No introductions are needed for the Seattle Sounders goalkeepers. Starter Kasey Keller, the U.S. Soccer athlete of the year an unprecedented three times, is the best goalkeeper America has ever produced. He’s known his position coach, Tom Dutra, since his junior high days in Lacey.
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The third link in the equation — Chris Eylander, the Sounders’ backup — is familiar with Keller and Dutra. Eylander, who first met Dutra and Keller when he was 15, grew up in Auburn and earned All-American honors while playing at the University of Washington.
“They brought other goalkeepers in here from all over,” Keller said. “They looked at other guys. But after a couple days, it was apparent that what we have here was better than what they were bringing in.
“If any of them had been better, then they would be here.”
Instead, the Sounders will count on the three locals to handle the goalkeeper responsibilities.
Keller, of course, is the most recognizable of the three. He signed as a free agent with the Sounders in August, ending 16 years of playing in Europe’s elite leagues.
Knowing that Dutra was going to be his position coach convinced Keller he had made the right decision to come home and to not sign with English club Fulham.
“If I’m coming here and doing stuff I’m totally disagreeing with and I’ve got a coach who is (a jerk), it just wouldn’t work,” Keller said. “I have to be able to get along with my coach. That’s what made this move that much more seamless.”
Keller and Dutra used to attend the same youth soccer camps and competed against each other in high school. Keller graduated from North Thurston in 1988. Dutra graduated from Timberline three years later.
They have continued to train together during their pro careers.
Dutra spent his four-year pro career with the Sounders, including the 1996 championship team, before he retired because of injuries in 2000. He coached the past two years with the United States Soccer League Sounders, where Eylander was his goalkeeper.
Keller signed with England’s Millwall in 1992 and became the first American goalkeeper to become a regular in the English Premier League.
“Kasey had a massive influence on all of us,” Dutra said. “He had a massive influence on myself as a player and as a coach. He’s the standard you strive for.”
Dutra said his friendship with Keller has not affected how he coaches him. The transition has been smooth and their relationship has not undermined Dutra’s authority.
“We’re friends, but we’ve got a job to do,” Dutra said. “He’s a pro. No one works harder than Kasey.”
Eylander led the USL in saves the past two seasons while playing for the Sounders. He finished No. 2 in franchise history with 29 shutouts.
As a teeanager, Eylander went to camps to work out with Keller. Dutra also coached Eylander once or twice a week from middle school through high school.
“It’s ironic that we’re all from around here and now with the Sounders,” Eylander said. “That definitely says that Washington has put out some strong goalkeepers. It says something about the quality of goalkeepers and the quality of goalkeeper coaches in this region.”
Rob Walker is the common denominator. Walker coached Keller and Dutra in high school and continued to coach them during the offseason of their pro careers.
Walker, now Keller’s stepfather, also worked with Eylander at clinics and is now the men’s and women’s soccer coach at Saint Martin’s University.
Eylander, who at 25 is 14 years younger than Keller, grew up following Keller’s career that includes four World Cups. Now, he’s Keller’s teammate.
“I’ve heard those stories before,” Keller said. “I remember I was in the locker room at Tottenham. This young player said he used to come to Millwall and watch me when he was a kid. I asked him, ‘What do you mean, as a kid?’ I’ve been getting that now for 10 years.”
The Washington pipeline is far from dry. Early this month Eylander twisted his knee and the Sounders needed to bring in another goalkeeper. So they added Ben Dragavon, who played high school soccer at Monroe and in college at Western Washington University.
“If you’ve got decent talent in the area, why go elsewhere?” Keller said.
Gail Wood: 360-754-5443 gwood@theolympian.com">gwood@theolympian.com
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