Advertising

The Seattle Times Company

NWjobs | NWautos | NWhomes | NWsource | Free Classifieds | seattletimes.com

The Seattle Times

Sounders FC


Our network sites seattletimes.com | Advanced

Originally published Thursday, May 8, 2008 at 12:00 AM

E-mail article     Print view

Sounders FC signs its first player: Sebastien Le Toux

Seattle Sounders FC announced the signing of its first player, forward Sebastien Le Toux, on Wednesday at Qwest Field. Le Toux currently plays for the USL First Division Sounders.

Seattle Times staff reporter

Sebastien Le Toux will go down in Seattle soccer history as a No. 1.

The Sounders forward is the first player signed by Seattle's new Major League Soccer team, Sounders FC, which begins play next year. Le Toux (pronounced "Luh-two"), a 24-year-old from France who joined the USL First Division Sounders last season, signed a multiyear contract, it was announced Wednesday.

Le Toux was the minor league's most valuable player last year with the Sounders, in which the team captured the league title. He led Seattle in scoring with 22 points (10 goals, two assists) and has one goal in three games in 2008.

"I'm very proud. I'm happy," Le Toux told reporters at Qwest Field. "I really enjoy my time here, so I decided to stay here to play in Seattle."

Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer, who is in the running to be named the MLS team's first head coach, said Le Toux is the first of perhaps six to 10 current Sounders who could get contracts from Sounders FC. Le Toux hopes many of his teammates join him.

"I hope everybody," he said. "We have won a championship."

Le Toux was being courted by other MLS teams, including the Colorado Rapids and Chivas USA. That made the need to keep him in Seattle more pressing.

Le Toux, a former French First Division player, will be added to the Sounders FC roster when the MLS signing period opens after the '08 season.

"Sebastien is an outstanding young soccer player with loads of upside," Sounders FC general manager Adrian Hanauer said in a statement from the club. "Sebastien is also a great individual and had the kind of character that our fans will be proud of."

Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company

More Sounders headlines...

E-mail article Print view      Share:    Digg     Newsvine

advertising

UPDATE - 06:17 PM
Sounders FC's season ends with 1-0 OT loss to Houston

Officiating has Sounders FC ready for rough-and-tumble finale

Soccer | Chicago Fire advances to MLS Eastern Conference final

Sounders FC 'superfans' will be cheering in Houston

Sounders FC's playoff foe features players with Northwest ties

Advertising

Video

Mourners gather at KeyArena for slain officer's memorial
Mourners gathered at KeyArena for the memorial service of Seattle police Officer Timothy Brenton on November 6, 2009.

Procession for slain SPD officer
Election Night: Approve R-71
Election Night: Reject R-71
Election Night: Joe Mallahan
Election Night: Mike McGinn
Election Night: Susan Hutchison
Election Night: Dow Constatine
Candlelight vigil for Officer Brenton
Flying Elephant on Aurora

Marketplace

nwautos

2009's most fuel-efficient sedansnew
Choosing a new sedan? Weigh the impact of your choice on your wallet and on the planet.
Post a comment

Open Houses

Find this weekend's open house listings.
Or search by location:

 
Most read
Most commented
Most e-mailed
 
 
Advertising