This season 39-year-old Kasey Keller has played 28 regular season games, two international exhibitions and many matches as part of his team's run to the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup title. But the Seattle Sounders FC goalkeeper hinted that he could play beyond the initial two-year contract he signed with the Sounders.
Keller said that he aims to be playing for the Sounders when other Northwest expansion teams Portland and Vancouver join MLS in 2011. "You never know what is around the corner, but I would feel a little bit surprised if I wasn't still playing that year," Keller said.
The most capped goalkeeper in U.S. national team history will finish his first MLS regular season on Saturday when Seattle hosts FC Dallas. Keller started 28 games this season, missing only one because of a red card. His 0.92 goals against average and 10 shutouts rank second in the league behind Chivas USA's Zach Thornton. Seattle general manager Adrian Hanauer has said that the team will seek to keep Keller as long as he wants to be there. "As far as I'm concerned this is his home, and it's his goal and as long as he wants to be here I'm assuming we're going to figure something out," Hanauer said. Keller, however, insists that he will play only as long as he can maintain his high standards of performance. "I've said many, many times I don't want to become that guy that everyone said should have retired last year," Keller said. "I want to make sure I am able to play at a level I expect of myself and other people as well."
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