On May 8, 2008 the newly minted MLS franchise Seattle Sounders FC rewarded Sebastian Le Toux by making him their first ever signing. The 6-foot, 155-pound Frenchman was already a member of the USL Sounders and is one of the few players who will make the jump from the old Sounders to the MLS club.Le Toux, 25, is widely considered a skilled attacking player with lots of upside, but his ascension into goal-scoring brilliance almost never happened.
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Playing for FC Lorient in the French League 2 and French First Division club Stade Renais, Le Toux was primarily used as a defender. If not for his emigration to the U.S., Le Toux might still be marking the other team’s best forward instead of shedding defenders and scoring goals.
Upon signing with the Sounders in 2007 as a center back, former head coach and new assistant to Sigi Schmid, Brian Schmetzer, quickly realized that Le Toux’s rare combination of speed, strength and endurance could be better utilized in attack. Goodbye, center back; hello, center forward.
Le Toux made a name for himself after his position change by leading the Sounders to the USL title in 2007 and capturing the league MVP in the process. Le Toux led the USL with 10 goals in the regular season and 7 more in open play and cup competitions.
Known around the USL as a player with gifted technical skill and unequaled endurance, Le Toux was widely sought after by MLS clubs in 2008. Fortunately for the Sounders organization, Le Toux spurned several MLS teams and decided to stay with Seattle for another year. His decision ultimately led to his goal of playing at the highest level in the U.S. when the Sounders were awarded an MLS team.
Already given the no. 9 jersey, the number traditionally worn by a team’s most prolific goal scorer, Le Toux is a player to keep an eye on. A few scouts have been skeptical about his ability to transition to the rigors of an MLS season given his lack of experience as an attacking player, but so far he has proven his doubters wrong.
Gifted with a natural ability to read the game, Le Toux can be used both as a forward and an outside midfielder. It is becoming more and more likely that Le Toux will be used primarily as an outside midfielder because the Sounders have a plethora of strikers including Nate Jaqua, Jarrod Smith, Fredy Montero, and Steve Zakuani. Le Toux will provide an advantage for the Sounders on both sides of the ball because he has the tackling ability of a defender with the attacking skills of a forward. Watch out for Le Toux in 2009.
