In their ninth MLS season, the Seattle Sounders have no shortage of examples of playing against their own. They’ve faced former Designated Players, former captains, local products and fan favorites. They’ve even faced former teammates who joined big rivals.
Yet facing a player like Fredy Montero — as they’ll do on Friday — feels somehow different. Not only is Montero still the franchise’s all-time leading scorer (during the MLS era), but he’s a former Designated Player who put down roots in the area, still has family here and became a fan favorite. Oh, and he now plays for one of the Sounders’ biggest rivals.