Seattle Sounders FC has named former player Roger Levesque as its new Director of Community Outreach, the club announced today. Levesque spent nearly six seasons with the USL-1 Seattle Sounders before playing three and a half seasons with Sounders FC at the MLS level from 2009-12.
"We are thrilled to bring Roger back into the organization," said Sounders FC Owner and General Manager Adrian Hanauer. "As a player, his connection to the fans and community was a tremendous asset, and we think those same qualities will make him a valuable member of our Front Office."
As Director of Community Outreach, Levesque will be responsible for building off Sounders FC's existing relationships with the club's five community partners, as well as evaluating and determining the overall strategic goals of the department.
"I feel very fortunate to be back involved with Sounders FC, especially on the community side," said Levesque. "My last couple years of playing it was a huge part of my time within the club, and now that I'm joining the team in an official capacity, I look forward to growing that impact in the name of the Sounders FC organization."
A headshot of Roger Levesque for media use can be found here. Please credit Sounders FC Communications.
Levesque, 33, signed with Sounders FC on March 16, 2009 after spending nearly six seasons (2003-08) with the USL-1 Sounders. He made 53 appearances (18 starts) for Seattle, recording six goals and two assists in his three and a half MLS seasons with the club. He added another three goals and eight assists in Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and CONCACAF Champions League play, including the game-winning goal in the 2009 Open Cup final. A graduate of Stanford University, Levesque was also named MLS Humanitarian of the Month in May of 2012.
In his six seasons with the USL Sounders side, Levesque scored 27 goals in 130 regular season matches, helping the team to the league championship in 2005 and 2007 and the Open Cup semifinals in 2007 and 2008.
A native of Portland, Maine, Levesque was selected State Player of the Year in 1998 after scoring 106 goals over four seasons at Falmouth High School. He played college soccer at Stanford and was named Second-Team All-American his junior year with 14 goals and nine assists. He led the Cardinal his following year with seven goals and 13 assists.
Levesque retired from professional soccer in July of 2012 following a friendly against Chelsea. He then enrolled at University of Washington and earned his master's degree in business administration.