Sounders hand it to Kasey Keller

The Kellers have lived in London three separate times.

They've lived in Düsseldorf, Germany; Leicester, England; and Madrid. Wherever professional soccer took them. And now, it has brought them home.

Kasey Keller, a standout goalkeeper and one of the most accomplished players in U.S. men's national team history, chose the path that took him and his wife and two kids from years of living abroad to Seattle Sounders FC and the family home base where he grew up, in Lacey.

Keller signed a two-year contract with the new Major League Soccer franchise, and he was introduced as the second member of the Sounders FC roster Thursday at Qwest Field.

"What I want to emphasize is that I'm coming home to play," Keller said, making sure to stress the last word. "I'm coming home to help the Sounders win. To help the Sounders establish themselves as one of the top franchises in the country, if not really the benchmark for what soccer is going to become in this country."

Keller is 38 and had played in the top leagues in England, Germany and Spain since 1992. Along the way, he appeared in 102 matches with the U.S. national team and had 47 shutouts in 53 wins. He also was part of four U.S. World Cup teams.

Keller's most recent stop was Fulham in the English Premier League. His 10-year-old twins, son Cameron and daughter Chloe, were born in London.

"I had offers to continue playing in the Premier League and possibly go back to some of the other countries I've been to, and it's been a great journey," Keller said, "but to be a part of a new franchise, to be a part of everything that I feel that this team is going to stand for, it was just too good of an offer to pass up."

Keller hopes his career with Sounders FC doesn't end when he decides to retire as a player. His contract has options to extend beyond the two years, and he made clear that he wants Seattle to be the last team he plays for and would like to stay involved in the organization.

"Still quick, great shot-blocker," Sounders FC general manager Adrian Hanauer said of Keller. "I have a large degree of confidence that he'll be if not the best goalkeeper in the league, one of the top goalkeepers in the league."

The introduction of Keller wasn't without some fanfare. Keller answered questions in English, Spanish and German, and held up a bright green team jersey for a photo opportunity.

Then Keller went down to the Qwest turf, where dozens of youth soccer players greeted him by chanting his name.

"He's a huge soccer personality in this country," Hanauer said. "He's a great ambassador for soccer here."

MLS allocated Keller — as a former national-team member coming into the league — to Sounders FC and signed him on behalf of the team. Seattle had the No. 1 allocation as expansion team, which it used to acquire Keller.

The allocation does not prevent Sounders FC from signing a designated player whose salary is above the MLS per-team salary cap.

Hanauer said he hopes to sign goalkeeper Chris Eylander from the United Soccer Leagues First Division Sounders to back up Keller and learn from him. Hanauer added that he and technical director Chris Henderson are soon to be in South America to scout potential players for Sounders FC.

The search for a head coach for the team will intensify by October.

For now, Keller will enjoy somewhat of a break from the game. He hasn't played in a match in months and won't be on another team until Seattle starts full-squad training early next year. In the meantime, he'll work out with the current Sounders.

José Miguel Romero: 206-464-2409 or jromero@seattletimes.com