TUKWILA, Wash. – Seattle Sounders interim head coach Brian Schmetzer is far from a newcomer to his team’s ever-contentious rivalry with the Portland Timbers.
Schmetzer has been a part of the Cascadia soccer scene dating back to his days as a player with the NASL Sounders in the 1980s, then as Seattle’s head coach during the club’s days in the USL from 2002-2008 and as a top assistant after the club joined MLS in 2009.
This Sunday, however, will mark a first even for Schmetzer.
The Sounders meet the Timbers at CenturyLink Field (6:30 pm PT; FS1 in US, MLS LIVE in Canada) for the first time since he took over as Seattle’s interim boss late last month.