Sounders head coach Sigi Schmid absent from training with health-related issues

Seattle Sounders head coach Sigi Schmid wasn't at his team's training facility on Tuesday but was, instead, in hospital as he deals with currently unknown health-related issues.

Schmid was not on the bench during the Seattle Sounders' 2-1 win over Toronto FC on Saturday, with assistant coach Brian Schmetzer taking charge for one match in his stead. The club had announced he left with an illness but was expected to return to training in the week. But, Schmid was absent once again during training, drawing questions of his status by the local media.

"That is a question that I can't answer, partly because I don't know and, more importantly, that's up to Sigi and the people in the front office," Schmetzer told reporters. "What's important for me is that Sigi gets back to full health, that's absolutely paramount for all of us. The messaging and whatever happens, that's up to Sigi and the front office."

Sounders general manager Garth Lagerwey also addressed Schmid's status, prefacing his statements by relaying that there are "medical privacy issues" around health-related topics.

"My answer has to be that Sigi will address this if he chooses to," Lagerwey said. "We are hopeful that he will be back and, again, there's no pressure. It’s when he feels good, when he’s healthy, then he'll come back. That’s what we’re hoping for, that he comes back 100 percent and happy and with everything in order."

The Sounders next take on the San Jose Earthquakes on Sept. 12. It is not yet known whether Schmetzer will be given the bench role once again.