One of the first Sounders FC acts was the hiring of Chris Henderson as technical director in January of 2008. Henaderson assists the team’s general manager, Adrian Hanauer, in all areas of soccer operations, including scouting, player management, coaching decisions and the youth system. Under the leadership of Hanauer and Henderson, the Sounders FC achieved instant success during the first two seasons. Seattle won the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in 2009 and 2010, becoming the first team in 27 years to repeat as champions. Seattle also became the first MLS expansion team in 11 years to reach the playoffs and only the third team in league history to reach the postseason in its first two seasons. In the inaugural season, four players made the MLS All-Star team and five were named finalists for League year-end awards, with Fredy Montero voted Newcomer of the Year.

Henderson is regarded as one of the most successful players ever produced by the state of Washington, having represented the U.S. at the international level 79 times and winning championships in both MLS and the NCAA. An MLS original, Henderson played 11 seasons for five teams. Upon his retirement following the 2006 season, he was league record-holder in four categories, including career games played (317; currently No. 6) and started (304; currently No. 2). Henderson still shares the MLS single game assist record (four assists for Kansas City in 1999) and his 80 regular-season assists is No. 9 all-time. He finished his career with 51 goals. Henderson joined Seattle after spending the 2007 season as an assistant coach for Kansas City under Curt Onalfo.

Henderson began his MLS career with Colorado for their inaugural season in 1996 and he would play six full seasons for the Rapids with five of those squads reaching the playoffs. He set club records for career appearances and assists, and in 1997 earned a spot in the MLS All-Star Game and also helped Colorado reach the MLS Cup Final. Henderson achieved a career-high for goals (11) and again made the All-Star Game to begin his second stint for the Rapids in 2002. From 1999-2000 he played in Kansas City, helping the Wizards win the 2000 MLS Cup. That season he played in a career-high 38 games, scoring 10 goals and adding nine assists. He spent the 2001 season with the Miami Fusion before returning to Colorado.

He was traded during the 2005 season to Columbus and completed his career with New York in 2006. Henderson played two seasons at UCLA, helping the Bruins win an NCAA championship and earning All-America honors in 1990. He connected on penalty kicks during tiebreaker wins in both the semifinal and final. Earlier that year, Henderson began senior international play prior to the 1990 World Cup.

At age 19, he was the youngest member of the United States roster. He was also a member of the 1992 U.S. Olympic Team and an alternate on the 1994 and 1998 World Cup squads. He set a team record with five assists in 1993 and ranks 10th in career assists (10). In 2004, the Chris Henderson Foundation was launched, giving grants to fight Leukemia and to underprivileged children. He was named the MLS Humanitarian of the Year while at both Colorado and New York.

Born in Edmonds, Wash., Henderson, 38 (12/11/1970), attended Everett’s Cascade High School where he earned the 1989 Gatorade National Player of the Year award. He played for the FC Seattle Storm in 1989 and began his professional career with Germany’s FSV Frankfurt (1994-95) and Norway’s Staebak (1995).

He has two children, Aidan and Annelise. His younger brother, Sean, played for UCLA, the USL Sounders and three seasons in MLS.