Blaise Nkufo

• Became first player in Sounders FC history to record a hat trick
• Scored 200 goals for club and country, including a record 114 league goals for Holland’s FC Twente
• 27 caps for Swiss National Team, scoring five of his seven goals during qualifying for the 2010 World Cup
• Coach Sigi Schmid: "Blaise is a proven goal scorer. He is a player that knows how to find space in the box at appropriate moments."

MLS Experience

2010: Arrived after World Cup and started all 11 appearances in his first season in MLS, logging 931 minutes. Scored five goals on 15 shots (11 on goal), including the club’s first-ever hat trick at CLB (9/18). Scored all five goals over a four-game stretch from 9/18 to 10/2, including two game-winners. Won MLS Player of the Week and Goal of the Week for his performance in Week 25. Made first appearance for Sounders FC vs. Celtic FC (7/18) and made first league start vs. COL (7/25). Added to active roster on July 15 and was on the 18-man roster at DC (7/15).

Professional Experience

2003-10: Made 260 appearances for the club in all competition, scoring 129 goals. Led FC Twente in scoring each of the past six years, with 21 or more goals in each of the last three seasons.

2002-03: Signed a one-year deal with Hannover 96, appearing in 9 matches.

2001-02: Signed with German football club Mainz, marking his first season playing in Germany. Played in 42 matches and scored 20 goals.

2000-01: Signed a one-year deal with Luzern. Made 19 appearances and scored 7 goals.

1999-2000: Loaned to Lugano for one year, scoring 14 goals in just 21 appearances.

1998-2000: Signed a two-year deal with Grasshopper Zurich, appearing in 18 matches for the club and recorded 4 goals.

1997-98: Re-signed with Lausanne. Scored 18 goals in 34 games.

1996-97: Returned to Switzerland and signed with Yverdon Sport. Played in 35 games and scored 12 goals.

1995-96: Signed with Al-Arabi of Qatari, marking his first season playing outside of Switzerland. Made 12 appearances and scored 6 goals.

1994-95: Played for Echallens, scoring 9 goals in 16 matches.

1993-94: Began his professional career on Signed by Lausanne Sport for one season, appearing in two matches.

International Experience

Nkufo has been a fixture on the Swiss National Team since making his debut in 2002. He has made 33 appearances for Switzerland in his career. He has scored 7 goals while on the national team, including 5 goals during qualifying for the 2010 World Cup. Nkufo started both pre-World Cup friendlies, recording an assist on Switzerland's goal in a 1-1 draw with defending champion Italy. He started all three group stage matches, including a 1-0 upset over Spain, and has logged 258 minutes.