João Paulo’s start in Seattle was a rollercoaster of emotions. Fresh off signing from Botafogo in his native Brazil at the end of January 2020, he scored just six minutes into his club debut three weeks later in a Concacaf Champions Cup match against Olimpia in Honduras. He scored in the return leg at Lumen Field as well, but his auspicious start to his Sounders tenure was cut short just weeks later with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
It was admittedly a tough transition for João Paulo, but after six years, he and his family have adapted well and have grown to love the city. So, despite his recent retirement after 16 years as a professional, he wasn’t ready to leave.
“Seattle is home for us, even if we’re far from home,” said João Paulo.
João Paulo finished his Sounders career with six goals and 19 assists in 119 appearances while helping Seattle capture its first Concacaf Champions Cup (née League) and Leagues Cup titles. But it’s not the accolades by which he wants to be remembered.
“I feel like we always go to trophies when you talk about career player accomplishments,” said João Paulo. “But for me, it goes beyond the trophies. I feel like the respect I build with the people here, that’s my major trophy. Like the respect that people truly see me as a friend, a good person, that goes first.
“We’re going to win and lose games,” he continued. “That’s part of sports. But what’s after that? After trophies? We’re going to keep the memories, but it’s what they’re going to remember about JP as a person, so that’s what’s important for me, the respect I have in this locker room.”
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This sort of mentality is part of why the Sounders organization wasn’t ready to let João Paulo leave either. After a few grueling seasons dealing with knee injuries including a 2022 ACL tear, João Paulo and the club had very candid conversations about his future. This culminated in the Sounders’ MLS NEXT Pro affiliate Tacoma Defiance hiring him as an assistant on Head Coach Paulo Nagamura’s staff this past week.
“We’re dealing with a guy who’s multilingual, understands the club, understands the culture, plays the [central midfield] position, and has a career that indicates he’s had to suffer a bit, and so you be empathetic,” said Sounders Director of Development and former Tacoma Defiance Head Coach Wade Webber. “And I honestly think empathy is the most important characteristic in a successful coach. Your tactical acumen is irrelevant if you don’t connect with people.
“He’s very humble and hardworking and open about what he doesn’t know,” he continued. “There’s a vulnerability in that that is necessary.”
Some players know wholeheartedly while they’re still playing that they plan to coach upon their retirement. João Paulo wasn’t like that. He wasn’t sure that coaching was something he wanted to pursue but is now enjoying the process of learning the game from the other side of the touchline.
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“I had a desire to learn about starting something new, and the club was very open to give me the opportunity,” said João Paulo. “It feels like two desires coming along together, so I’m happy and very grateful for this opportunity.”
The Sounders are committed to developing coaches the same way they develop players and are no stranger to taking former players and helping them transition into successful managers. Former Sounder Andy Rose recently spent four years on the First Team coaching staff before departing this past offseason for LAFC. Fellow former Sounder Gonzalo Pineda spent four years on Head Coach Brian Schmetzer’s staff before leaving for head coaching opportunities at Atlanta United and Liga MX’s Atlas.
It’s not even just First Team coaches that the Sounders are progressing. Former then-Sounders FC II Head Coach Ezra Hendrickson jumped to an MLS assistant position with the Columbus Crew before taking the reins as head coach of the Chicago Fire. He currently manages his native Saint Vincent and the Grenadines national team.
“If I’m helping JP with anything, it’s just to sort of get his feet under him and not worry that he has to be anything brilliant,” said Webber. “He just has to make sure he stops being a player and starts being a coach.”
Added João Paulo: “Right now, I’m giving back. Not just the club, but what soccer gave me along the years. It’s not about JP or the coaches, it’s about the players, the Academy. Looking for them to build something special, to make them better players and better human beings. That’s my priority.”
