Georgi Minoungou’s performance in last Saturday’s Cascadia rivalry match proved why the Sounders First Team signed the winger to a four-year contract just a few days prior.
The second half substitute came in with 34 minutes to spare and made the most of every second. From beating Portland defenders 1v1 down the right flank, to creating offensive chances for the Rave Green, there was an apparent energy shift as soon as he stepped onto the pitch.
“He brings a different dribbling style of play that we have probably lacked a little bit,” said midfielder Cristian Roldan. “We've been more of a positional kind of team where we play off a third man running, and Georgi is a guy where you try to get him the ball to his feet so that he could take guys on.”
His style of play is a testament to the natural, raw talent the Ivory Coast native possesses, but it is the way he grew up playing that really transformed him into the explosive 1v1 attacker that he is today.
“Growing up in Africa, we just trained on the street,” said Minoungou. “It's like street football where you just dribble, and there are no rules.”
His ability to beat players on the dribble eventually led him to his first professional contract in 2021 with Czech Republic side MFK Vyskov before going on loan with Tacoma Defiance the following year.
Minoungou described his initial transition to Defiance as a difficult one given his earlier experiences having been mostly playing street soccer. But, with the support of the Sounders staff, his adjustment to the different style of play has been seamless since.
“When I first came to Tacoma, I was very bad tactically,” said Minoungou. “And I remember [Head of Video Analysis] John [Elsenbast] was with Tacoma at the time and helped me a lot. Every day I came to his office after training and he’d show me tactics.”
Minoungou continued, “I also went to [Director of Development] Wade [Webber]. I was doing that for one year, because I didn’t know anything about soccer, tactically. For me, I just wanted to play, get the ball one on one, create an opportunity, and then we score. But here, soccer is not only one on one, it's more tactical, so it was hard to learn.”
Minoungou had quickly proven himself with the MLS NEXT Pro side, earning him the opportunity to travel to Spain with the First Team during the 2023 preseason, but with that, came a straining period of time for the winger.
Shortly after his arrival to Spain, Minoungou suffered an eye infection that left him visually impaired.
“It was one of my hardest seasons,” said Minoungou. “It was frustrating, because first I went to preseason, and I showed up, proved myself, and that was an opportunity to get a First Team contract. And then, I don't know what happened. Training after training, my eye had some issues. And then I had to [get] surgery.”
While the infection caused a delay in plans, it did not alter Minoungou’s goal of securing a spot on the First Team.
“This doesn't affect me at all,” said Minoungou. “My left eye is not working, but I keep working… I have one eye, but I can do better than those who have two eyes. That's my mindset.”
His hard work and perseverance came to fruition on Aug. 28 after occupying an international roster spot with the First Team through the end of the 2028 season with an option for 2029.
“We always knew we had Georgi in our back pocket,” said Head Coach Brian Schmetzer. “He's got to work on a couple things, but he's certainly entertaining and exciting to watch, and he's going to get some minutes.”
The addition of Minoungou is expected to be a substantial one for the Rave Green.
“He adds that bit of confidence, that bit of swagger,” said Roldan. “Off the field, he's very charming and very calm and always has a smile on his face. But on the field, he's very fearless and willing to take guys on.”
Minoungou will have the opportunity to showcase his talents and build off last weekend’s performance when the Sounders travel to Ohio on Saturday afternoon to take on the Columbus Crew (4:30 p.m. PT; Watch on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360AM).
