With just over a week before the Zach Scott Testimonial (March 1, doors open at 6 PM), the roster is coming together. As of today, there are 29 players, including Scott, who will play at Memorial Stadium. These players are the living history of the A-League, USL and MLS eras of the Seattle Sounders.
Funds raised will be going to the Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Fund, the Seattle Sounders RAVE Foundation and a college fund for his three children.
The assembled players have a combined 1,234 matches with the freshly retired Scott. Roger Levesque played the most matches alongside Zach in all competitions. Kevin Sakuda played the most with Scott at the USL level.
Zach Scott, man marker, legend, defender
He won 10 major trophies with Seattle Sounders from 2002 to 2016. We’ve written a lot about him.
Roger Levesque, the original formidfender, UW Master’s graduate
Levesque won six major trophies with the Seattle Sounders. He played mostly as a forward, but his versatility lengthened his career. Roger retired in 2012, and Chelsea came in for his going away match.
Kasey Keller, US National Team keeper, Hall of Famer, broadcaster
The list of teams Keller played with starts with a real downer, but he went out as one of the greatest American soccer players of all time. He played with the Timbers, Millwall, Leicester City, Rayo Vallecano, Tottenham Hotspur, Southhampton, Borussia Mönchengladbach, Fulham and the Seattle Sounders. He won three US Open Cups with Seattle and went to the 1990, ‘98, ‘02 and ‘06 World Cups. The Puget Sound native won the US Soccer Athlete of the year in ‘97, ‘99 and ‘05. In 2015, he was elected to the US Soccer Hall of Fame.
Leighton O'Brien, 2002 A-League MVP, TD at Pac NW, midfielder
The slick midfielder helped the Sounders win three titles in the USL era. The Tacoma native played for nine outdoor teams across 11 pro seasons, but his heart was always in blue and green.
Kevin Sakuda, defender
Sakuda won the double as a Sounder in 2007. He also played outdoor soccer for the Earthquakes, Impact and Aztex.
Scott Jenkins, former BigFoot, defender
Yes, Jenkins played for the defunct soccer team known as the Everett BigFoot. He was a Sounder from ‘97 to ‘05 and won two major trophies with the club.
Ryan Edwards, defender, former BCC assistant coach
Once a San Francisco Bay Seal, Edwards won two major trophies with the Sounders.
Nate Jaqua, ultra marathon runner, forward
Jaqua earned seven major trophies, three with the Seattle Sounders. While with Seattle he also was the US Open Cup Player of the Tournament in 2010. Nate earned three caps with the USMNT and now spends his time running races that last 100 or so miles.
Nate Sturgis, MLS Flying Dutchman who somehow found a home port in Seattle, midfield
Sturgis played for eight different MLS sides, and had his rights held by another, over an 11-year career. He won four major trophies, three with Seattle, including the 2016 MLS Cup.
Cam Weaver, Kentwood’s greatest soccer player, forward
Weaver led the USL in scoring in 2006 and won the USL Rookie of the Year during his first stint as a Sounder. He came back to the club to play a final year in 2014.
Djimi Traore, assistant coach Seattle Sounders FC, Champions League Winner, defender
Djimi won the double with Seattle in 2014, but he is more well-known for winning the 2005 UEFA Champions League with Liverpool. He won three other trophies with Liverpool and Marseilles. He represented Mali six times.
Gonzalo Pineda, assistant coach Seattle Sounders FC, former broadcaster Univision, midfielder
Pineda won six major trophies in his career, two with Seattle in 2014. He played for Mexico in the 2005 Confederations Cup and 2006 World Cup. Six different Liga MX teams had the honor of seeing Gonzo during his career.
Jacob Waxman, Maui native, Scott’s bestie, youth soccer coach, great guy, midfielder
Steve Zakuani, broadcaster, winger, philanthropist
The winger won two Open Cups with Seattle, and the Hermann Trophy in his sophomore year with Akron. We’ve written a lot about him too.
Darren Sawatzky, builder of men, coach/GM Sounders U23s, Tacoma Stars, Guam coach, midfielder
Sawatzky was born to coach and headed the Sounders Academy when it first started. Now, he is the head of soccer for the local PDL and MASL teams. As a player he won the 2002 Commissioner’s Cup with the USL Sounders. Recently he had a stint as Guam’s National Team coach.
Daniel Scott, younger brother, defender
Daniel never played with the Sounders, but has a Puget Sound soccer career that includes the Tacoma Tide, Seattle Wolves and Kitsap Pumas. He also played for Tampa Bay and Carolina.
Sean Henderson, Sounders Academy coach, midfielder
Sean won the ‘02 Commissioner’s Cup with Seattle. He was a pro player from ‘94 to ‘04. He currently helps create future Sounders running the U14 Academy team.
Chris Henderson, victim of a slide tackle from Likkit, Sporting Director Seattle Sounders, midfielder
The Seattle native helps build winners now, but won an MLS Cup and Supporters’ Shield while in MLS. Chris played in the ‘92 Barcelona Olympics, had a total of 79 senior team appearances with the United States and was once tackled by Sounder at Heart’s Likkit.
Hugo Alcaraz-Cuellar, a rare Timber with a trophy, midfielder
Alcaraz-Cuellar won the ‘04 Commissioner’s Cup with the Portland Timbers, and then two more trophies with the Seattle Sounders. Hugo has broadcast numerous Seattle Sounders matches in Spanish and coaches youth soccer as well.
Chad Brown, midfielder, coach
Brown won titles with the Sounders in ‘02 and ‘05. He is currently the coach of the NPSL Spokane Shadow. He was formerly an assistant at UNLV and WVU.
Ben Dragavon, Reign keeper coach, keeper
Ben won the double in 2007 with the USL Sounders. He had a single appearance with the MLS team while he was an MLS Pool Keeper. He currently makes the Seattle Reign dominate.
Ezra Hendrickson, S2 coach, Vincentian, defender
EZ won eight major trophies as a player including a CONCACAF Champions Cup with the LA Galaxy. The Vincy Heat native made 123 appearances for his island home. Hendrickson played for Des Moines, New Orleans, NY/NJ Metrostars, LA, Dallas, Charleston, DC, Chivas USA and Columbus. He’s been an assistant with the Sounders and is now the head coach of S2.
Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, presidente, defender
Hurtado won three straight US Open Cups with the Seattle Sounders. He played for ten different teams over his career. Jhon is currently a coach with local youth side Greater Seattle Surf.
Jimmy Ward, damn good keeper
Ward played three seasons with the Seattle Sounders in the USL. He won three major trophies. He has since been the SPU keeper’s coach and worked for the Seattle Seahawks.
Viet Nguyen, Pac NW coach, speedy forward
Viet won four major trophies with the Sounders from ‘94 to ‘04. He was on the first US-based team to compete in the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
Jason Farrell, midfielder, coach
Farrell bookended his MLS career with stops in Seattle. He won two A-League trophies and a USL trophy while a Sounder. He is now a coach with Seattle Premier.
Ben Somoza, another Timber-Sounder, midfielder
Somoza played with Scott and the Sounders in 2005 when they won the title. He was also a former Husky assistant coach.
Craig Tomlinson, CT, forward
Tomlinson won four major trophies with the Seattle Sounders, including scoring a great goal in the ‘07 championship at Starfire that finished off the Atlanta Silverbacks. He is currently a local youth soccer coach.
Chris Eylander, keeper
Like Ben, Chris played a single game with the MLS Sounders. He won two major trophies in 2007. Eylander is a former Sounders Academy coach.
Due to the voluntary nature of participation roster adjustments, both additions and subtractions can happen at any time.