Seattle Sounders part ways with Sigi Schmid

The Seattle Sounders announced Tuesday they've mutually parted ways with head coach Sigi Schmid, ending an eight-year tenure that started when the club first expanded into Major League Soccer.

Sounders assistant coach Brian Schmetzer will serve as the club's interim head coach.

Schmid, who's been the club's only head coach in MLS, departs following a string of poor performances that put the Sounders near the bottom of the Western Conference after winning just six matches, losing 12, and drawing two.

"Sigi Schmid has been an invaluable member of Sounders FC since the club's MLS launch, leading our organization to numerous trophies and a consistent winning culture for seven seasons," Sounders owner Adrian Hanauer said in a statement. "Sigi departs the club with our utmost respect and gratitude for his years of service.

"Ultimately the club and Sigi agreed that a change was needed at this time, but Sigi's legacy will always be a part of our history. He has my sincere appreciation for all that he committed to our team and community."

Schmid added a farewell note in the statement, expressing his gratitude for the club that he saw through expansion and through playoff tribulations, though never to a spot in the MLS Cup final.

I want to thank Seattle Sounders FC for the opportunity to lead this club over the past eight years, with particular gratitude to Adrian Hanauer, Joe Roth and the rest of the club's ownership group. I'd also like to thank my coaches and technical staff for the support they've given me, and most importantly I want to thank my players for their tremendous effort throughout the years. I'm proud of the success we've achieved in winning five major trophies in Seattle, qualifying for the postseason for seven-straight seasons. My only disappointment is that we were unable to bring home an MLS Cup to our tremendous fans, who have always been supportive through good times and bad. In closing, I want to thank the Sounders FC organization, the club's fans and the city of Seattle for this amazing run.

The 63-year-old, heralded for his influence in MLS coaching circles, tasted MLS Cup glory with the Columbus Crew and the LA Galaxy before joining the Sounders in 2007.

Last season, Schmid suffered undisclosed health issues that sparked doubts he'd return to the helm in 2016, but the German-born tactician returned to the fray shortly afterward. He departs the club having been inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2015.