The all-time greatest Seattle Sounders by each position

There are a lot of factors to include when making a best ever list. The three most impactful for these list include the following:

How talented was the player?

How long did they play with the Sounders?

What memories were created by this player that would etch them forever in the physche of Sounders Nations?

ALSO READ: The 33 greatest Seattle Sounders players of all-time

The greatest Seattle Sounders players by each position

Keepers

Stefan Frei 2014-present, 406 games played 40 goals against in 39 playoff games

Sefan Frei is the most successful keeper in franchise history. He has accumulated more cups and titles on a team that his been focused on defense. He has memorable saves, like the one he reached back for and pulled out from going in on a headed shot by Josie Altidore in the MLS finals that ensured a title for the Sounders. An active member of the Seattle art scene, Frei has been adopted by the city even if he has not received the deserved accolades by the MLS.

Kasey Keller 2009-2011, 93 MLS regular-season appearances, recording 30 shutouts, and winning three consecutive Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup titles

Kasey Keller was the keeper when Seattle broke into the MLS. Due to political reasons, he did not have as long of a tenure as he deserved as the US national team keeper that his play suggested he deserved. Keller was on a team with little offense, and they relied on shutting down opponents to gain points in the standings. Thanks to Keller, Seattle was relevant after entering the MLS.

Andrew Thomas 2021-present 20 games played

Seattle has only had two goalkeepers for most of its already storied past. Andrew Thomas is taking over for Frei and has already won the Leagues Cup. His future is bright, but he has big shoes to fill if he is to climb up ahead of the other two Sounders heroes.

Central Defenders

Chad Marshall 2014-2019 12 Goals, 6 Assists

Chad Marshall helped the Sounders solidify their defensive mindset while winning at every level. Marshall won titles in high school, college and in the MLS with two teams. His positioning and dominance of defending in the air sets him apart. For a long time, Marshall was the glue on defense and a class act on and off the field.

Roman Torres 2015-2019, 2020-2021 1 Goal, 3 Assists + a shootout clinching PK for the MLS title

Roman Torres was a tank, dressed as a player. He was an immovable object on defense and helped Marshall dominate balls thrown into the defensive end in the air. His goal in the shoot-out clinched the first MLS title for the Sounders and he was always willing and able to throw himself into the action.

Yeimar Gomez 2020-present 7 goals, 2 assists

Yeimar took over for the role that Roman Torres played. Over the years, his passing has improved and his dedication to winning air balls fits up there with Marshall and Torres. He has contributed to the defensive juggernaut that is the Seattle Sounders. He continues to improve and eliminate mistakes as he slowly makes his way up the all-time Central Defenders list.

Jackson Ragen 2022-present 5 goals, 2 assists

Jackson Ragen is listed at 6'6", but he may just as well be 10 feet tall. Jackson uses his frame and height to shut down attacking players and deflects most shots before they get a chance to make to a keeper. He wins challenges in the air but his passing is starting to set him apart from other central defenders for the Sounders. With the assistance of Yeimar and Kim Kee Hee, he has helped make their defensive end a "no fly zone" for balls intended to connect to attackers with bad intentions.

Wingbacks

Kelvin Leerdam 2017-2020 10 Goals 8 Assists

For those of you that remember, Kelvin Leerdam was a physical abnormality. His long throws from the sideline into the mouth of the goal were impressive, as was his passing accuracy and when he was able to position himself for a shot he seldom missed. He was a lock-down defender and a large asset to the attack when wingbacks were just becoming utilized in that way.

DeAndre Yedlin 2012-2014 1 Goal, 10 Assists

DeAndre Yedlin helped revolutionize the way wingbacks were utilized. His speed up the flank made him a dangerous part of the attack. Unfortunately for the Sounders, as his crossing improved, he was shipped off to play in Europe.

Tyrone Mears 2015-2016 1 Goal, 3 Assists

Tyrone Mears only played for the Sounders for a short while. While his time was limited, his impact was not. He was a shut down defender and played with the savvy of a mature European player, which is why he did not play for long in the Rave Green.

Nouhou Tolo 2017-present 2 goals, 10 assists

Nouhou is a crowd favorite. He is emotional, and very few players are successful when taking him on 1-on-1. His athletic ability is like no other player in the league and he takes pride in his ability to shut down an attack and to cover for his teammates. While goals and assists have been few and far between, his impact on the game and his long-strided runs up the side make him one of the most memorable defenders the Sounders have had.

Joevin Jones 2016-2017, 2019-2020 5 Goals, 27 Assists

Joevin Jones took over where Yedlin left off. He used his speed up the flank and was more efficient with his crosses than Yedlin. He also left for Europe but eventually returned to the Sounders for a brief stint but never matched his contributions from his previous time with the club.

Defensive Midfielders

Christian Roldan 2015-present 39 goals, 56 assists

Last year, Christian Roldan showed that his game could be raised to the next level. His superior play solidified the Sounders defense and showed a young Obed Vargas how to play the position before he left for Europe. He and his brother have been flexible with their positions, and Christian looks to play a key role in the United States push at the World Cup later this summer as well as the Sounders aspirations of accumulating more cups.

Osvaldo Alonso 2009-2018 21 Goals, 24 Assists

Before Christian Roldan, there was Osvaldo Alonso. A Cuban-born player, he toed the line between overly aggressive and a creator. His connecting passes alleviated pressure and started the Sounders' attack. While he drew his share of penalties, he was a tough customer and refused to back down to anyone.

Joao Paulo 2020- 2025 6 goals, 19 assists

Few Sounders have had the touch of Joao Paulo. His ability to control any ball and distribute it to his teammates was uncanny and a crucial part of the Sounders' success. The Brazilian native had a flamboyant flare with his feet as he sured of the defensive line.

Brad Evans 2009-2017 28 Goals, 29 Assists

Brad Evans played a lot bigger than his 6'1" frame. He started as a midfielder and eventually made his way to the back line. He spent most of his career with the Sounders as the team captain and was a large part of their success while being a fan favorite.

Obed Vargas 2021-2025 8 goals, 16 assists

As the first Alaskan born native in the MLS, Vargas broke in with the Sounders at a young age and turned heads immediately. Under the tutelage of Christian Roldan, he worked in tandem during some of the Sounders' most successful runs. He probably would have made it higher on the list had he stayed in Seattle, but when European teams came with offers, he headed east to play in the world's most competitive leagues.

Play-Making Midfielders

Clint Dempsey 2013-2018 57 Goals, 29 Assists

Clint Dempsey is the most talented player the Sounders have had on their roster. He was the most talented American born player and even his Sounders' coach Sigi Schmid admitted that watching Dempsey and striker Obafemi Martins in practice caused him to forget what he was doing and drink in their technical one-touch passing that carved up defenses just like he was a little kid wowed by seeing his first bicycle-kick. There was no doubt that he played with a chip on his shoulder and was hot-headed at times, but his play was always brilliant.

Nicolas Lodeiro 2016-2023 58 Goals, 95 Assists

Nicolas Lodeiro hit the ground running and helped the Sounders win their first MLS title. He is the all-time leader in assists, and had a very high motor which put him all over the field and created problems for defenses. His creative play and passing helped build the Sounders dynasty. He is also 4th in all-time goals for the Sounders.

Albert Rusnak 2022-present, 33 goals, 30 assists

Albert Rusnak has been the most reliable and consistent player for the Sounders for the last 4 seasons. His ball distribution has kept them relevant in games and he has improved his attack to include creating a screen to block the goalkeeper by megging defenders while kicking the ball into the back of the net. Due to numerous injuries, he hasn't always had the highest compliment of players, but he continues to grind out attacks as the focal point of the offense.

Mauro Rosales 2011-2013 12 Goals, 34 Assists

Mauro Rosales was named MLS Newcomer of the Year for the 2011 season, and at one time held the Sounders' record with 13 assists. Even though that record was eventually broken, his ball distribution was a critical part of Seattle's attack. He helped the Sounders win the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and the Supporters' Shield in 2016.

Pedro de la Vega 2024-present 5 goals, 6 assists

While Pedro de la Vega is relatively new to the team, and he has suffered numerous injuries that have limited his play, his play on the field has set him apart. His goal in opening round of the Leagues Cup is one of the most impressive goals in Sounders' history. He took a cross-field pass from Alex Roldan and volleyed it in the air to the opposite top corner of the goal. It was the goal of the tournament, and the Sounders' goal of the year. Injuries have limited his impact, but if he can make it through a stretch in good health, Sounders fans will remember how much talent the Argentinian has and how good their attack can be.

Forwards

Obafemi Martins 2013-2015 43 Goals, 23 Assists

Before leaving for a huge contract in China, the Dempsey-Martins attack was unparalleled in MLS. Their one-touch passing as they ran circles around defenders before Martins would finish with deadly accuracy and celebrate with his iconic flip. Dempsey and Martins made fans feel gitty and it has been a rarity in the MLS to have two players with that level of talent play so well together. It was as if time had stopped, and they could dissect the opposition in order to come up with new and fun ways to score.

Jordan Morris 2016-present 87 goals 34 assists

Jordan Morris is the Sounders' all-time leader in goals. It would be easy to say that had he not been injured several times, he would have more goals, but he also would have been playing in Europe. He has tremendous speed and a knack for tucking the ball in the net. Over time, he has developed his passing game, but his ability to remain healthy seems to be the biggest limit to his success.

Raúl Ruidíaz 2018-2024 86 Goals, 19 Assists

Raúl Ruidíaz was nicknamed "The Flea" in his home country of Peru for his small stature and his ability to get past defenders. His clinical ability to put the ball in the back of the net has him as the second leader in goals for the Sounders behind Jordan Morris. Ruidíaz was always looking for ways to score including a shot from midfield where he caught the opposing keeper out too far from the goal and chipped in the long shot. Most of his finishes were in close as his quick movements eluded defenders as he seemed to score at will once he got the ball. He was also the first Sounders player to score 4 goals in one match.

Fredy Montero 2009-2012, 2021-2024 79 Goals, 52 Assists

Fredy Montero was the focal point of the offense during his first stint with the Sounders. Playing on a defensive oriented team meant it was up to him to take advantage of opportunities. Being third on the all-time goal scores list proves how effective he was.

Eddie Johnson 2012-2013 29 Goals, 5 Assists

Eddie Johnson was brought to the Sounders at the request of Clint Dempsey after the departure of Obefemi Martins. For a couple of seasons, they worked as a 2-man wrecking crew and Johnson scored 29 goals in two years. Had he spend more time in Seattle, he would have been higher on the list, but his contributions scared the rest of the league and helped the Sounders reaffirm that they are always in contention of any Cup that they are pursuing.

Honorable Mentions

Arriola, Rothrock, Zakuani, Scott, Neagle, Bruin, Pappa, Ferreira, Alex Roldan

Some of these players have only played with the Sounders for a short while, while others would have been right behind the top five in their positions.

Some of these players are debatable, but the successes of the Sounders outweighs any other MLS club, so these players have done more to establishing the Rave Green as the gold standard of which all other American (and Canadian) teams are measured.