Steve Zakuani

Lore & Background

When Seattle Sounders FC kicked off their first MLS match in 2009, the squad was a patchwork of international signings and local talent, and Steve Zakuani was among the players who gave that early group its width and urgency on the flanks. Born in Kenya, he brought a physical, no-nonsense running game that contrasted with the more technical profiles around him, and supporters who attended those first seasons at Qwest Field remember the sight of him driving at full pace down the touchline, looking to deliver crosses or cut inside for a shot.

Zakuani was part of the small, tight-knit group of players who carried the Sounders through the awkward early years of MLS expansion—learning the league's rhythms, building a fanbase from scratch, and establishing the green-and-blue identity that would eventually become one of the sport's most passionate supporter cultures. He was not always the star of the show, but his consistent work rate and willingness to run the channels made him a reliable presence in the attack during those formative campaigns.

For many in the early Sounders community, players like Zakuani represent the 'first wave'—the group that turned a new franchise into a real club with a history. His tenure is remembered less for individual glory and more for the collective story of a city discovering its team, season by season, under the lights of a stadium that was still finding its ritual.

In Their Own Story

The evening air at Qwest Field carried the smell of cut grass and the low hum of a crowd that was still learning the songs. Zakuani laced his boots in the tunnel, the green of the Sounders kit catching the fluorescent light. Out on the pitch, the floodlights turned the grass to emerald glass. He could hear the drums already, a slow thump-thump from the end zone. He jogged a few touches, feeling the surface under his studs, and looked up at the stands where faces were still learning each other's names. This was year one. Nobody knew what they were building. He turned, saw the ball at his feet, and ran.

Reader's Guide

Steve Zakuani arrived with the Seattle Sounders FC for their inaugural 2009 MLS season, becoming part of the founding roster that introduced the franchise to the league. Operating primarily as a wide attacker, he was valued for his pace, direct running, and willingness to carry the ball into channels where more technical teammates could receive service.

During the Sounders' early years, Zakuani provided width and urgency on the flanks, contributing to the team's attacking shape in a squad still finding its identity. His style—bold, physical, and unafraid of one-on-one situations—gave the young club a recognizable edge in transition play.

As a member of the first generation of Sounders players, Zakuani is remembered by the early supporter community as part of the collective story: a group of internationals and local talents who helped turn an expansion side into a club with a home, a fanbase, and a culture. His legacy is tied to that founding era rather than to a single trophy or record, and his name remains part of the oral history shared among supporters who were there from the start.

After his Sounders tenure, Zakuani continued his MLS career with other clubs before eventually retiring, but for Seattle, he remains a symbol of the first chapter—the players who laced up the green boots when the city was still learning to sing.

Did You Know?

• Steve Zakuani was part of the original Seattle Sounders FC roster that competed in the 2009 MLS inaugural season, making him one of the first players to wear the green-and-blue kit.
• Born in Kenya, Zakuani brought an international perspective to the Sounders' early squad, which was built from players across multiple countries.
• His direct, pace-driven wing play was a contrast to the more possession-oriented styles of some teammates, giving the early Sounders a recognizable attacking texture.
• For many in the Sounders supporter community, Zakuani represents the 'founding generation'—the players who helped establish the club's identity before it became one of MLS's most passionate fanbases.