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Postgame Pontifications: Take your time, Stef

The Sounders goalkeeper deserves to carefully consider his next steps.

Last Updated
2 min read
Max Aquino / Sounder at Heart

SEATTLE — During my 15 years covering the Seattle Sounders, I’ve seen far too matches in which a player suffered a serious injury. Whether that’s an ACL, a broken bone or a concussion, there’s almost a matter-of-factness to the way coaches and players react. They’re sympathetic, to be sure, and sometimes they’re even reflective.

But there’s almost always a degree of removal from the situation, a sense that the risk of injury is just part of the game.

The reaction to Stefan Frei’s head injury in Sunday’s game was so different that the result of the game was rendered virtually irrelevant.

Sounders head coach Brian Schmetzer was visibly fighting back tears when he thanked Wilfried Nancy for agreeing to end the game, saving everyone from having to explain why the referee insisted on allowing one more play before blowing the whistle.

“I appreciate what he did,” Schmetzer said during his opening remarks. “The ref wasn’t going to stop the game and everyone knew the game should have been stopped. Good on him.”

Paul Rothrock seemed particularly struck by the whole situation. Always thoughtful, Rothrock struggled to find the words to properly contextualize the emotions of seeing a teammate laying almost motionless on the ground.

“It was a fair result,” Rothrock said. “But I don’t care as much about the game, I just hope Stef is going to be okay and he’s going to recover quickly.

“Stef’s our leader. He’s our guy. To see that on the field and just be standing there as he’s taken off the field in an ambulance, that’s hard.”

I think that gets at part of why this injury felt so different and elicited such a different type of reaction.

Frei is not just the Sounders’ starting goalkeeper. He’s become the face of this team during his 10-plus seasons as a starter. He’s also the emotional leader of the team, often acting as the team spokesperson and even its conscience. Whether players need someone to talk about a problem they’re having with a coach or the press needs someone to speak to an issue that goes beyond the field, Frei is the person we turn to.

Along the way he’s suffered some significant injuries, including missing games on three separate occasions for concussions.

But this time felt different. There's something particularly jarring about seeing an athlete barely moving that brings out our worst fears. We know awful things happen, but moments like this are a sobering reminder of how quickly circumstances can change, in sport and in life.

Initial updates suggest Frei is recovering well at home. By the time he was loaded into the ambulance, he was conscious and moving. He later sent a social media message that said he was "home and resting." That's obviously wonderful news.

I can only hope that this was all more a scare than something lasting. I would love to see him back relatively quickly.

But I also hope he doesn't feel any pressure to rush back, that he takes some time to consider what is best for him and his family. Frei has accomplished just about everything he ever could, winning eight major trophies, an MLS Cup MVP, and Best Player of Concacaf Champions League. He's played 411 matches and saved 1,001 shots for the Sounders, both more for one team than all but one other goalkeeper in MLS history. His place in Sounders and MLS lore is secure. Whatever he chooses to do next should be entirely on his terms.

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