Ricardo Clark Has Focused on Set-Piece Tactics
The assistant coach is working to improve Seattle's dead-ball efficiency during the club's 12-match winless streak.
Updated on Sept. 19, 2026 in Soccer
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Seattle Sounders assistant coach Ricardo Clark has taken the lead in refining the team's set-piece strategy. The club hopes this focus will help overcome a difficult 12-match winless streak.
Why it matters
Improving set-piece effectiveness is critical for the Sounders as they struggle to generate offense, having scored only 25 total goals this season.
The Sounders hold a 7-9-7 record and sit 14th in the Western Conference standings. Only 6 of the team's 25 total goals have come from set-piece opportunities.
The players
Ricardo Clark
He is a former professional player who joined the Seattle Sounders coaching staff in January 2026.
Brian Schmetzer
He has served as the head coach of the Seattle Sounders since 2016.
The details
Ricardo Clark manages both offensive and defensive set-piece plays while participating in training drills to lessen the physical burden on injured veterans. These efforts aim to stabilize a team currently stuck in a 12-match winless stretch.
Timeline
Brian Schmetzer was named head coach in 2016.
Ricardo Clark retired from professional playing in 2019.
Ricardo Clark was hired by the Sounders in January 2026.
The Sounders play a match against Colorado on September 19, 2026.
The Sounders play Sporting Kansas City on October 1, 2026.
Season Trajectory
The current 12-match winless streak has pushed the Sounders to 14th in the Western Conference, severely limiting their playoff potential. This tactical pivot is a late-season effort to salvage the standings and break the club's longest current winless stretch.
With the Sounders at 14th in the Western Conference, the team faces significant pressure to convert set-piece opportunities into points to climb out of the bottom half of the table. Achieving higher efficiency from these plays is vital for any hope of challenging conference rivals in upcoming matches.
The takeaway
The team must translate improved set-piece coordination into match results to snap their current winless streak. Fans should watch if these tactical adjustments lead to more goal-scoring chances in the upcoming home matches at Lumen Field.
Further reading
For more news on the club's ongoing season, visit Seattle Soccer.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Yakima Herald-Republic.
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