would have been drafted in the top two rounds.

Mike now comes to Seattle ineligible for MLS league play as he starts on the injured list but could see time in the two friendlies and in Open Cup play as MLS Disabled List rules do not apply in those circumstances. I asked him about his toughts on the signing and opportunity to play in Seattle for Sounders FC over the weekend.

I am thrilled to have signed with Seattle. It is nice to be able to concentrate completely on soccer and not have to worry about school or anything else. So far training has been great. I can't think of a better place to play. The facilities, the fans, and just the whole operation is top notch.

I am hoping to help the team in any way I can. I think I add some depth at outside mid and up top. Hopefully when I get the chance I will impress people and show them why I got drafted in the first place. We have a great team and if we are firing on all cylinders we have the potential to do great things. I am very excited to see what this team can do going forward.

I fully expect that by the end of the season Mike will be a rotational attacking player. All reports are that he has great tactical knowledge, is tenacious in scoring and has solid passing skills.

The official release follows - it is notable that the Sounders still have a single senior roster slot open heading into the July 15-Aug 15 Secondary Window.

Fourth-Round Pick Michael Fucito Signs with Sounders FC
RENTON, WASH. – The Seattle Sounders FC signed midfielder Michael Fucito, the club’s fourth-round selection in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft out of Harvard, the club announced today. Per Major League Soccer and club policy, terms were not disclosed.

Fucito, who has been diagnosed with sesamoiditis in his right foot, has been placed on the disabled list for all MLS matches through August 15. He will be eligible to play in U.S. Open Cup and friendly matches prior to that date. Fucito has been added to the roster as Senior Development player.

"Fucito adds for us a left-sided player, and we don’t have many left-footed players on our team," said Sounders FC head coach Sigi Schmid. "He can play wide left and can also play up front. He’s a little bit different player; he’s quick with a low center of gravity, so he’s different from the other forwards we have."

Fucito, 23, was taken by Seattle with the 46th pick overall in the draft. He was a second team All-American as a senior, leading the Ivy League in total points and helping Harvard reach the second round of the 2008 NCAA tournament. Fucito finished as the Crimson’s No. 4 career scorer with 32 goals and 24 assists.

Due to injuries, Fucito played in only three preseason games for Seattle, scoring one goal. He rejoined the team for training in early June following his graduation.

Transaction: Seattle Sounders (MLS) – Signed MF Michael Fucito; placed on disabled list
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-9
Weight: 165
Birthdate: 3/29/1986
Hometown: Westford, Massachusetts
College: Harvard
Pronunciation: fuh-SEE-toe

Quick report on the injury (sesamoiditisis) is that it is tendonitis in the big toe

More here

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Comments

Do we know if he was signed to a senior or developmental contract?

by JesseMT on Jul 3, 2009 5:03 PM PDT reply actions

The release says that he is a Senior Developmental.

by Dave Clark on Jul 3, 2009 5:14 PM PDT reply actions

Thanks – missed that. Reading is hard. =|

by on Jul 3, 2009 6:47 PM PDT reply actions

Dave, this is the first year that I have followed MLS. Do you know how well Sigi did in the draft at Columbus? Columbus has a lot of young quality players. Did they play right away or did they ride the bench like Seattle draft picks not named Zakuani? Thanks

by Coug1990 on Jul 3, 2009 7:46 PM PDT reply actions

I think that a coach is always part eduactor, part tactician and part motivator. Sigi seems to be heavier towards the Educator side, as he has always done well with younger talents and maximizing their growth, though slowly. This is likely due to his history as a college coach.

So yes, in 2010 we will likely see more of Brown, Fucito, Neagle and Nyassi as all are young talents in need of growth.

by Dave Clark on Jul 3, 2009 8:36 PM PDT up reply actions

What fascinated the coaching staff so much about Fucito that they’d pick him up injured?

by McKenzie Clark on Jul 4, 2009 12:45 PM PDT reply actions

While injured and still playing at Harvard he was still a Herman finalist in 07 and was even invited to the Combine after his ’08 season. In ’08 he was 2nd team all-american and was honored with a Varsity Letter at Harvard.

He had 32 goals and 24 assist with the Crimson.

On youth clubs he was coached by Paul Mariner the NE Revolution Asst and played with Charlie Davies. The ONLY reason he was available in the 4th round is due to the injury that he had last season (this one is different). When paired with Charlie Davies in high school, Fucito was the caption.

The reasons for the signing are fairly simple
-Maintain Fucito’s roster rights not risking him to waiver
-Adds depth for the US Open Cup run
-Does not fill the roster prior to the secondary window
-Adds only the third natural left footer (only Wahl is eligible at this time, Leo is the other)

Fucito is a stocky player with solid passing skills and tactical knowledge who is tenascious in his pursuit of the goal. His skill set fits in the flexible Winger/Forward system that we are currently seeing Sigi employee.

Remember when Adrian said this in the draft recap peice I did?

We didn’t have to count on the college draft for starters, but can bring the players along as slowly or quickly as is appropriate.

Mike will likely be brought on slowly but he’s had MLS quality coaching already, has partnered with GA and US MNT quality players for his entire career and has a solid head on his shoulders.

He likely moves into a role similar to Nyassi in usage in that they back up the same guys, but with different skillsets. Nyassi being more speed and footwork, Fucito being more about tactical knowledge, passing and goalscoring.

I wouldn’t be surprised at all if he gets time against KC

by Dave Clark on Jul 4, 2009 1:03 PM PDT up reply actions