When Sounders FC earned a 1-1 draw on the road against Atlanta United on Sunday, it was the second meeting between the two clubs that week. On Tuesday, July 10, Seattle and Atlanta’s U-17 teams squared off in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy championship, which the young Sounders won 5-1 as they secured the first youth national title in club history.
Since Atlanta United joined MLS in 2017, there have been countless columns and stories comparing the Georgia side’s whirlwind introduction to American soccer to that of the Seattle Sounders back in 2009.
Both clubs defied expectations in their inaugural seasons as they drew massive crowds, made big-money signings, and embedded themselves in the fabric of their respective communities.
The area where the two clubs share the most common ground, though, is in their philosophical commitment to player development.
“I have a lot of admiration and respect for [Sounders FC Director of Player Development and Academy Director] Marc Nicholls, which obviously affects the way I approach things,” said Atlanta United Academy Director Tony Annan. “He’s been involved in MLS longer than I have, and his influence in Seattle helped me mold and shape how I approached Atlanta.”
Annan and Nicholls are both graduates of the Elite Formation Coaching License course, which is a joint venture between MLS and the French Football Federation that aims to increase the quality of player development in the United States. Both directors expressed that one of the biggest takeaways from the course – which has since been embedded in their respective youth systems – is the importance of developing an identity for the club.
From those identities, they’ve developed game models, or a commitment to a style of play that permeates throughout both academies. Having a clear game model allows you to create positional profiles, or the exact traits and qualities you need from each position on the pitch to consistently execute that style of play.
“Obviously, Atlanta gives you a different demographic [than Seattle], it gives you a very athletic profile,” said Annan. “We’re trying to take that athleticism and add decision making. One of the first things Carlos [Bocanegra] did was to say, ‘let’s sit down and talk about player profiles from top to bottom.’ We want to identify the qualities of what we want, and then try to develop those qualities into the type of player that we want.”
This notion of establishing a clear identity, game model and positional profiles is something that Nicholls began to implement when he completed the EFCL back in 2015. Three years later, it led to the club’s first-ever DA national championship, with the U-17s perfectly executing the Sounders’ style of counter-pressing, problem-solving in possession, and innovation in the final third.
By committing to a unified style that can filter up to the First Team, both clubs have managed to churn out some of the brightest up-and-coming players in the country. Where Atlanta has the likes of Andrew Carlton, George Bello and Chris Goslin, the Sounders have USYNT prospects Sam Rogers, Azriel Gonzalez and Ray Serrano in the pipeline.
Atlanta and Seattle have played to competitive draws in both of their MLS matchups since 2017. The competition trickles down all the way to the youth systems, as well. | USA Today Sports
“I think it’s a big bonus for our future national team, because you’re going to have lots of different types of players that you can mold together,” said Nicholls. “Hopefully it will enable the national team to assemble the best of them, which will reflect the whole country.”
Added Annan: “I think it’s great for players to play as much international football as they can. Talent won’t stand still and you can’t let it stand still, and the only way to raise the bar is to play against the best. International tournaments and international camps give you that experience to play against other players who are on the same pathway, which drives them to work even harder.”
That pathway, which relies heavily on USL sides bridging the gap between the academy and the first team, is something of which both Directors emphasized the importance. Another key parallel between the two clubs is a commitment to vertical integration. Atlanta and Seattle give plenty of minutes to current Academy players, and they’re also willing to reward the brightest prospects with professional contracts.
The Seattle and Atlanta model of roster construction, signing big money DPs and players from the youth system, is likely the way forward for the league.
“Our club is dedicated to putting the best product on the field, so if that means buying a [Ezequiel] Barco or a Miguel [Almiron] or a Josef [Martinez], that’s always going to happen,” said Annan. “But it’s also equally as invested in the community and the academy to make sure that the grassroots are being done properly, too. I think it’s a great model.”
It’s a two-pronged approach that is beginning to filter through the Sounders organization, with a whole host of uber-talented prospects currently developing in the USL with S2. They might be a couple of years away, but it’s not a far-fetched reality to see Raul Ruidiaz flanked by the likes of Ray Serrano and Marlon Vargas on the wings.
The Sounders Academy and Atlanta United Academy are two of the top youth systems in the country. In a few years, it’s entirely possible that we may see a rematch of the 2017-18 national championship take place at CenturyLink Field or Mercedes Benz Stadium.
