SEATTLE, WASH. – Sounders FC defender Zach Scott today announced that he intends to retire at the conclusion of the 2016 Major League Soccer season. With today’s announcement, Scott prepares to close the book on a distinguished 15-year professional career in Seattle at the USL and MLS levels, making 347 all-time appearances in a Sounders uniform, including the last eight seasons in MLS. The Haiku, Hawaii native won seven trophies throughout his time in Seattle, including two USL league titles, four Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cups and the 2014 Supporters’ Shield.
“The time has come for me to turn the page on my soccer career and start a new chapter of my life,” said Scott. “When I signed with the USL Sounders in 2002, I never imagined that I would have a professional career that lasted 15 years, and it’s been a rare blessing to have played in the same city the entire time. That said, I have much more to offer in this life and I couldn’t be more excited to see what’s next.”
MEDIA NOTE: Scott and representatives from Sounders FC’s leadership are scheduled to speak to working members of the press during today’s media access window at approximately 12:00 p.m. PT following training at Starfire Sports. Interested media should contact a member of Sounders FC communications for further details.
MEDIA RESOURCES
ZACH SCOTT BIO: http://sndrs.com/vf94
PHOTOS FOR EDITORIAL USE – SCOTT ISO SHOTS: http://sndrs.com/9tal
DOWNLOADABLE VIDEO – SCOTT ON HIS RETIREMENT: http://sndrs.com/cmmr
PHOTOS – SCOTT THROUGHOUT THE YEARS: http://sndrs.com/chqs
The 36-year-old is one of three remaining original players from Sounders FC’s expansion season in 2009, and he ranks fifth in club history with 116 career regular-season appearances, starting 91. Scott is the club’s all-time leader with 20 games played in Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup play since 2009, while ranking first in club history with 19 starts in the CONCACAF Champions League. Scott attended Gonzaga University from 1998-2001 after growing up in Haiku, Hawaii and graduating from Maui High School.
“It’s unlike me to draw individual attention to myself, and my focus for the rest of the season remains on helping my teammates and this club get to the playoffs,” continued Scott. “However, my family and I owe so much to the overall Seattle community and the organization, so we wanted to share these final weeks with everyone. I wouldn’t have wanted my career to go any other way and I couldn’t have picked a better place for us to put down roots as a family.”
A consistent contributor in the club’s MLS era, including six-consecutive seasons making double-digit appearances, Scott is tied with Lamar Neagle for fifth in club history with 116 MLS regular season appearances. He made 15 or more starts each season from 2012-2015, and was the starting center-back alongside Defender of the Year Chad Marshall down the club’s Supporters’ Shield-winning stretch in 2014. Scott made his 300th career appearance as a Sounder on September 24, 2014 against FC Dallas, and his 347 all-time appearances are nearly 100 more than the next closest player in Seattle history.
“For roughly as long as I’ve been involved with this organization, Zach Scott has been a mainstay of the Seattle Sounders. His longevity and passion for the club are nothing short of incredible, and he has my gratitude for 15 years of decorated service to his coaches and teammates, the overall organization and the city of Seattle,” said Sounders FC Owner Adrian Hanauer. “We are all so appreciative of everything Zach has done for the club, and while he may be concluding a storied playing career at season’s end, he’ll continue to be a friend of Sounders FC in our community for years to come.”
Scott scored four goals across all competitions in his time with Sounders FC, and all of those tallies came in big moments during the 2012 season. His lone MLS regular-season strike came in the form of a 63rd-minute match-winner in Colorado on April 14, 2012, connecting with an Alex Caskey corner-kick and smashing a header into the net. In the MLS Cup Playoffs later that season, Scott recorded a goal and an assist in a 2-1 win over the LA Galaxy in the second leg of the Western Conference Semifinals, although the Rave Green fell on aggregate goals. He also scored Seattle’s only goal in the club’s loss in the 2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final, heading in a late equalizer to force extra-time before Sporting Kansas City eventually won via penalties. Scott also scored in a 5-0 Fourth-Round 2014 Open Cup win over PSA Elite.
"When I joined the USL Sounders in 2002, I never could have imagined the journey I would have with this young, aggressive rookie from Gonzaga. Fifteen seasons later, my relationship with Zach has grown to emulate the progression of the organization – an unwavering bond of commitment, growth and achievement,” said Sounders FC Interim Head Coach Brian Schmetzer. “It is difficult to imagine a match, training session or community event without Zach, but I am forever grateful for his 15 incredible seasons with our club. His commitment toward doing whatever it takes to help the team win, and striving to be his personal best are qualities that make him forever a Sounder."
The veteran defender joined the USL-1 Sounders ahead of the 2002 season, where he played as a regular starter at center-back and left-back for seven seasons. In a 2008 Open Cup Quarterfinal match, Scott scored the decisive penalty-kick against Kansas City. In all, Scott recorded 139 appearances, eight goals (including two game-winners) and three assists in league play. He finished sixth in games played and fifth in minutes (11,171) for the franchise.
“From the moment I started working with this group, it didn't take long for me to understand how much Zach Scott means to Seattle Sounders FC on so many levels,” said Sounders FC General Manager & President of Soccer Garth Lagerwey. “Beyond the bevy of consistent performances with the organization over the course of his career, Zach has demonstrated a commitment on and off the field of what it means to be a Sounder. On behalf of Sounders FC, I’d like to congratulate him on an accomplished career."
Scott lives in West Seattle with his wife Alana and their three children. He was raised by his mother Linda in Haiku, Hawaii and earned all-state honors at Maui High School before earning a scholarship to play at Gonzaga University, where he was named All-West Coast Conference as a senior in 2001. His brother Daniel also played for Gonzaga and enjoyed a strong professional career in the USL and NASL, most recently playing for the Carolina RailHawks.
Following a 1-1 road draw with the San Jose Earthquakes over the weekend, Sounders FC continues its late-season push for a spot in the 2016 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs Saturday afternoon against Vancouver Whitecaps FC (1:00 p.m. PT / JOEtv, ROOT SPORTS, Univision-Seattle, KIRO Radio 97.3 FM, El Rey 1360 AM). CenturyLink Field is open to its full capacity on Saturday as the Rave Green look to continue their positive momentum under Interim Head Coach Brian Schmetzer, who is 3-1-3 since taking over managerial duties on July 26.
