Future is now for young Sounder

From the moment he joined Seattle Sounders FC, there was little doubt that Miguel Montano had talent.

Whether he would make an impact right away on his new team, however, was more in question when Montano signed as an 18-year-old in late April.

It doesn’t take long watching the young Colombian in practice or a game to see that he has a skill set not commonly on display in Major League Soccer, but when Montano arrived in Seattle, it was hard to imagine him having an immediate role.

Yet due to injuries and team struggles that have caused coach Sigi Schmid to shuffle the lineup, Montano, now 19, is a big part of Seattle’s plans in 2010, not just in the future.

“At this point I really didn’t think he’d contribute as much as he has this year,” said Sounders FC technical director Chris Henderson, “To his credit, I think his work rate, his willingness to listen to the coaches has been really positive. We hope he can continue his improvement.”

Henderson, along with general manager Adrian Hanauer, first saw Montano when the player’s agent sent tapes to the team. Hanauer and Henderson then went to Argentina, where Montano was on the reserve team for Quilmes, and both immediately liked what they saw.

“He does things that a lot of people can’t,” Henderson said. “The bravery to take players one on one, his ability to finish with both feet is good, his power is good. He still needs to learn a little bit in terms of tactics at that position, but I think he’s going to be one of top young players in the league. I’d say in his age group he’s already one of the top four or five. So we have high hopes for him and I think he’s going to continue to grow, and if he can learn the tactical part of it and polish the rest of it, he’s going to be a strong player.”

Montano made his first start in a league game two weeks ago as a right wing, and looked dangerous on the offensive end right up until he was kicked out of the game for taking a swing at a player who had just fouled him.

Montano said the ejection and subsequent one-game suspension reminded him that he still has things to learn as his career evolves.

“As every professional soccer player has to learn, there are experiences that we learn from,” Montano said through a translator. “The red card was unfortunate, but this happens to every soccer player, so I learn from it and I move on.”

And while the red card demonstrated the obvious downside of starting a 19-year-old — playing a man down, Seattle gave up a 1-0 lead late in the game and had to settle for a tie — the potential is there for Montano to be an impact player the rest of this season. And with Freddie Ljungberg likely on his way out of town, Montano should compete for a more permanent role in the second half of the season, perhaps even a starting job.

“The coaches are rewarding me for the hard work I’ve put in in practice,” said Montano, whose team hosts Colorado Sunday night. “When you work hard in practice then you get time in the games.”

Montano’s combination of skill and youth could mean he isn’t long for this league; the downside to any success he has in rave green is that other teams around the world will take notice. But for now he could provide a spark that a 5-8-4 Sounders FC desperately needs as it tries to make a playoff run.

Despite limited playing time, Montano already has a growing fan base. In particular, he seems to be a fan favorite with the young ladies, as was evident after a recent U.S. Open Cup game with teenage girls swooning after Montano stopped to sign autographs.

And even though he admittedly has much to learn still, Montano is enjoying his first season of Major League Soccer and taking the good (unexpected playing time) with the bad (unwanted red cards).

“I’m very happy being here,” he said. “On the field I feel great. I feel the support of the fans, even when I got the red card they applauded me. I feel the support of the fans, and off the field it’s the same thing. I feel really good, people recognize me as a good player, so that feels really good.”

Herald Writer John Boyle: jboyle@heraldnet.com