The Golden Scarf is awarded by Seattle Sounders FC to "honor members of [the Seattle] community who are either part of the soccer scene or have done remarkable things for society in Seattle." It was renamed in honor of former majority owner Joe Roth in 2019.
During the pre-game ceremonies of the inaugural home match of the Sounders, a Golden Scarf emblazoned with the team name was awarded to MLS commissioner Don Garber. This began a tradition where, before each home game, the club likewise honors a member of the community who has contributed to soccer or society more generally in the Seattle area.
The recipient and the fans then raise their scarves over their heads together. The presenter of the Golden Scarf, usually a representative of the club's owners, is also acknowledged as part of the ceremony.
2009 Recipients Date Opponent Recipient Notes March 19, 2009 New York Red Bulls Don Garber MLS commissioner March 28, 2009 Real Salt Lake Jimmy Gabriel NASL Sounders player and coach April 11, 2009 Kansas City Wizards Robbie Bach Microsoft executive April 24, 2009 San José Earthquakes Jimmy McAlister NASL Sounders player May 10, 2009 Los Angeles Galaxy Meredith Teague 2009 NCAA Div II soccer National Player of the Year May 31, 2009 Columbus Crew Jim Mora Seahawks head coach June 13, 2009 San José Earthquakes Fred Mendoza Washington State Public Stadium Authority (Qwest Field) chairman June 17, 2009 D.C. United Sue Bird & Swin Cash WNBA Seattle Storm team June 28, 2009 Colorado Rapids Lorenzo Romar UW Men's Basketball coach July 11, 2009 Houston Dynamo Doug Andreassen Washington Youth Soccer President July 18, 2009 Chelsea Dale Chihuly Glass artist, creator of the sculpture presented to friendly opponents July 25, 2009 Chicago Fire Mike Ryan First U.S. women's national soccer team coach August 5, 2009 FC Barcelona Bill Russell NBA Hall of Famer and Seattle resident August 20, 2009 New England Revolution John Nordstrom NASL Sounders co-founder August 29, 2009 Toronto FC Michelle Akers Former US Women's National Team striker September 19, 2009 Chivas USA Alan Hinton Former coach of NASL Sounders October 24, 2009 FC Dallas Sounders FC Alliance Council Members Honoring the Sounders FC fans October 29, 2009 Houston Dynamo Chris Henderson Sounders FC Technical Director
2010 Recipients Date Opponent Recipient Notes March 26, 2010 Philadelphia Union Cliff McCrath Seattle Sounders (NASL) scout April 3, 2010 New York Red Bulls Tim Murray Seattle Sounders FC fan April 17, 2010 Kansas City Wizards Marian Bowers Owner and Manager of the Tacoma Stars May 1, 2010 Columbus Crew Susan Cole Seattle Sounders FC fan May 8, 2010 Los Angeles Galaxy Linda Velie Washington Youth Soccer Hall of Famer and first female to referee a US Professional match May 22, 2010 San Jose Earthquakes Tim Busch Seattle Sounders FC fan May 26, 2010 Boca Juniors Peter Fewing Former NASL Sounders player, head coach of Kitsap Pumas June 5, 2010 New England Revolution Michelle French Seattle Sounders Women midfielder July 25, 2010 Colorado Rapids Teddy Mitalas Chairman of Hibernian Saints October 10, 2010 Chivas USA Hope SoloGoalkeeper for the U.S. Women's National Team
2011 Recipients Date Opponent Recipient Notes March 15, 2011 LA Galaxy Gerard Schwarz Seattle Symphony conductor May 14, 2011 Portland Timbers Jeff Stock & Mark Peterson Former NASL Sounders players June 11, 2011 Vancouver Whitecaps FC Virginia Mason July 20, 2011 Manchester United Bryan Robson English football manager and former Manchester United player October 15, 2011 San Jose Earthquakes Kasey Keller Retired Seattle Sounders FC goalkeeper
2012 Recipients Date Opponent Recipient Notes July 8, 2012 Chelsea FC Roger Davies English footballer, MVP of the North American Soccer League in 1980 October 7, 2012 Portland Timbers Roger Levesque Retired Seattle Sounders FC player October 21, 2012 FC Dallas Justice Steven Gonzalez Associate Justice of the Washington Supreme Court
2013 Recipients Date Opponent Recipient Notes May 18, 2013 FC Dallas Pat Raney June 8, 2013 Vancouver John Best Seattle Sounders Head Coach 1974 - 1976 / defender from Liverpool England September 13, 2013 Real Salt Lake Brad Owen 15th lieutenant governor of Washington October 27, 2013 LA Galaxy Bob Robertson Legendary Sportscast Announcer Original Sounders / WSU Cougars
2014 Recipients Date Opponent Recipient Notes October 10, 2014 Vancouver Whitecaps FC Alan Hudson English former soccer player, played for the Sounders from 1979-1983
2015 Recipients Date Opponent Recipient Notes June 20, 2015 San Jose Earthquakes Jason Collins August 30, 2015 Portland Timbers Megan Rapinoe and Hope Solo Members of the United States women's national soccer team
2016 Recipients Date Opponent Recipient Notes June 26, 2016 New York City FC Mayor Ed Murray Former mayor of Seattle July 31, 2016 LA Galaxy Steve Zakuani Former Sounders midfielder August 21, 2016 Portland Timbers Washington Youth Soccer Washington nonprofit organization bringing soccer opportunities to kids and youth October 23, 2016 Real Salt Lake Zach Scott Retired Seattle Sounders FC defender
2017 Recipients Date Opponent Recipient Notes June 4, 2017 Houston DynamoDr. Stephen NewbyMatchday Anthem Leader/Singer, 2009-2017 August 20, 2017 Minnesota United FCAdrian Webster and Davey Butler Original Sounders 1974-1979 September 27, 2017 Vancouver Whitecaps FC Austen Everett Founder of Austen Everett Foundation, former NCAA Goalie October 15, 2017 FC Dallas Dave Gillett Original Sounder 1975-1980 Defender #17
2018 Recipients Date Opponent Recipient Notes March 31, 2018 Montreal Impact Thomas Webb May 5, 2018 Columbus Crew SC Mike McCready Lead guitarist for Pearl Jam June 23, 2018 Chicago Fire Mary Harvey Former USWNT goalkeeper July 29, 2018 New York City FCAndrew Lofton September 1, 2018 Sporting Kansas City Clint Dempsey Retired Seattle Sounders FC forward 2013-2018
2019 Recipients Date Opponent Recipient Notes March 2, 2019 FC Cincinnati Sigi Schmid Seattle Sounders FC head coach, 2009–2016 June 29, 2019 Vancouver Whitecaps FC Chad Marshall Retired Seattle Sounders FC defender, 2014–2019 July 21, 2019 Portland Timbers Lesle Gallimore and Amy Griffin September 15, 2019 New York Red Bulls Joe Roth Former majority owner of Seattle Sounders FC October 6, 2019 Minnesota United FC Brad Evans Retired Seattle Sounders FC captain
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