Los Angeles (AFP) – The struggling Seattle Sounders parted ways with Sigi Schmid on Tuesday, bidding farewell to the only coach they’ve known since their Major League Soccer debut in 2009.
The Sounders dropped to ninth — next to last — in the Western Conference after a lackluster 3-0 defeat to Sporting Kansas City on Sunday.
Long-time assistant Brian Schmetzer will take over as interim coach of the club, which has six wins and 12 defeats this season.
“Ultimately the club and Sigi agreed that a change was needed at this time, but Sigi’s legacy will always be a part of our history,” Sounders owner Adrian Hanauer said.
Schmid made the playoffs in each of his seven full seasons in charge of the club, winning four US Open Cups and the 2014 Supporters’ Shield for the team topping the table in the process. However, Seattle failed to reach an MLS Cup final under Schmid.
He had guided the Los Angeles Galaxy and Columbus Crew to MLS Cup titles prior to arriving in Seattle.
