Smith played for New Zealand in the Confederations Cup.

The Sounders announced today the release of Jarrod Smith from the club.

Press Release

RENTON, WASH. – The Seattle Sounders FC has released forward Jarrod Smith, the team announced today. Smith, 25, was selected by Seattle in the MLS Expansion Draft but had been on the disabled list since March 5.

Smith’s release creates an opening on the Sounders FC roster.

Smith underwent successful surgery last week to repair a torn right hamstring tendon. He will continue rehabilitation in Seattle with the team and his MLS rights remain with Sounders FC.

Smith spent most of June with the New Zealand National Team for the Confederations Cup and related friendlies. He last saw action for Sounders FC in a U.S. Open Cup third round game at Portland on July 1. His only other appearance was in an Open Cup play-in match on April 28.

Smith played 20 games, starting six, during his rookie season with Toronto FC.

Jarrod Smith with the New Zealand National Team

He hasn’t played a minute in MLS for the Rave Green, but you can catch Jarrod Smith in action this weekend as New Zealand plays in the Confederations Cup in South Africa.

The Kiwis will play Spain live on Sunday at 1130a PT on ESPN2.

The All-Whites can also be seen on Wednesday the 17th at 1130a on ESPN2 when they take on South Africa

New Zealand’s final Group Stage match will be against Iraq. it will be played at 1130a on Saturday the 20th, but you won’t be able to watch it until 10p (on ESPN2).

Sounder Jarrod Smith with the All-Whites

When the New Zealand All-Whites took the field earlier against Botswana with Jarrod Smith in their starting XI, he became the first player to earn an international Cap as a member of the Sounders.

Smith was pulled in the 55th minute.

The Kiwis will play Spain in the Confederations Cup on the 14th in Rustenburg, South Africa.

It was Jarrod’s 15th Cap.

The Kiwis will play Tanzania at Dar es Salaam on June 3 and Botswana at Gaborone on June 6, before moving to South Africa ahead of their final warm up against Italy in Pretoria on June 10.They begin their Confederations Cup campaign against Spain on June 14. They will play South Africa on June 17th and Iraq on the 20th.

He is required to miss the first 6 games of the season and can return to action when Seattle travels to Chicago to take on the Fire on May 2nd.

Here is some basic profile data for the 10 players selected in today’s MLS Expansion Draft. Please join us in welcoming them as a part of Sounders FC. 

Sounders FC Comments are from the Press Conference…

 Stephen King, Chicago Fire
Position: Midfielder 
Height: 5-8
Weight: 153
Birthdate: March 06, 1986
Hometown: Medford, NJ 
MLS; (2008 20 games, 8 starts, 2 goals, 1 assist)
National; US U-16 and U-23 Teams also captain of the U-15 National Team
College; Maryland 2007 and 2006 Semifinalist for the Hermann Trophy. Started every match at Maryland.

Chris Henderson:

“He’s a consistent player. You can rely on him everyday. He’s a good pro. He’s good in the middle of midfield. He’s very composed. We’re happy to have him. He’ll be a reliable guy for us.”

Brad Evans, Columbus Crew Position: Midfielder  Height: 6-1 Weight: 160 Birthdate: April 20, 1985
Hometown: Phoenix, AZ
MLS; 30 games 19 starts 5 goals 2 assists (26 games, 18 starts, 5 goals, 1 assist)
National; none
College; University of California Irvine, totaling 31 goals and seven assists.

Chris Henderson

He’s an exciting central player. I think he was a very big part of Columbus’ championship run. He can score. He’s a competitor. He has a great desire to improve as a player. He’s not afraid to shoot from distance, and that was an important piece for us as well. I had a chance to play with Eddie in New York, and he was at Columbus briefly when I was there as well. Eddie is an up and coming player as well, and I think either player you’re making a good choice. I think the way our Team is shaping up, Evans was a good selection.

Nate Jaqua, Houston Dynamo
Position: Forward 
Height: 6-3
Weight: 180
Birthdate: October 28, 1981
Hometown: Eugene, OR
MLS; 131 games 93 starts 32 goals 17 assists (14 games, 11 starts, 4 goals, 4 assists)
National; 3 caps 
College; University of Portland
Last club: 2007-08 SC Rheindorf Altach Austria

Adrian Hanauer:

“Without getting in to too much detail, Nate definitely, from the Northwest, liked the idea of coming to the Northwest. Nothing was certain until it was certain in terms of the expansion draft. But we did have some conversation with both Houston and Nate early on when he was returning from Austria to Houston. It wasn’t a huge surprise to us that he was left after. And he’s a player that we’re absolutely thrilled to have on board.”

Tyson Wahl, Kansas City Wizards
Position: Defender 
Height: 6-2
Weight: 185
Birthdate: February 23, 1984
Hometown: Newport Beach, CA
MLS; 32 games 26 starts (16 games, 16 starts)
National; U.S. U-20 and U-17. Played in the U-17 World Youth Championships in 2001
College; University of California All-American defender started every game in four years 
Last club; has played in Bolivia, Portugal, Switzerland, Germany, Trinidad-Tobago, Mexico and Canada

Peter Vagenas, Los Angeles Galaxy
Position: Midfielder 
Height: 5-8
Weight: 157
Birthdate: February 06, 1978
Hometown: Pasadena, CA
MLS; 183 games 164 starts 14 goals 25 assists (2008 14 games, 11 starts, 1 goal, 3 assists)
National; 2000 U.S. Olympic Team at the Sydney Olympics. 
2 Caps with the U.S. National Team
College; UCLA 15 goals and 30 assists in 82 career games

Chris Henderson:

“We picked a champion. He’s a guy that’s been in the battles, as Adrian said ‘played in the trenches’, and when we look at Pete, if not the best, he’s among the best passers in the league, and probably in the history of the league in possession and keeping possession of the ball. He’s a great leader, a competitor. He’s been a winner at every level. To have Pete come up to Seattle, I think his veteran leadership is going to be very important for us. We have some leadership with Ljungberg and Keller, and to just add to that a veteran player to help the younger players along is going to be a huge asset.”

Khano Smith, New England Revolution
Position: Midfielder / Forward (On the left wing)
Height: 6-3
Weight: 190
Birthdate: January 10, 1982
Hometown: Warwick, Bermuda 
MLS; (2008 23 games, 18 starts, 2 goals, 3 assists)
National; Center Forward for the Bermuda National Team
College; Lees-McCrae College in Banner Elk, North Carolina
Last club: Dandy Town (Bermuda)

Jeff Parke, New York Red Bulls
Position: Defender 
Height: 6-1
Weight: 185
Birthdate: March 23, 1982
Hometown: Downington, PA
MLS; 132 games 126 starts (2008 24 games, 23 starts)
Won the Red Bulls 2007 Defender of the Year Award
College; Drexel, Philadelphia PA

Chris Henderson:

“I had the opportunity to play with Jeff, and against him as well. He’s a great player. He’s got experience. He’s very athletic. I think with regard to missing some of the games early, if we can get through that period, he’s got a tremendous upside. He’s been in some very big games. I think he’s a guy that will really contribute. He’s played in a 4 in the back. He’s played in a 3. He is out-of-contract. It’s something we hope we can work out. We’re excited to have Jeff.”

Nathan Sturgis, Real Salt Lake
Position: Defender / Midfielder
Height: 5-10
Weight: 150
Birthdate: July 06, 1987
Hometown: St. Augustine, FL
MLS; 32 games 30 starts (2008 3 games, 2 starts)
National; 2003 U-17 and U-20 (40 caps, two FIFA U-20 World Cup tournaments). U-23
College; Clemson, South Carolina. Started 40 of 41 games.

Chris Henderson:

“Nathan was a U.S. National Team player. He’s one of those players who is very good at changing the ball from one side to the other with good feet, to keep the ball moving. He’s a versatile player. He can play midfield. He can play in the back. I think vying those injuries he had last year, he would’ve been competing for an Olympic spot. He’s another player with tremendous upside. We think he’s a very good player. I was a player who at certain times in my career I had some muscle injuries, and after I got through that period, I never had a pulled muscle again. Sometimes it happens to players as they’re maturing and growing. We’re hoping to keep him fit, keep him healthy. We’re confident in our medical staff, and trainers. He’s a guy that we’re very happy to pick up.”

James Riley, San Jose Earthquakes
Position: Defender (on right) / midfield / forward 
Height: 5-10
Weight: 150
Birthdate: October 27, 1982
Hometown: Colorado Springs, CO
MLS; 84 games 77 starts 1 goal 5 assists (2008 24 games, 23 starts, 2 assists)
National; none
College; Wake Forest, North Carolina. One of the most versatile and consistent players in Wake Forest soccer history played mostly left wing, defense and midfield mid-center.
Voted one of Boston’s Most Eligible Bachelors by Boston Magazine in 2006.

Jarrod Smith, Toronto FC
Position: Forward 
Height: 6-1
Weight: 180
Birthdate: June 20, 1984
Hometown: Havelock North, New Zealand
MLS; (2008 20 games, 6 starts, 1 goal) 
College; West Virginia University. In four years 32 goals in 74 games. In his senior year, recorded career high 14 goals in 16 games. Participated in the 2005 and 2006 NCAA Men’s Soccer Championship tournaments. 
Last club: Hawke’s Bay United (New Zealand)

Chris Henderson:

“We did a lot of research, and watched some video and the stats that we had, we liked what we had seen from Jarrod. He’s currently in the New Zealand National Team pool, so that’s something that if he makes the Confederation’s Cup next year, we’ll deal with that. I think he’s a player that’s hungry to prove himself. I think he’s a competitor. He’s a versatile player. He’s a strong target type forward, but he can also play another position. We like that. We see a tremendous upside with Jarrod.”