by Lars Lifrak

It was quite a season for Sebastien Le Toux and the Seattle Sounders.  Seattle started the season with a 1-4-3 record.  Le Toux had to switch positions from defender to forward, playing up top for the first time since he was a young boy growing up in France.  Things worked out pretty well for both.  The Sounders ended up finishing the USL-1st Division with the best record in the regular season, knocked off two MLS teams on the way to reaching the U.S. Open Cup semi-finals, and won the league championship for a record fourth time.  Le Toux didn’t score his first goal until the fifth game of the season, but then went on to lead the league in goals scored and was named the USL-1st Division MVP.

Soccer 365’s Lars Lifrak caught up with Le Toux on the field after Seattle beat Atlanta 4-0 in the Championship game.  The Frenchman speaks with a thick accent that becomes even thicker when he’s excited.  He phrases things a bit differently than the rest of his teammates, but he gets his meaning across.  Here are his thoughts on the league championship, his teammates and his future.

365:  What did you guys do to come out on top tonight?
Sebastien Le Toux:  It’s a final and anything can happen.  It was crazy.  We won 4-0.  It’s great that we finished on a good note.  I’m very happy.  We knew Atlanta was a very good team, but we deserved the win.  We showed all season that we have the best team and we showed it again tonight.

365:  You gave a speech when you won the League MVP award and you seemed pretty emotional talking about your teammates.  Why so emotional?
SL:  When I received the award everyone yelled “Speech”.  I had lots of emotion and I wanted them to know that I appreciate everything.  I also appreciate the fans.  It was really a fantastic year and I’ll always remember that moment and the championship.  I was glad to be successful in my first year in this country.  I wanted everyone to know it, even though it’s hard to speak in English.  I’m very proud and I want to thank everybody, coach, you!  No really, because I really like my life here and I’m very happy.

365:  That’s the next question… what do you do now?  Do you have any thoughts about where you’ll be playing next year?
SL:  We’ll see.  I’m going on vacation and then I’ll have some time to speak with (team owner) Adrian (Hanauer) and coach (Brian Schmetzer) to figure out what to do next year and after that.  I don’t know if there will be an MLS team here in Seattle soon, in two years or not.  I need to speak another time, tonight I just want to take pleasure with all of my friends.

365:  What position will you be playing from now on?
SL:  My position is forward.  It’s my dream.  When I was younger I played this position.  I take a lot of pleasure and I think maybe I’m the MVP this year because I gave to the fans and the team.  I’m a forward, yes.

365:  If you had a choice where would you play?  Would you stay here in the United States or would you go back and play professionally in France?
SL:  For the moment I want to play in the MLS.  When you are in a country or a city that you like and have lots of fun everyday is fantastic, so I don’t want to move.  I don’t want to go to another country.  I want to continue to live that to enjoy myself.  When I have another challenge maybe I’ll go to Europe or another country but for the moment I like my life here.  I’m just twenty-three years old so now is the time to see what will happen for me here for the next year.