The Seattle MLS franchise is more than a year away from its first game but has already signed one of Washington state's most famous players. No, not Kasey Keller, at least just yet.

Former U.S. midfielder Chris Henderson, 37, a native of Everett, Wash., who played at UCLA and for five MLS teams, has been hired as technical director. As such, he will assist general manager Adrian Hanauer in all areas pertaining to players and player development.

At the SuperDraft last week, Henderson said he and his family -- wife Dee and two children -- were headed to Seattle, where he'd work as a consultant for the newest MLS team. Instead, he's moving straight into management.

"It's been real busy," he said during a brief telephone conversation while driving through Seattle. "A lot of meetings today. But I'm real excited. I think the league made a great move coming to this city and you couldn't ask for a better ownership group."

Henderson scored 51 goals and registered 80 assists while playing 317 games for Kansas City, Miami, Colorado, Columbus, and the MetroStars.

In 80 international games, he scored three goals and was the youngest player at the 1990 World Cup. A year before, he and Keller played for the U.S. team at the under-20 world championships that finished in fourth place. He also was a member of the 1992 Olympic team.

Henderson retired after the 2006 season to work as an assistant coach for the Wizards. Now he's headed back home, where he was the Gatorade Player of the Year while playing for Cascade High School.