Le Toux the latest attacker to thrive in Seattle

SEATTLE -- Sebastien Le Toux is an MLS-caliber player -- that much is clear. After watching the Frenchman slice through USL defenses for the Seattle Sounders this season, it's apparent he has that something extra that separates him from his USL peers.

Courtesy of the Seattle Sounders/Other

Sebastien Le Toux could be headed for bigger things after his success in the USL.

A strong combination of size and speed with the endurance of a marathon runner, Le Toux has excelled against USL competition, helping the Sounders claim the USL-1 regular-season crown and its postseason title, after besting the Atlanta Silverbacks 4-0 in the final.

Le Toux, the league's MVP, tied for the USL lead in goals with 10 and paired with longtime Sounder Roger Levesque to form one of its most tenacious strike tandems.

It seems likely that an MLS team will come calling for the Frenchman's services, and Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer has already fielded some calls from MLS personnel. However, what isn't clear is which position he would play in MLS.

While his versatility in the USL has been one of his biggest assets, it may also harm his chances of finding a spot in MLS. The challenge facing Le Toux as he attempts to make the jump is his lack of a natural position. He's still learning the position of striker. In France, he was a defender.

"We initially brought him in to provide defensive cover," Seattle chairman Adrian Hanauer said. "When Sebastien came in it was apparent that he was so good physically that we needed to find a place for him to play."

Schmetzer moved him early on from central defense to the midfield to take advantage of his tireless running. However, based on his ability to get forward as a withdrawn striker, he was eventually installed up front alongside Levesque in a standard 4-4-2 formation.

Which leaves the question -- where would he play on an MLS team?

"It's fairly clear that Sebastien has the physical tools to play at that level," Schmetzer said. "I can see Sebastien playing at the level as an outside midfielder in a 4-4-2, or even at the same position in a 3-5-2."

However, his lack of experience in the attacking part of the field may be mitigated by his natural ability to read the game. Schmetzer points to his strength running off the ball and making space for his teammates as perhaps his strongest attribute.

Le Toux also has proven his ability to excel in big games. His performance in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup was nothing less than stellar -- behind his tournament-best five tallies, the Sounders defeated Chivas USA and the Colorado Rapids before falling to FC Dallas in the semifinals. To honor his contributions this season, Schmetzer subbed him off in the waning minutes of the USL Championship game as the Seattle crowd gave a standing ovation.

Le Toux is just the latest example of an attacking player jump-starting his career with the Sounders under Schmetzer, who took the reins for the 2002 season. That season, Schmetzer's prized protégé was Brian Ching. Released from the L.A. Galaxy in 2001, Ching played the next season in Seattle, where he had played on loan the previous season.

"Chinger was such a tremendous player for us," Schmetzer said. "When he came to us he had just had his face mashed in and was dealing with all sorts of difficulties but he played every minute of every game for us. He regained his confidence and sharpened his tools and that led him to where he is today."

After the 2002 season, Ching latched on with the San Jose Earthquakes and began his ascent, becoming a national team regular and the MVP of last season's MLS Cup.

Maykel Galindo and Cam Weaver, Seattle's attacking tandem last season, went on to bigger and better things after the Sounders. Galindo's in the middle of a strong debut season for Chivas USA with 12 goals while Weaver secured a contract with Norwegian side FK Haugesund.

"We pride ourselves on developing players in Seattle, but so many times it's just a matter of giving them a chance to play and cultivating their confidence," Schmetzer said.

Based on his form this season -- he scored six game-winning goals this season -- Le Toux looks poised to be the next player to make the leap from the Sounders.

"I want to [play in MLS]," Le Toux said. "First I will need to speak with my coaches and the president to see if anyone is willing to buy me. But I am also very happy in Seattle and would like to play for Seattle next year too."

A possible MLS destination would be that same FC Dallas side -- the Hoops tried him out for three weeks at the beginning of the season. However, the two sides couldn't agree on a contract and Dallas referred him to the Sounders, who had seen him twice in the last four months.

"I first saw him at a friendly game in Dallas the day before the 2006 MLS Cup," Sounders chairman Adrian Hanauer said. "There were a group of players from France -- both French players and some other players who were living in France.

"In January, I was watching a match in Vannes [France] and his trainer told me Sebastien was in town. We met and talked about MLS, money, lifestyle, and many other things -- it was a good conversation."

Besides Dallas, another possible MLS destination for Le Toux could be Seattle itself.

"I think he could start on any MLS team, but I am extremely hopeful that if we get things together fast enough on the MLS front that he could actually play for an MLS team here in Seattle," Hanauer said.

There's been speculation in recent weeks that MLS will award Seattle an expansion franchise within the next two weeks. However, Hanauer, while not denying the rumors, remains noncommittal on the topic.

The Puget Sound Business Journal has reported Los Angeles movie executive Joe Roth would provide the majority of the financial backing for this MLS venture with Hanauer handling the soccer side of the operation.

It's also been rumored that the Sounders will not play in 2008 -- instead taking the season off to gain momentum going into the 2009 MLS season. A chant from the players and supporters of "one more year" in the postgame celebration added a measure of credibility to that particular rumor.

Whatever happens in Seattle, Le Toux's preference is to stay in the United States to play soccer.

"During that trip [to Dallas] I was surprised by the style of life here and I decided I want to play here," Le Toux said. "My first idea was that you don't come to America to [earn] a lot of money playing soccer, so I know that. I came to prove to people that I can play at the highest level in the USA."

Andrew Winner is a freelance writer who covers U.S. soccer for ESPN Soccernet.com. He can be reached at andrewwinner@gmail.com