Heading into the 2016 MLS season, Cristian Roldan was a young role player trying to find his footing in Seattle Sounders Head Coach Sigi Schmid’s midfield. Roldan played a little more than 1,000 minutes in his rookie season and spent the first half of 2016 competing for a starting job, but found it difficult to make an impact.
When Schmid was let go that summer and assistant Brian Schmetzer took over as interim manager, Schmetzer changed the team’s formation to a 4-2-3-1. He dropped Roldan back a line to pair with club legend Ozzie Alonso in defensive midfield in a move that has paid massive dividends for club and player.