Schmetzer continues to climb toward inner pantheon of American coaches

Bruce Arena. Bob Bradley. Sigi Schmid.

That's the inner sanctum of MLS coaching. They have the wins, the titles, the trophies. They came from collegiate success, went to World Cups and defined the opening two decades of the league. They are the greats, without a doubt.

Others have knocked on that door – Dom Kinnear (former Sounder), maybe Peter Vermes.

It's time for national media to recognize that Brian Schmetzer is already in that room. He's winning much more than expected, and has been doing it for 23 years. He's doing things in MLS play that those other greats haven't despite them having rosters stacked with World Cup talents.

For all the success of the originals, the modern era of MLS is defined by Brian Schmetzer's Rave Green Army.

Going to Mexico? No longer a big deal.

Hosting Liga MX sides? Those are wins.

Facing the world's best? One merely needs to put a homegrown no-longer-a-teenager on him.

Losing near MVPs and All Stars to injuries? That gives time to players from Spanaway, Kirkland, Seattle, Mississauga (Ontario).

Switching things up from stalwart defense unwilling to possess to rapid counter attacking team to intricate full presses with possession and purpose, he's a willing adapter of his assistants' input.

The master class put on in the Leagues Cup win is another sign that this coach who lives, breathes and thrives in the Upper Left isn't some quirky hometown kid who merely won because one dynamic #10 was on the squad.

Brian Schmetzer wins, at all levels, because that's what Brian Schmetzer is – a winner.

Of active MLS coaches he has the 5th highest points per match at 1.66. He's coached more matches than the first two have, combined, while also taking as many major trophies as they have, combined.

He's also 5th for points earned in league play among active coaches. Schmetzer has fewer matches coached than each above him. Outside of Bruce, the only one that may compare to Brian's success is Greg Vanney. Brian doesn't have the blemish of a likely wooden spoon in his future.

Unlike Vanney, Schmetzer wins in international tournaments.

That's unlike anyone else, really.

Leagues Cup may be more like those Arena/Bradley CCCs. It's mostly a home field tournament, but unlike those early international contests with MLS teams, Leagues Cup ensures Mexican opposition – Brian dominated those opponents and Vanney, again.

And of course CCL 2022 happened.

After the Leagues Cup win Schmetzer's Sounders qualified for their MLS leading 9th Concacaf tournament. That's more than any other MLS team. Five of those qualifications are with Schmetzer at the helm. That's more than all but two US-based MLS sides (Canada's easier path means that each MLS side up there has at least 5 qualifications).

Bruce, Bob, Sigi didn't do that.

Greg, Peter, Dom didn't come close to that.

Seattle fans have been watching a future US Soccer Hall of Famer work magic six+ times a month for a decade, weaving a tapestry of history and hammering out championships on the regular.

It's Brian Schmetzer's league – everyone else is trying to keep up.