The Danish forward has heard a lot of good things about MLS and is ready to contribute to the Sounders.
The Sounders FC may have found a gem in Philip Lund, but if he looks particularly comfortable, he may owe an assist to the Ride The Ducks tours of Seattle.
As a teen the Danish midfielder came to the Emerald City with his school’s business class as part of an educational trip to the West Coast. While in Seattle, he toured the city on one of the World War II era amphibious landing crafts, learning about the history of the city while also viewing the sites, including CenturyLink Field.
“This guy was crazy,” he laughed about the tour director who introduced him to the stadium he now calls home with the Sounders FC.
Lund comes to Seattle after catching the eye of Sounders FC assistant coach Ezra Hendrickson at the Infosport Pro Soccer Combine, whose alumni include former MLS goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul and former MLS defender Danleigh Borman.
Coming off of an injury that kept him out of action with Vejle Boldklub in his native Denmark for nearly six months and had him unable to run a mere three months ago, Lund was invited to Sounders FC preseason camp, where an injury and an illness slowed Seattle’s ability to evaluate the 23-year-old until recently. His play in a Reserve League match and in training with the Sounders led the team to sign him last week, pending receipt of his ITC.
That bit of serendipity has him back in Seattle now, five years after first visiting the city.
Over the last few years, Major League Soccer had caught the eye of Lund and several other players throughout Denmark and he and his twin brother, Mitchell, decided to pursue that opportunity when he learned of the Infosport combine.
“I’ve heard that the league was developing and wanted to be a part of it,” he said. “I know they have a lot of good players and I wanted to start fresh and get some new eyes on me and show the American people how I play soccer.”
That style is a very technical brand that has Sounders FC head coach Sigi Schmid planning to use him as a withdrawn forward as he grows accustomed to the more physical nature of MLS.
It may take some time before he can crack the forward group of Eddie Johnson, Obafemi Martins, David Estrada and Sammy Ochoa, but he will certainly see plenty of time in the extended Reserve League schedule.
