MLS: 3 teams with wonderful model for success
2. Seattle Sounders
As MLS loosens its roster rules and allows teams to spend increasing amounts of money, though more should still be done in this area, the turnover of teams’ rosters increases with it. Spending begets more recruitment, which in turn leads to more new players.
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However, despite this turnover across the league, the Seattle Sounders have now won two of the last four MLS Cups. They have played in three of them and are yet to miss out on the playoffs in their entire existence. And they have done it thanks to clever recruitment in places and planned continuity in others.
The likes of Cristian Roldan, Nicolas Lodeiro, Chad Marshall, Jordan Morris, Stefan Frei, Joevin Jones, Roman Torres, Ozzie Alonso have all been a part of the team for several years. Many were a part of both of the MLS Cup-winning teams. This continuity has allowed them to then add in key players at key positions without overhauling the entire team.
The Sounders have relied upon a core group of players to define their culture, build their team upon, and then add accessories to. It is a similar model to Portland and Sporting KC, both of whom have enjoyed great success over the years. It is a process that many other teams will be looking to replicate.