The Seattle Sounders will honor former player Mauro Rosales prior to Sunday afternoon’s home match against Sporting Kansas City (4:15 p.m. PT; Watch FREE on Apple TV, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360AM | TICKETS) as part of the 50th Anniversary celebration.
Immediately upon Rosales’ arrival to the Sounders in 2011, his role with the Rave Green was significant.
In his first year alone, the attacking midfielder was honored with Major League Soccer’s Newcomer of the Year award, supported the team to its third consecutive Open Cup title and was later named captain of the team for the following two seasons.
“It was a great experience,” said Rosales. “Seattle gave me the [chance] to come to MLS and to be a successful player for a long time.”
2011 only scratched the surface of what he was capable of on the pitch.
The Argentine international played three seasons with Seattle, racking up 12 goals and 34 assists over the course of his three-year tenure.
“When you have an organization that trusts in you and your qualities, and the respect that they showed me through the years, it was so positive for me [where I] performed on the field and gave my all as I always did,” said Rosales.
Rosales is appreciative of his accomplished career at the Sounders, but looks back on the “respect, passion, and love that the club gave to him” as the most memorable part of his experience with the organization.
He felt especially connected with the fans of the club.
“The support of the people, the support of the fans, that was incredible in my time in Seattle,” said Rosales. “Even when I played for other teams, they always showed me love and passion, and that is something that I will have forever.”
Prior to joining Seattle, he competed with Newell’s Old Boys (1999-2004), AFC Ajax (2004-07), Club Atletico River Plate (2007-10), and was a part of Argentina’s U-20 (‘01), Olympic (‘04) and First Team (‘04) squads.
It was an adjustment transitioning to the North American soccer space, but the Sounders made it a seamless experience for the midfielder as he carried over his talents from Argentina and Europe to the states.
“We had a very successful [first] season where we had a great team with different players that made me feel very comfortable on the team,” said Rosales. “The community as well, and the organization believed in me.”
The Sounders was one of four MLS clubs Rosales was a part of, having spent his following four years in the league with the Vancouver Whitecaps, Chivas USA and FC Dallas.
He closed out his MLS career with 15 goals and 51 assists, a Canadian Championship title with the Whitecaps, a second Open Cup trophy with FC Dallas in 2016, and the Supporters’ Shield that same year.
Rosales is still affiliated with MLS to this day, but in a different role as part of the recruiting staff for the Whitecaps organization.
“I wanted to keep being involved in MLS and be a part of the scouting so I can understand more about the league and watch players from all over the [world],” said Rosales. “Obviously, it is not the same as being a soccer player, but on the other hand, I [get to] keep in touch with the game.”
And while he currently occupies a role with our Cascadia rivals, he continues to give credit to the club that introduced him to the league and the many opportunities that came with it.
“[Seattle] was my first team in MLS, [where] I fell in love with this league,” said Rosales. “Even though I played in Europe, Argentina and different levels of competition, there is always going to be a place in my heart for the Sounders."
