Home

10%

Thank You, Nico

By Seattle Sounders FC

December 12^th, 2023

It’s impossible to tell the story of the Seattle Sounders without telling the story of Nicolás Lodeiro.

There are countless anecdotes, goals, assists, and trophies that depict the legacy of Lodeiro to a certain extent. And yet, all of them fall short of truly illustrating his history-altering impact for the club. Perhaps the best way to capture what he means to this franchise is with a simple objective truth: Lodeiro is one of the greatest Seattle Sounders of all time.

From the minute he stepped off the plane in July 2016, Lodeiro knew he made the right decision to establish his career at the Sounders organization and in the city of Seattle.

“I saw at that moment I wanted to make history in a new country, in a new club and I saw that this club would make something special for me in the future,” he said.

Signing to the Sounders was an opportunity for Lodeiro to blossom into the player he would eventually become. During his eight seasons in Seattle, he helped transform the club from a perennial contender into a dynasty.

Lodeiro’s aspirations at the organization were apparent from the start.

“Trophies,” he said when asked what he hoped to accomplish when he decided to continue his soccer career with the Rave Green.

Lodeiro achieved exactly that, closing out his eight-season stint in Seattle with seven major trophies across all competitions.

His success began as early as his first season with the Rave Green, when he led a team on a miraculous turnaround from the bottom of the Western Conference to a spot in the postseason. Once in the playoffs, Lodeiro posted four goals in six games as the Sounders embarked on a storybook run to the final and took home the franchise’s first-ever MLS Cup title.

“It was one of the best things,” said Lodeiro. “My first goal was to one day win MLS Cup because I knew that the club didn’t have it yet and I did it.”

His resume continued to rack up year after year, finishing with four Western Conference Final victories, two MLS Cup trophies, and a monumental Concacaf Champions League title.

The Uruguayan international totaled 58 goals and 95 assists across his 231 appearances with the club. From his shoe phone goal celebrations to putting the ball underneath his jersey to represent his wife’s pregnancy, Lodeiro made sure each golazo was a memorable one.

But it was the support he received from the fans throughout his Sounders career that made every goal, every assist, and every trophy, special.

“In my first game here, I saw the fans, the crowd, the stadium was full, and I realized that this club meant something big,” said Lodeiro. “These fans want to support the team even if it means winning or losing. It was easy to love them.”

Lodeiro recalls one moment in particular that truly showcased his connection to the club and its supporters.

He referred to his 88th minute goal to put up his team 3-0 against Pumas in Leg 2 of the CCL Final as his all-time favorite goal with the Sounders. It wasn’t the quality of the goal itself, but rather the overwhelming surge of emotion and pride that made it the most memorable.

“You see my reaction when I took off my jersey, and I went to the fans and hugged everyone,” said Lodeiro. “It was a pleasure at home with our fans, family and friends. The goal was easy because I took the shot off the rebound of the post, but it means something special to me for the moment and everything around that goal.”

Lodeiro’s time at the Sounders had a large emphasis on “family.” Whether it be the fans showing their consistent support and admiration for the midfielder, or his teammates, coaches, and other staff members of the club making him comfortable upon his arrival to Seattle, a place that was initially so foreign to him, their extended encouragement allowed him to “grow at the club.”

It was his immediate family and their role in his Sounders career, however, that ultimately made his time at the club unforgettable.

“I won all those trophies because I have a big support system on my back,” said Lodeiro. “They deserve these trophies like me or maybe more, my family and my wife. We did a good job; we did it like a family, like a team.”

The Sounders and the city of Seattle became an unexpected home for Lodeiro — a place where he’s built a name for himself and a place where he’s put down roots with his wife Micaela, his son Leandro, and his daughters Rafaela and Ignacia.

“I've never spent too much time in one city, one club because I would play for three or four years and then I'd move,” said Lodeiro. “And now with family, with kids, with a normal life, this club is so special and for me, I feel an emotion I’ve never felt [before] because I’ve only played on the Sounders with my family.”

Lodeiro’s closing interview with the Sounders showcased an abundance of gratitude for the city and those who made his time at the organization so successful. And the Sounders are equally thankful for Lodeiro, for not only helping to establish the club as the North American powerhouse it is today, but for setting an example for years to come.

Once a Sounder, Always a Sounder. It’s an adage that expresses the long-lasting connection between the fans and a player who has given everything to the club. While Nicolás Lodeiro is moving on to the next chapter of his professional career, he is, and always will be, a Sounder.

Button Label