After the worst start to a regular season in club history, the Seattle Sounders posted a 12-2-3 record in the second half of the season. It was a collective, teamwide refusal to quit when the chips were down.
But it was players like Albert Rusnák who found a way to push the envelope and help the Seattle squad overcome the shaky start to the year.
Despite suffering an ankle injury the day before the first match of the season, the Slovak international maintained his composure and found a way to not only make his way back to the starting eleven, but have a record-breaking season as well.
“It took a long time for me to feel good,” said Rusnák. “The first couple games that I came back from the injury, coming off the bench, I was in pain. Maybe it wasn't the right decision at the start of the season for me to come back so early, but I'm happy where we are right now and my performance.”
Rusnák tied former Sounders midfielder Nicolás Lodeiro for most regular season assists in club history (16) and passed the now Orlando City SC player in assists across all-competitions with 19.
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“It's nice to hear,” said Rusnák. “It's definitely a positive and it definitely means a lot to me.”
Rusnák also finished the regular season with 10 goals. This is the fourth time in his eight-year MLS stint where he’s posted double-digits in the scoring category.
It has been a long time coming for Rusnák, who finally got the opportunity to own the the No. 10 role after playing in a deeper midfield in seasons prior with the club.
“The [objective] is almost the same as the past two years, but individually, now that I’m playing higher on the field, it’d be goals and assists, playing well in that position, creating for the guys around me and just being a part of a successful team,” Rusnák said in an interview with SoundersFC.com in early March.
He has accomplished exactly that and then some, supporting the team to the fourth-place position in the Western Conference and home-field advantage in the First Round of the Audi 2024 MLS Cup playoffs.
“[Now,] there's more games I can add to [my record] and there's more games for us to play and to win something this year,” said Rusnák. “So that's why I don't think I'm paying too much attention to what I have achieved [so far], but when the season is done, or maybe, when I'm done with playing, it will mean more.”
His prowess in the midfield is undeniable, and he is looking to impact the season even further as the Sounders transition into postseason play against the Houston Dynamo on Monday night (6 p.m. PT; Watch FREE on Apple TV, FS1, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360AM, SiriusXM FC 157 | TICKETS).
“Houston is a good team, and I think everybody knows it,” said Rusnák. “I’m looking forward to the game.”
