The final piece of the puzzle fell into place when the Sounders signed MLS coaching legend Sigi Schmid just a month after he had won the 2008MLS Cup with the Columbus Crew.
After Columbus Crew won the MLS Cup in 2008, what should have been a night of collaborative celebration for the winger -- who won 18 caps with the U.S. while also representing his nation at the 2008 Olympic Games -- turned to individual torment instead.
They retained the rights to their USL MVP, Sebastien Le Toux, signing him to an MLS contract in the summer of 2008 and making him their first official player nearly nine months before their opening match.