Sounders coach knows rival well

With the Colorado Rapids looming in Tuesday's quarterfinal matchup at Qwest Field, Sounders head coach Brian Schmetzer will square off with a former teammate and longtime friend -- Hall of Famer Fernando Clavijo.

Schmetzer and Clavijo's friendship runs so deep that the two shared an apartment and a superstition when they played with the San Diego Sockers together from 1984 to 1988. Nearly every day of practice, the defensive duo would walk to the same McDonald's and have a cheese Danish and coffee together. That tradition lasted four years and the Sockers won three MISL crowns.

Since those days, their paths have again crossed on several occasions in the soccer community. When Barry Ackerley called Clavijo to coach his new indoor soccer team in 1995, Clavijo was nonchalant about the offer until he talked to Schmetzer and found out that Ackerley was the Sonics owner and he may have blown the opportunity to coach for him.

"What have I done?" Clavijo recalls shouting into the phone.

He eventually got the job and in 1997, with Schmetzer by his side, coached the Seattle SeaDogs to the CISL championship. Weeks later, the league folded, leaving Clavijo charged with finding a new league for the team.

"I was very disappointed that league couldn't make it," Clavijo said. "I wanted to pursue other opportunities for that team, but I just couldn't find another league of equal value."

The decision to leave the SeaDogs hit him hard and he almost retired from soccer. He worked on several projects around soccer before taking the head coaching job with the New England Revolution for his first stint in the MLS. After three years, Clavijo was relieved of his duties and coached the Haitian national team until his return to the MLS in 2004 with the Rapids. Naturally, he asked Schmetzer to coach with him on both occasions.

"He's knowledgeable, he's competitive. ... I'd go to war with him. He would be there to cover your back and he does all the right things and that is why I always pursue him," Clavijo said.

While the competition between Clavijo and Schmetzer will take center stage Tuesday, four former Sounders will also take the field for Colorado. Defender Brandon Prideaux, a Seattle native, played for the University of Washington before his one season with the Sounders in 1998. Forward Herculez Gomez played with the Sounders in 2003 on loan from the L.A. Galaxy, but broke his foot midway through the season. And defenders Stephen Keel and Jordan Harvey both played with the Sounders on loan last season. On the other side of the ball, Seattle defender Danny Jackson began his professional career with the Rapids.

Despite all of the familiarities, Tuesday's game will be a fierce competition, with a berth in the semifinals of the U.S. Open Cup on the line. Clavijo said he probably won't even be found at a local McDonald's with Schmetzer.

"He won't do it," Clavijo said. "If he and I have a cheese Danish and coffee, he knows I'll win."

Added Schmetzer, "He doesn't care about our friendship. He wants to win and I'm the same way."

SOUNDERS VS. RAPIDS

U.S. Open Cup, quarterfinals

WHEN/WHERE: Tuesday, 7:05 p.m., Qwest Field

RECORDS: The Sounders are tied with Portland for the lead in the USL First Division at 11-5-5 (38 points). Colorado is fourth in the MLS Western Conference at 4-9-6 (18 points).

NOTES: Sounders head coach Brian Schmetzer and Rapids head coach Fernando Clavijo were teammates with the San Diego Sockers from 1984-1988. ... The Rapids feature former Sounders F Herculez Gomez and defenders Jordan Harvey, Stephen Keel and Brandon Prideaux. ... The Sounders beat Banat Arsenal 4-1, the Portland Timbers 2-1 and Chivas USA 3-1 to reach the quarterfinals. Colorado beat Real Salt Lake 2-1 to get into the tournament, and the California Victory 3-1. ... The Rapids are 2-3 in Open Cup quarterfinals. Seattle has reached the quarterfinals once, losing 5-1 to the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2003. ... Gomez leads the Rapids with four goals. Forwards Sebastien Le Toux and Roger Levesque lead Seattle with six goals each.

-- Matthew Gaschk