Sounders Will Say Farewell to Zach Scott
By Nick Vitalis
Longtime Seattle Sounders’ defender, Zach Scott, has decided to call it a career as Mr. Sounder recently announced his retirement.
Grab your tissues, Sounders fans. This one hurts.
Zach Scott has announced that this year will be his last one in professional soccer. In his fifteen years as a pro, he never put on a jersey for a team other than Seattle. Brad Evans and Osvaldo Alonso join him as one of the original three from the expansion in 2009. However, he stands alone as a Sounder from the USL days of (not so) old.
Zach Scott is a wrecking ball on our defensive line. He overwhelms attacks not only with his physicality, but his incredibly precise tackling ability.
He’s shown scary toughness, playing through a broken foot last year. An injury that would stop most defenders? Certainly. One that would stop Zach Scott? Absolutely not.
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Towards the end of 2014, he made his 300th appearance, an incredible feat of longevity. He currently at 347 appearances, and is sure to get a couple more in the last few games. He’s near the top of the list for most appearances by a player for a single club in MLS, and probably is for all time as well.
Sounders fans love him more than just on the pitch, though. Scott can often be seen after games with his kids on the field, kicking the ball around with them and playing goalie, which has surely melted more than a few hearts.
He also is a regular fixture at community events and meet-and-greets. A lot of players can seem tired or weary at these types of things, but never Scott. He always seemed enthusiastic and as if he genuinely cares about supporters.
He has truly earned his nickname of “Mr. Sounder”. He didn’t score often, but he seemed to do so in crucial moments. Memorably, he scored a game-winning header off of a corner in Colorado in 2012, and later that year scored in the MLS Playoffs against the LA Galaxy.
Scott also was a USOC star, and frequently saw action there even when his MLS minutes started to decline. He has recorded the most appearances for a Sounder in USOC play and in CONCACAF Champions League play. Finally, the only thing left in his long career is to win the MLS Cup, which would be the best way to end his illustrious run.
At a quite ripe 36, Scott will now make way for the new vanguard of younger players to continue the legacy of the Rave Green. It’s been a decade and a half since the last time Scott wasn’t a part of the Sounders.
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He will step aside for the younger vanguard of players to continue fighting for the Rave Green. It’s safe to say they have someone to look up to if they ever wonder what a Seattle Sounder is made of.
Thanks, Mr. Sounder.
Scarves up, Seattle.