Sébastien Le Toux
{{Short description|French footballer (born 1984)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Sébastien Le Toux
| image = Sebastien Le Toux (cropped).jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Le Toux playing against Seattle
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1984|01|10}}
| birth_place = Mont-Saint-Aignan, France
| height = 6ft 0in
| currentclub =
| clubnumber =
| youthyears1 = 2001–2004
| youthclubs1 = Rennes
| years1 = 2004–2006
| clubs1 = Lorient
| caps1 = 15
| goals1 = 1
| years2 = 2007–2008
| clubs2 = Seattle Sounders
| caps2 = 47
| goals2 = 24
| years3 = 2009
| clubs3 = Seattle Sounders FC
| caps3 = 28
| goals3 = 1
| years4 = 2010–2011
| clubs4 = Philadelphia Union
| caps4 = 62
| goals4 = 25
| years5 = 2012
| clubs5 = Vancouver Whitecaps FC
| caps5 = 19
| goals5 = 4
| years6 = 2012
| clubs6 = New York Red Bulls
| caps6 = 14
| goals6 = 1
| years7 = 2013–2016
| clubs7 = Philadelphia Union
| caps7 = 113
| goals7 = 25
| years8 = 2016
| clubs8 = Colorado Rapids
| caps8 = 11
| goals8 = 1
| years9 = 2017
| clubs9 = D.C. United
| caps9 = 16
| goals9 = 2
| totalcaps = 325
| totalgoals = 84
| medaltemplates =
| club-update = 17:45, 17 August 2017 (UTC)
}}
Sébastien Le Toux ({{IPA|fr|sebastjɛ̃ lə tu}}; born 10 January 1984) is a French retired professional footballer who spent the majority of his career in Major League Soccer, including six seasons at the Philadelphia Union.
A versatile attacker, who in 2010 became Philadelphia's first All-Star representative, was widely regarded as one of the hardest workers in the league, winning the MLS Individual Fair Play Award in both 2010 and 2011. Le Toux racked up over 263 career MLS appearances with 59 goals and 57 assists in nine years.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/sebastien-le-toux/|title=Sebastien Le Toux | MLSsoccer.com|website=mlssoccer|accessdate=22 December 2021}}
Playing career
=Club=
==Seattle Sounders FC==
Le Toux unsuccessfully tried out for MLS side FC Dallas, before eventually signing with the Seattle Sounders of the USL First Division in early 2007. Le Toux netted 10 goals for the Sounders in 2007, tying him with Charles Gbeke of the Montreal Impact as the division's top goal-scorer; he went on to score 24 goals in 54 league appearances for the team. On 28 September 2007, Le Toux became Seattle's fourth USL First Division Most Valuable Player.{{cite news | url=http://usl1.uslsoccer.com/recentnews/207628.html | title=Final USL-1 Awards announced: Q & A Session with goalkeepers McIntosh & Eylander | date=28 September 2007 | publisher=United Soccer Leagues | work=usl1.uslsoccer.com | access-date=5 June 2008 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717175738/http://usl1.uslsoccer.com/recentnews/207628.html | archive-date=17 July 2011 | df=dmy-all }}
On 8 May 2008, Le Toux was the first player signed by the Seattle Sounders FC following their expansion into Major League Soccer.{{cite news |url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004399951_apsocsoundersfirstsigning.html |title=Sounders FC signs first player |publisher=Seattle Times |access-date=8 May 2008 |date=8 May 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090617073415/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004399951_apsocsoundersfirstsigning.html |archive-date=17 June 2009 }}{{cite web | url=http://www.mlsplayers.org/files/6_5_08_salary_info_alpha.pdf | title=MLS Salaries | publisher=MLS Players Union | access-date=11 June 2008}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}
He scored the first goal in a 1–1 draw against the Los Angeles Galaxy, but saw more success in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on the run to the 2009 Open Cup Final and had an assist on the winning goal to Roger Levesque in the 2–1 victory at RFK Stadium against D.C. United.
==Philadelphia Union==
Le Toux was not among Seattle's protected 11 players for the 2009 MLS Expansion Draft and was selected by Philadelphia Union.{{cite news| url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/soundersfcblog/2010339732_the_protected_11_from_sounders.html | work=The Seattle Times | title=The Protected 11 from Sounders FC | first=Jose | last=Romero | date=23 November 2009}}[http://web.mlsnet.com/news/mls_news.jsp?ymd=20091125&content_id=7718268&vkey=pr_mls&fext=.jsp Union select 10 players in expansion draft] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091128081229/http://web.mlsnet.com/news/mls_news.jsp?ymd=20091125&content_id=7718268&vkey=pr_mls&fext=.jsp |date=28 November 2009 }} He scored a hat trick in the Philadelphia Union's first official home match in Major League Soccer as the Union defeated D.C. United 3–2.{{cite web |url=http://www.theoffside.com/leagues/video-le-toux-nets-hat-trick-in-home-debut-of-the-union.html |title=VIDEO: Le Toux Nets Hat Trick In Home Debut of the Union |publisher=The Offside |access-date=10 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100607043251/http://www.theoffside.com/leagues/video-le-toux-nets-hat-trick-in-home-debut-of-the-union.html |archive-date=7 June 2010 }} He scored his 10th goal of the season in the 33rd minute for the Union, taking a pass from rookie Danny Mwanga and sending a clean shot past Wizards goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen.{{cite news|url=http://sports.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/mls/recap.asp?g=2010090429 |work=CNN |title=Major League Soccer |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005172904/http://sports.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/mls/recap.asp?g=2010090429 |archive-date=5 October 2011 }}{{cite news|url=http://www.soccer365.com/us_news/story_1810183427.php|title=Revs Rally For Philly Draw|date=1 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100803062955/http://soccer365.com/us_news/story_1810183427.php|archive-date=3 August 2010|work=soccer365.com|publisher=365 Corporation|url-status=dead}} Le Toux scored on a penalty deep into stoppage time to give the Philadelphia Union a 2–1 win over Toronto FC. He scored once again against his former club Seattle Sounders, trailing 1–0 entering the second half, Le Toux got the equalizer on a penalty kick in the 54th minute.{{cite news|url=http://www.upi.com/Sports_News/2010/06/27/MLS-Philadelphia-3-Seattle-1/UPI-45811277690064/ |title=MLS: Philadelphia 3, Seattle 1 |publisher=United Press International| work=upi.com |date=27 June 2010 |access-date=6 April 2012}} He finished the 2010 MLS season with 14 league goals. On 8 June, Le Toux was named a nominee for the Major League Soccer All-Star Game.{{cite web |url=http://www.philadelphiaunion.com/news/2011/06/fan-ballot-launched-att-mls-all-star-game-0 |title=2011 |publisher=Philadelphia Union |access-date=6 April 2012 |archive-date=2 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402112213/https://www.philadelphiaunion.com/news/2011/06/fan-ballot-launched-att-mls-all-star-game-0 |url-status=dead }}
On 18 January 2012, he wrote "on a jet plane to England"{{cite tweet |author= Sébastien Le Toux |user= SebastienLeToux|number= 159442289972883456 |date= 17 January 2012 |title= On a jet plane to England. |access-date= 18 January 2012 }} the day after Bolton Wanderers manager Owen Coyle confirmed that the striker was having a trial with the Premier League side.{{cite news| url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/7441918/? | work=Sky Sports | publisher=British Sky Broadcasting | title=Coyle confirms Le Toux arrival | date=19 January 2012 | access-date=19 January 2012}} The trial, however, did not lead to a contract offer.
== Vancouver Whitecaps FC ==
File:2012-02-15 Sebastien Le Toux.jpg
On 31 January 2012, Philadelphia traded Le Toux to Vancouver Whitecaps FC for allocation money.{{cite news |url=http://www.philadelphiaunion.com/news/2012/01/union-trade-le-toux-whitecaps-fc |title=Union trade Le Toux to Whitecaps FC |publisher=Philadelphia Union |work=philadelphiaunion.com |date=31 January 2012 |access-date=6 April 2012 |archive-date=3 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120203035327/http://www.philadelphiaunion.com/news/2012/01/union-trade-le-toux-whitecaps-fc |url-status=dead }} Le Toux scored four minutes into his MLS debut for the Whitecaps on 10 March, a 2–0 home victory over new side Montreal Impact.{{cite news|url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report/_/id/336077?cc=5901 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120715133654/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report/_/id/336077?cc=5901 |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 July 2012 |title=Report: Vancouver Whitecaps v Montreal Impact - Major League Soccer |publisher=ESPN Soccernet |work=ESPN |date=10 March 2012 |access-date=6 April 2012}}
==New York Red Bulls==
Le Toux was traded to New York Red Bulls on 13 July 2012 in exchange for Dane Richards and allocation money.{{cite web|url=http://www.whitecapsfc.com/news/2012/07/whitecaps-fc-acquire-richards |title='Caps acquire Jamaican international Richards and allocation money from Red Bulls for Le Toux |publisher=Vancouver Whitecaps FC |work=whitecapsfc.com |access-date=14 July 2012}} He scored 24 minutes into his first game with the Red Bulls vs. Seattle Sounders on 15 July 2012 in a match that ended in a 2–2 draw. In his second game, the 1–0 home win against Chicago Fire, Le Toux got the assist for a goal from Thierry Henry with a cross-field ball to the striker.
==Return to Philadelphia==
On 6 December 2012 Le Toux was traded back to Philadelphia Union in a sign-and-trade from New York Red Bulls. Philadelphia sent allocation money along with Josué Martínez to New York.{{cite web|url=http://www.philadelphiaunion.com/news/2012/12/union-reacquires-forward-sebastien-le-toux |title=Union reacquires forward Sebastien Le Toux |publisher=Philadelphia Union |access-date=6 December 2012}} He scored in the 17th minute of his debut back with the Philadelphia Union and the 2013 Major League Soccer season opener, doing so two consecutive seasons.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2013/03/02/mls-match-recap-philadelphia-union-1-sporting-kansas-city-3 |title=MLS Match Recap: Philadelphia Union 1, Sporting Kansas City 3 |author=Dave Zeitlin |website=MLSsoccer.com |date=2 March 2013 |access-date=9 October 2020}}
==Colorado Rapids==
On 3 August 2016, Le Toux was traded to the Colorado Rapids in exchange for General Allocation Money.{{cite web|url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2016/08/03/colorado-rapids-acquire-sebastien-le-toux-trade-luis-solignac-chicago|title=Colorado Rapids acquire Sebastien Le Toux, trade Luis Solignac to Chicago|publisher=MLSsoccer.com|date=3 August 2016|access-date=4 February 2017}}
==D.C. United==
On 24 January 2017, Le Toux was signed to D.C. United as a free agent.{{cite web|url=http://www.dcunited.com/post/2017/01/24/united-sign-mls-veteran-s-bastien-le-toux|title=United sign MLS veteran Sébastien Le Toux|publisher=D.C. United|date=24 January 2017|access-date=4 February 2017}} He scored his first goal for DC against the New England Revolution on 22 April 2017. In the next game, he would score his second and last goal for DC against Atlanta United FC on 30 April 2017. Le Toux and United mutually agreed to terminate his contract on 17 August 2017.{{cite web|url=https://www.dcunited.com/post/2017/08/17/united-and-s-bastien-le-toux-mutually-terminate-contract|title=United and Sébastien Le Toux mutually terminate contract|date=17 August 2017|access-date=17 August 2017}}
=Retirement=
In May 2018, Le Toux announced his retirement from professional soccer. Making a name for himself as a top player for the Philadelphia Union, Le Toux signed a ceremonial one-day contract to retire as a Philadelphia player.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/05/07/sebastien-le-toux-retire-philadelphia-union-join-new-ring-honor |title=Sebastien Le Toux to retire with Philadelphia Union, join new Ring of Honor |website=MLSsoccer.com |author=Charles Boehm |date=7 May 2018 |access-date=9 October 2020}} His retirement ceremony was held on 23 June 2018 during a home match against Vancouver Whitecaps FC, where he was the first inductee into the Union's Ring of Honor.{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/union/sebastien-le-toux-immortalized-union-ring-honor |title=Sebastien Le Toux Immoralized Union Ring of Honor |website=nbsports.com |author=Ryan Bright |date=23 June 2018 |access-date=9 October 2020}}
Post playing career
After his retirement from professional soccer, Le Toux founded Le Toux Soccer Development in 2018, a private soccer coaching service he owns and operates.{{cite web |url=https://kendall-quigley-4c5h.squarespace.com/about |title=Le Toux Soccer Development |access-date=9 October 2020}}{{cite web |url=https://www.inquirer.com/philly/sports/soccer/sebastien-le-toux-philadelphia-union-columbus-crew-watch-online-tv-zack-steffen-gyasi-zardes-20180508.html#:~:text=He%20noted%20that%20during%20his,would%20eventually%20become%20his%20wife. |title='My heart is here,' Sébastien Le Toux says of retirement with the Union |author=Jonathan Tannenwald |publisher=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=8 May 2018 |access-date=9 October 2020}}
During the 2019 season, Le Toux made his broadcast debut providing pregame, halftime, and postgame commentary during Philadelphia Union matches.{{cite web |url=https://www.brotherlygame.com/2019/3/27/18284234/philadelphia-union-legend-sebastian-le-toux-to-make-his-broadcast-debut-this-weekend |title=Union legend Sebastian Le Toux to make his broadcast debut this weekend |author=Pete Schlenker |publisher=Brotherly Game |date=27 March 2019 |access-date=9 October 2020}}
Currently, Le Toux is the Head Coach for the Shipley School Girls' Varsity Soccer team.{{Cite web |title=Team Detail - US Shipley School |url=https://www.shipleyschool.org/team-detail---us?fromId=276990&BlockId=1684247&Team=175196&SeasonLabel=2022+-+2023 |access-date=2022-08-24 |website=www.shipleyschool.org}}
Personal
Le Toux was born and raised in Rennes, France. He has two brothers and one sister.
He married Brittany Wollner on October 6, 2023
On 5 August 2010, it was announced that Le Toux has received a United States green card, making him a permanent resident of the country and qualifying him as a domestic player for MLS roster purposes.{{cite web | url = http://www.philadelphiaunion.com/news/2010/08/le-toux-receives-green-card | title = Le Toux Receives Green Card | publisher=Philadelphia Union | access-date=23 August 2010}}
Career statistics
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | |||||||
| colspan=3 | Club performance
! colspan=2 | League ! colspan=2 | Cup ! colspan=2 | League Cup ! colspan=2 | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Club | Season | League
! Apps | Goals
! Apps | Goals
! Apps | Goals
! Apps | Goals | |
| rowspan="3"|FC Lorient
|12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
| 2005–06
|Ligue 2 |3 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 |
| colspan=2|Total
!15||1||3||0||1||0||19||1 | |||||||
| rowspan="3"|Seattle Sounders
|2007 |24 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 34 | 15 |
| 2008
|USL First Division |23 | 14 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 30 | 19 |
| colspan=2|Total
!47||24||10||10||7||0||64||34 | |||||||
| Seattle Sounders FC
|2009 |28 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 34 | 2 |
| rowspan="3"|Philadelphia Union
|2010 |Major League Soccer |28 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 14 |
| 2011
|Major League Soccer |34 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 36 | 12 |
| colspan=2|Total
!62||25||0||0||2||1||64||26 | |||||||
| Vancouver Whitecaps FC
|2012 |Major League Soccer |19 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 6 |
| New York Red Bulls
|2012 |Major League Soccer |14 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 1 |
| rowspan="5"|Philadelphia Union
|2013 |Major League Soccer |32 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 3 |
| 2014
|Major League Soccer |29 | 12 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 15 |
| 2015
|Major League Soccer |31 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 10 |
| 2016
|Major League Soccer |21 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 2 |
| colspan=2|Total
!113||25||15||5||0||0||128||30 | |||||||
| Colorado Rapids
|2016 |Major League Soccer |14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 1 |
| D.C. United
|2017 |Major League Soccer |8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| colspan=3 | Career total
!327||83||38||18||13||1||365||101 |
Source: [https://int.soccerway.com/players/sebastien-le-toux/1105/ Soccerway Stats]
Honors
=Club=
Stade Rennes Youth
- Coupe Gambardella: 2002–03
Seattle Sounders (USL)
- USL First Division Championship: 2007
- USL First Division Commissioner's Cup: 2007
Seattle Sounders FC
=Individual=
- MLS 50/50 Club{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/columbus-crew-scs-federico-higuain-joins-mls-50-50-club|title=Columbus Crew SC's Federico Higuain joins MLS 50-50 club | MLSSoccer.com|website=mlssoccer}}
- USL First Division Top Scorer: 2007
- Major League Soccer All Star Team: 2010
- MLS Fair Play Award: 2010, 2011
- MLS Best XI: 2010
- Philadelphia Union: Ring of Honor 2018
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{MLS player|sebastien-le-toux}}
- [https://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/03/sports/soccer/03goal.html?ref=soccer Bell, Jack. "A Frenchman Finds His Place, and His Position, in Seattle," The New York Times, Tuesday, 3 March 2009.]
{{MLS Fair Play Award}}
{{2010 MLS Best XI}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Le Toux, Sebastien}}
Category:Footballers from Mont-Saint-Aignan
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:Men's association football wingers
Category:French men's footballers
Category:Stade Rennais FC players
Category:Seattle Sounders (1994–2008) players
Category:Seattle Sounders FC players
Category:Philadelphia Union players
Category:Vancouver Whitecaps FC players
Category:New York Red Bulls players
Category:Colorado Rapids players
Category:USL First Division players
Category:Major League Soccer players
Category:French expatriate men's footballers
Category:French expatriate sportspeople in the United States
Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States
Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in Canada
Category:Major League Soccer All-Stars