The British are coming

TUKWILA — The news was anything but surprising, but Tuesday’s announcement that Seattle Sounders FC will play host to Manchester United this summer is good news nonetheless for soccer fans in the region.

It has long been rumored that the English Premier League giant known as the Red Devils would play the Sounders, but the official confirmation did not come until Tuesday when Manchester United announced the details of its U.S. tour. Man U, winners of a record 11 league titles as well as three European Championships, plays at 7 p.m., July 20, at Qwest Field

“It’s final confirmation for one of the worst kept secrets in the last couple of months,” goalkeeper Kasey Keller joked. “I’ve played Man U a bunch of times, and it’s always a good time. They’re one of the marquee teams in the world. … It’s great for our fans to be able to see such a great team.”

Midfielder Steve Zakuani sarcastically asked if he should act surprised before he talked to reporters, but the London-raised midfielder has nothing but respect for the team he grew up rooting against.

“It’s great obviously,” Zakuani said. We’ve had Chelsea and (Barcelona) here before. I’m expecting something similar. They’re a huge team — first in England right now, still in the Champions League, favorites to win the Premiership, so I think it’s great. The fans are going to see some great players come in. … You have to respect what they’ve done, year after year to compete like that. As a kid that was the team I rooted against, but as I grow older I can appreciate what they’ve done.”

As Zakuani mentioned, Seattle has hosted big European clubs before. Two years ago Sounders FC faced English club Chelsea and Spain’s Barcelona, two of Europe’s best teams, in games that drew huge crowds to Qwest Field. Last year’s friendlies brought in respected clubs — Argentina’s Boca Juniors, Scotland’s Celtic, and Mexico’s Club Deportivo Guadalajara. They, however, did not have the international following or star power of a team like Man U, Chelsea or Barcelona.

“Obviously in Year 1 we played Chelsea and Barcelona and I think our fans sort of grew used to that,” Sounders FC coach Sigi Schmid said. “So being able to play Manchester United, which is a club with the same caliber and the same level as those, maybe even has exceeded those clubs at certain times to a certain extent, it’s a great honor to be playing them. It’s something our team is looking forward to.”

Unlike the past two season when Seattle hosted multiple friendlies, the Manchester United game is the only one this year. The addition to the league of teams in Vancouver and Portland means two more home games this season, so Seattle elected to stick with an 18-game season ticket package, meaning this year there are 17 regular-season home games and the one friendly.

Having only one game against a marquee opponent sits well with the players considering the league expanded its regular season by four games, and Seattle also will participate in the U.S. Open Cup and CONCACAF Champions League tournament this summer.

“I think (one) is enough,” Schmid said. “That was the intent of the business group was to make it one high quality friendly rather than have a number of them that maybe aren’t at that same stature. I think this is a perfect compromise.”

No one on Seattle’s roster has more memories of playing against Manchester United than does Keller, who regularly faced the team during his time with EPL teams Leicester City and Tottenham.

“I don’t know what my total record is,” he said. “I know I beat them in cups. I won a game 1-0 at Old Trafford one time with Leicester City. I got my (butt) kicked one time (6-2) at home. … I’ve had some good results, but most of the time when you come up against Man U you’re going to lose. That’s why they’re at the top of the league every year.”

As was the case for the 2009 friendlies, a grass surface will be brought in for this game. New this year, however, is that Seattle’s home games immediately before and after the Man U. contest also will be played on the grass field, according to a team spokesman. Ahead of Man U is a game against Colorado (July 16) and the one after is against Colorado (July 23).

Ticket information

Single game tickets for the Manchester United game will go on sale on June 1. Fans who don’t want to wait also have the option of buying a three-game package for $99 that features the Man U game as well as league games against New York and San Jose, the latter of which is the regular season finale.

Notes

D James Riley, who sat out last week’s game with a concussion, is day-to-day according to Schmid, but has not yet been cleared to fully train. … D Leon Gonzalez limped off the field during Tuesday’s practice and did not return. Schmid said more on his status would be known today, which is an off day for the team before practice resumes Thursday. … And speaking of Gonzalez, the team announced Tuesday that the defender has received his green card, granting him permanent resident status in the U.S. effective immediately. That means he no longer occupies one of the team’s International Player slots on Seattle’s roster.

Herald Writer John Boyle: jboyle@heraldnet.com.