By signing with Sounders FC in December, Tyrone Mears was taking a giant leap of faith. He had visited Seattle and observed the quality of the organization, but moving to the Emerald City would station Mears away from his family for an extended period of time.
This is the first time that Mears has played for a club not located in Europe. He’s spent the majority of his 15-year career in his native country of England, where his family still resides today.
Earlier this month, Mears’ family got the chance to visit him in Seattle for the first time while his kids had some time off from school. One of the highlights of their trip was watching Mears and the Rave Green win 1-0 over the Houston Dynamo at CenturyLink Field on April 4.
“They were desperate to see me out there playing again,” said Mears, who had been sidelined with injuries for most of the last two years. “It meant a lot to me for them to be here, but it meant just as much to them. Coming to the game and watching, they were very, very happy.
“I’m hoping they can come again in the summer.”
Though he is across the Atlantic Ocean from his family, Mears finds comfort in knowing that his kids are watching the Sounders from afar and also working on their own soccer skills.
His oldest son, for one, has been in the Everton Academy since he was six years old.
“They have a fantastic setup. The youth system is amazing,” Mears said of the English club. “If he’s good enough to make it as a soccer player, he’ll get the best opportunity at Everton.”
Because of his vast experience in England’s top leagues, Mears says he felt very little pressure stepping in as the starting right back in his first season with the Rave Green. Despite replacing hometown hero DeAndre Yedlin, the 32-year-old was confident he’d quickly earn the trust of Sounders fans.
Another factor that helped Mears immensely in his transition to Major League Soccer was the group of teammates that welcomed him with open arms.
“All the guys are really nice,” he said. “Obviously getting around town and getting used to things – That has taken a little bit of time. But I’m happy. I found a place to live and I’ve got my car now to get me back and forth from training, so there’s not much else for me to worry about.”
It didn’t take long for Mears to earn that trust from teammates and supporters: He had an assist in his very first game and was named to the initial MLS Team of the Week. The veteran defender is one of four Sounders FC players who have started every match this year.
Six games into the campaign, Mears feels he and his teammates are improving every week.
“It’s a long season,” he said. “It’d be great to finish in the top spot again like last season, but I think it’s more important that we do everything we can to win the MLS Cup. That’s the main focus.”
