Sigi Schmid says he’s already begun conversations about resuming his coaching career a little more than a week after he and the Seattle Sounders ended their eight-year relationship.
In his first lengthy interview since he and the Sounders mutually agreed to part ways on July 26, Schmid told FourFourTwo USA that he still wants to coach and that the desire to win a third MLS Cup is strong as ever.
“I definitely want to continue coaching,” Schmid said. “I don't think the fire and passion is gone. I've talked to different people about different things. I'm not ready to be a GM, because I know what a GM has to do, and I wouldn't be a good GM, because I would still think I'm better than the head coach, and that's the kind of GM you don't want to work for.
“For me, my passion, my desire, my fire is still there to coach. I definitely still want to win another title, win an MLS Cup. I definitely want to do that. So we'll relax a little bit, wait and see, and look for the right opportunity, and, hopefully, that will present itself.”
Schmid spoke with FourFourTwo USA about a number of topics – his future, the offseason departure of Obafemi Martins and the timing of Designated Player Nico Lodeiro’s arrival the same day Schmid left – but he said he was well aware of the Sounders’ unprecedented struggles this season how they led to the end of a relationship dating back to the team’s inaugural year in MLS in 2009.
“Obviously, I'm realistic enough to know what our record was ...,” Schmid said. “You just got to move on. I think we had a great run in Seattle, still disappointed about how it ended. I thought there were other options that were possibly available, but you've got to deal with what happens and look forward.”