In 2013, Djimi Traore – an experienced defender with Premier League and Ligue 1 experience and a winner of the 2005 UEFA Champions League with Liverpool – came to the Seattle Sounders on trial.
Six months removed from his contract expiring at Marseille, the then-32-year-old defender was trying to decide his next move, keeping in mind the best interest of his pregnant wife and young son.
And that is how a player with over 200 career appearances in Europe showed up at Sounders preseason with little fanfare. His quality was noticed immediately.
“I think after one training they saw what I could bring to the team and they signed me,” Traore said.