Sigi has big decisions early on for Sounders

Sigi Schmid has been head coach of Sounders FC all of two days, but already talk is moving towards whom he'll bring on as assistant coaches. Don Ruiz has some good fodder for talk in today's News Tribune.

It seems very likely that Schmid will continue the Sounders FC early tradition of 'getting things right' by hiring Brian Schmetzer to help him with his new club. Beyond the notion that it would be a nice gesture for the Seattle soccer community is the fact that Schmetzer (USL Sounders coach 2002-2008) has already had a big hand in putting together the roster. Then there is Brian's record as a winner at the USL-1 level and his many connections to local and national soccer.

Schmetzer said he would have no problem returning to an assistant’s role, which he previously held with the indoor Stars and Seattle SeaDogs," writes Ruiz.

He also wants to remain in Seattle. And he is uniquely qualified to provide information on the former USL Sounders players expected to get their chances to make the expansion Sounders’ roster.

“Sigi and I have already talked about the potential for some of the USL guys to come into camp and get extended looks during preseason,” Schmetzer said. “I’ve tried to give him some of the insights that I’ve acquired over the last seven years. Both (general manager Adrian Hanauer) and I feel that those players are important.

The early big decisions don't end with coaching choices. It has been widely reported that tomorrow Columbian striker sensation Freddy Montero will be meeting with his agent and the owners of his 'rights' to decide his next move. He's leaving Deportivo Cali, but for where? Scant reports and further rumors have suggested that Sounders FC own the majority of the player's rights. In recent days it has been reported that Real Betis are interested in Montero, as are several Argentine clubs.

It is good news for Seattle fans then that Sigi seems aware and ready to pounce if the opportunity arises. At least that is certainly one way to look at his comments in Jose Romero's Seattle Times blog the other day:

Schmid was asked if he had any Latino players in mind. "There's definitely ideas on some players that we have in mind," he said. "For me, players like that, I brought Carlos Ruiz to the league, I brought Guillermo Schelotto to the league, Alejandro Moreno probably had his best years for me in L.A. and now in Columbus, I'm always looking for talented players...there's a couple of guys that we actually have in our mind right now."

Listen: Glenn Davis talks with Kasey Keller about the 2009 Sounders
Listen: KJR's Groz and Gas talk with Sigi Schmid