Landon Donovan. Jeff Cunningham. Jaime Moreno. Ante Razov. All are Major League Soccer legends and are presented in order at the top of the league’s all-time scoring charts.
Razov, who is in his first year as Assistant Coach with Sounders FC, has been tasked with bestowing some of the wisdom that saw him net an amazing 114 goals for five teams over a glittering MLS career to a diverse set of attacking players.
And halfway through his first season in the Emerald City, Razov will return to the place that he made his name - Chicago.
From 1998-2000 and 2001-2004, Razov played over 150 matches for the Fire, scoring a whopping 76 goals for the club. It was recently announced that he’ll be inducted into Chicago’s Ring of Fire, an honor only received by seven other members of the storied organization’s history.
“It’s a tremendous honor to be recognized for my playing career in Chicago,” said Razov to SoundersFC.com earlier this week. “It was the best part of my playing career. We won a lot, we were always in the mix and we played in six finals. We won four of those. I wish we had won more, but we were one of the early standard-bearers of the league. It was a special time and I look forward to getting back there and to see the Chicago fans. It will be nice.”
Since he retired in 2009, Razov has stayed heavily involved in the game and has noticed a big trend in recent years that would have benefitted him would he still be playing.
“Scoring is up,” remarked Razov on the current climate of the world’s game. “The rules have benefitted the forwards. Everyone wants to see scoring; it’s not just in MLS, it’s worldwide. Everyone wants an attractive game and you can’t always have that, but attackers are given the benefit of the doubt. Defenders have to be more wary and clever.
“Years ago, you would be able to crush a guy four or five times in a game and maybe leave him a little banged up. Rules are such now that two tackles can mean you’re off the field. Defenders are more on notice and they have to play differently than they once did. We have to take advantage of that.”
For the Sounders, the scoring is always up when you have world class players like Clint Dempsey and Obafemi Martins at your disposal, something Razov has found much pleasure in utilizing this year. Recently though, the club is without its two biggest stars due to international duty and injury, so alternate tactics have been used.
As the man tasked with coaching the attacking players, Razov has been trying to find the right mix at the right time with the likes of Chad Barrett and Lamar Neagle seeing the bulk of the action lately.
“With different guys out there, we try to implement different things,” said Razov of who he has available now. “With Clint and Oba, it’s different. We just have to sharpen the edge of the sword there. With the other guys, we need to be more technical and encourage them much more. We remind them that they can do the job and that we expect them to do the job.
“It’s management. At halfway through the season, I’m happy with where we’re at. We’re progressing and I know we’ll get those guys back. We also need these guys to step up. We’re in a good spot.”
While returning to Chicago with the Sounders will evoke memories of years gone by for the 41-year-old, the minute the whistle blows, it will be, as the song goes, us versus them.
“There’s a clear distinction now; I’m not a player anymore…I’m with the Sounders,” said Razov. “We’re going to win three points. The [Ring of Fire] ceremony isn’t until October. This is another road game for us and we’re looking to get three points. There will be no feelings of nostalgia once the game starts and the whistle blows.”
The Sounders and Chicago Fire kickoff from Toyota Park at 5:30 p.m. PT on JOEtv. You can also follow along with the match on Twitter with @LIVESounders.
