Freddy Juarez To Join Seattle Sounders As Assistant Coach

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Former Real Salt Lake manager Freddy Juarez has joined the Seattle Sounders as an assistant coach, KSL Sports confirms.

Juarez, 43, departed RSL in a surprising move on Friday, August 27, despite the club being in a position to secure a playoff birth this season.

Presumably, Juarez saw some writing on the wall in regards to his option with RSL.

Also worth noting that he previously worked with Seattle execs Garth Lagerwey and Craig Waibel in Salt Lake.

— Sam Stejskal (@samstejskal) August 27, 2021

Nonetheless, the decision to move to the pacific-northwest as an assistant, leaving behind his full managerial responsibilities in Utah, says a lot about how Juarez thought the future was headed.

The 2021 season was the last year on Juarez’s contract after he originally signed a two-year deal in 2019.

RSL General Manager Elliot Fall confirmed that the contract discussions between Juarez and the club were expected to take place closer towards the end of the season, as all parties involved had previously agreed upon.

#RSL GM Elliot Fall admitted that the club is in no rush to find a permanent manager. He will interview candidates and then determine the best course of action.
My guess is that #RSL doesn't appoint a new gaffer until they have a new owner. New ownership = more money = better gaf

— Tom Hackett (@TomCantHackett) August 27, 2021

Seattle lost two assistant coaches within the span of a week to other jobs. Furthermore, former RSL GMs Garth Lagerway and Craig Waibel are currently working under the Sounders umbrella. Lagerway is the current GM while Waibel is the acting Sporting Director.

RSL is still without an owner, now, they are without a permanent manager.