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How the never give up attitude of Albert Rusnák inspired Seattle.

Albert Rusnák's story of Man City reject to Seattle Superstar is inspiring.

By demian malcher

Apr 13, 2024; Frisco, Texas, USA; Seattle Sounders midfielder Albert Rusnák (11) plays the ball in the second half against the FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-Imagn Images
Apr 13, 2024; Frisco, Texas, USA; Seattle Sounders midfielder Albert Rusnák (11) plays the ball in the second half against the FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-Imagn Images / Chris Jones-Imagn Images
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Right now, there are hundreds of kids training at the biggest, most expensive soccer clubs, all dreaming of playing in the starting 11. But if you can do basic math, you know that 11 is far less than one hundred, let alone hundreds. For every kid who makes it, many more never play for the team at all. That’s exactly where Albert Rusnák found himself at Manchester City in 2015. He never made an appearance for the Citizens, as his small frame and lack of strength made him a poor fit for the wing in the Premier League. But then came Cambuur, where coach Henk de Jong recognized that Rusnák’s style of play was better suited for a playmaker
role rather than as a winger. This marked the beginning of his resurgence, starting in the Netherlands. He played a key role in helping FC Groningen win their first major trophy, scoring both goals in the KNVB Cup final to defeat PEC Zwolle. He also helped Groningen qualify for European competition for the first time in their history. However, Rusnák truly found his home in the USA. After signing with Real Salt Lake (RSL), he had multiple seasons with 10+ goals and 10+ assists, including an impressive 14 assists in his first season. When his contract expired, he followed the yellow brick road to the Emerald City, where he continued his MLS stardom with the Seattle Sounders. Rusnák played a pivotal role in the Sounders' greatest achievement—winning the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League. He scored in the semi-final against NYC FC, helping the team advance to the final, where they triumphed. In 2024, Rusnák has continued to shine, recording 10 goals and 11 assists this season. He currently leads the team in assists and is tied for second in goals.

His future at the Sounders is currently unclear but his time in the city of Seattle has been undeniably amazing. His contributions have helped us to some of the greatest triumphs in the Sounders history. And his creative and intelligent playstyle has made him a joy to watch. If he does comeback hopefully we can find more defensive help and a more clinical finisher to help us out. It'll help him to focus on his playmaking more which'll allow him to play at his best which is what we all want!