SEATTLE, WASH. – Sounders FC today announced that its assistant coaches have all been signed to contract extensions heading into the 2021 MLS season. Assistant Coaches Gonzalo Pineda, Preki and Djimi Traore, in addition to Club Director of Goalkeeping Tom Dutra and High Performance Director & Technical Advisor Adam Owen are all set to return, as Seattle is able to keep its entire coaching staff intact following its fourth MLS Cup appearance in five years in 2020.
“I’m very pleased to retain a coaching staff that has helped this club to a tremendous amount of success,” said Sounders FC General Manager & President of Soccer Garth Lagerwey. “Our coaches come from all over the world and each bring something very unique to our team. I look forward to their continued efforts as we head into another campaign.”
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Pineda enters his fifth season as an Assistant Coach for Sounders FC, helping the club to three MLS Cup Final appearances. A longtime Liga MX player and member of Mexico’s 2006 FIFA World Cup squad, Pineda finished his career with Sounders FC from 2014-2015, starting 45 of 56 MLS regular season appearances and helping the club earn the 2014 Supporters’ Shield. He spent one year as a broadcaster for Univisíon in 2016.
“My coaching staff is talented, diverse and brings a wealth of knowledge to the club,” said Sounders FC Head Coach Brian Schmetzer. “Their standards align with the club and are forged by their experiences as successful players and coaches in the modern game. They are true professionals, dedicated to improving First Team performance and helping the young players achieve success.”
Now in his fourth season with the Rave Green, Preki adds to a resume of 38 years in professional soccer, including 24 as a player and seven as a head coach. Creating a prolific career as a player and coach in MLS, Preki won MLS MVP in 1997 and 2003 before earning 2007 MLS Coach of the Year while in charge of Chivas USA. Preki’s connection to the Pacific Northwest goes back to his time with the Tacoma Stars from 1985-1990, where he played alongside Sounders FC Head Coach Brian Schmetzer.
Traore was hired as an Assistant Coach prior to the 2016 season for Sounders FC, where he finished his playing career from 2013-2014. Prior to coming to Seattle, Traore enjoyed a successful career in England and France, including 141 appearances for Liverpool, where he notably played all 120 minutes of the Reds’ memorable 2005 UEFA Champions League Final victory over AC Milan. Since joining the coaching staff, Traore has specialized in working with defenders and has helped the club to four MLS Cup appearances and two championships.
A Sounders FC original, Tom Dutra was hired on December 29, 2008 and has overseen the club’s goalkeeping during its entire existence in Major League Soccer, leading to four MLS All-Star appearances and six finalists for MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, including one win. Dutra previously served two seasons as Goalkeeper Coach under Schmetzer for the USL Sounders, and garnered a local and national reputation for his work in developing young keepers as well as training established professionals.
Owen enters his second season with Sounders FC in a dual role of High Performance Director & Technical Advisor, where he now oversees sports science and performance programs for the club across all levels of the organization, while also advising the club on technical matters. Owen has 16 years of experience as a fitness coach, assistant manager and manager, in addition to a decade of playing experience in Wales and Scotland.
