Local soccer coach stars in Sounders FC 'Super Search' commercials

January 3, 7:30 AMSeattle Soccer ExaminerDavid Falk

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Eugene Poublon has become a recognized face on the streets of Seattle for a commercial filmed on those very same streets. A coach with Northwest Nationals for over six years, Poublon has lately been seen on King 5 TV as much as he's been seen training his kids. Sounders FC are advertising their "Super Search" for a player to join the 2009 squad and Eugene was handpicked  to dazzle in the spots.

(Every Thursday in January at 7:00 PM on Evening Magainze we'll see updates of the ten players stll alive in the open tryout 'Super Search' contest. It all leads up to a live final after the Super Bowl in which fans and judges will select a single player to actually make the Sounders roster. The Super Search held tryouts in Spokane, Tukwila and Yakima to get to the ten finalists.)

The teaser commercials to hype the 'search' have taken on a life and following of their own. Poublon is seen running and dribbling a soccer ball through the streets of Seattle, in and around famous landmarks and even causing a stir in the downtown library. Poublon enjoyed the experience of making the ads. "I did the commercial for two reasons. The first one was for the whole experience. The second was in the hope to inspire young people." Poublon says the feedback to his footwork has been very nice. "My players love the tricks. Everyone has different ones they like. I am very glad that people are enjoying it."  It wasn't easy to show such fancy moves when the ads were filmed, during and around the recent cold weather. "All of the outside shots," explains Poublon, "were a challenge because our state hit the coldest days on record. Lots of ice and it was very slippery. The hardest one was on Queen Ann where Mark Feijo (director) wanted me to to do moves in a one by one yard square with ice all around me. We pulled it off luckily."

Eugene got the gig via connections through King 5, but admits he did have to show them he had the 'stuff' to do the job. I aksed him about how many outtakes happened. "I had to do a few do-overs. Not as many do-overs as I thought I might need. I still have not seen the extended version but I think we hit all of the big landmarks. I take that back... we missed the one I popped over Jimi Hendrix in Capitol Hill." Jimi was cut in the 30-second ad, but appears in the full minute version posted here.

Poublon has world soccer credentials, once being a part of the famous Dutch club Ajax.

This recent return to the spotlight is well-deserved for a guy who has been in the 'soccer trenches' working with kids and inspiring young lives. "I have been truly blessed to have served in this organization for over six years," states Eugene. "Northwest Nationals is a premier club which started ten years ago as a small club with only six teams and has grown to become one of the biggest clubs in the state. Currently there are more then 35 teams in the club from premier to select with more than 450 kids. I currently coach three teams in our club (The Girls U11 blue, Girls U15 red, Boys U17 red and I serve as assistant coach for our U11 red).  I am also a technical and academy trainer for the club. Our mission is really to help kids grow as human beings. I believe soccer has provided this tool and I hope every coach that has the priveledge to work with young athletes will use it the right way."

Eugene is looking forward to seeing Sounders FC and Major League Soccer at Qwest begining this Spring. "I think having an MLS team in our state is great especially for the young ones that have a dream to play for the team one day.  And no I don't have season tickets but trust me I will get out there."

Photo credits to Eugene's page at www.TheParrots.net.