The Seattle Sounders appear to be adjusting well to their temporary base in Marbella, Spain, where they will train until February 10th. SoundersFC.com provides daily updates on their activities. The biggest takeaway so far is that Spain is exactly what everyone expected in terms of climate, food, and beach access.
There’s a lot to like about Marbella 🤩 pic.twitter.com/HwlpbM7Dq1
— Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) January 28, 2024
Traveler list
But perhaps the most informative piece of social media to come out during the Sounders’ time in Spain was actually provided by the training center itself. They released a video with lots of clips from their training sessions, allowing you to see just about everyone on the trip.
One of the most successful 👏 @MLS 🇺🇸Teams from the past few years @SoundersFC At MCF! I’m very happy 😀 I’m happy to see you again! Welcome 🙌!
Uno de los equipos de la @MLS 🇺🇸 más exitosos 👏 de los últimos años @SoundersFC At MFC! Lots of content 😀 Develos de Vuelta! Bienvenidos 🙌! pic.twitter.com/iBNufFwzTI
— Marbella Football Center (@MarbellaFCenter) January 28, 2024
Combined with a few more posts published by the Sounders, I think we can reasonably identify everyone who traveled to Spain. From the perspective of the first team, all players except Eimar Gomez Andrade (visa issue) and Nouhou (international assignment) appear to be currently training. There is no word yet on when Eymar will join them, but Cameroon have just been eliminated from the African Cup of Nations, so Nouhou will probably join them soon.
Players other than the first team who appear to have traveled include draft picks Kalani Cossa-Rienzi and Tino Lopez. Defiance players Snyder Brunell and Gerogi Minouungou. and academy players Mo Scholl and Gallatin Sandnes. I don’t know how likely it is that any of these players will make it to the first-team roster out of camp, but I think Cossa Rienzi has the best chance from what I’ve seen.
tissue depth chart
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preseason games
While we wait for official word, the Sounders appear to have at least finalized who they will play in Marbella.
On Wednesday, they will face Serbian top-flight team FK TSC (formerly known as Bačka Topola). TSC currently sit third in the Superliga, having finished second in the previous campaign.
They are scheduled to play against IFK Norrköping in the Swedish top flight on Sunday. They, like the Sounders, are preparing for the start of the 2024 season. Last year they finished 9th in the 16-team Allsvenskan.
On February 9th, the Sounders are scheduled to face Odense Bold Club of the Danish Top League. They currently sit ninth in the 12-team Danish Superliga and are on winter break.
Returning to the Seattle area, the Sounders will conclude their preseason schedule with a closed-door game at Longacres on February 17th against the USL Championship’s Sacramento Republic. The Republic finished first in the Western Conference during the regular season, but were eliminated in the conference finals. To Phoenix Rising.