Schmid builds MLS power

Sigi Schmid has found success at every stage of his coaching career, from the collegiate ranks through the US National Team and in Major League Soccer.

Seth Vertelney of Goal.com writes of how Schmid has built a consistent power with Seattle Sounders FC of Major League Soccer.

After his team had taken care of business by winning its third consecutive U.S. Open Cup trophy in a 2-0 result against Chicago Tuesday night, Seattle Sounders coach Sigi Schmid, as per usual, deflected the plaudits away from himself and towards his players.

“We have a lot of stars on this team, but the star of the team is the team,” he said.

One could understand why Schmid was being modest, but a look at the evidence suggests that Seattle's biggest star may not be on the field at all, but on the sideline, wearing that ever-present green scarf.

The U.S. Open Cup trophy is just another addition to the German-born coach's increasingly crowded trophy case, which includes three College Cups, one CONCACAF Champions Cup, four U.S. Open Cups, two Supporters' Shields, two MLS Coach of the Year awards and two MLS Cups.

Though he's had success at every juncture of his coaching career, his work with the Sounders over the past three seasons may be his most impressive yet.

In Seattle's inaugural season of 2009, Schmid led the Sounders to the playoffs, as they became the first expansion team to achieve that feat since the Fire in 1998 – a season where eight of 12 MLS teams qualified for the playoffs.

In that same year, the Sounders won the U.S. Open Cup, the first trophy won by an expansion side since that same Fire team in 1998.

Last season, Seattle overcame major injuries to key players Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Brad Evans and Osvaldo Alonso to reach the playoffs again, and also added its second consecutive U.S. Open Cup crown.

This year, Seattle has again overcome injuries to key players like Steve Zakuani and O'Brian White - both of whom were lost for the season before the end of April – to still be alive for four trophies: MLS Cup, the Supporters' Shield, the CONCACAF Champions League (where it has become the first team to qualify for next year's knockout phase), and of course the U.S. Open Cup, which it's already won.

“Our depth has been good all year and different guys have stepped up and contributed at different times. That's just a reflection of our team,” Schmid said of this year's incarnation of the Sounders. “Being able to balance so many competitions is a tribute to what the club has been able to build up over three years and the improvement of players in that three year period of time," he added.