Stefan Frei: An Artist Between the Goalposts

When I first approached Stefan Frei at our photo shoot for Tideland magazine, I tossed him my husband’s soccer ball and quipped, “just testing your reflexes.” He deftly caught the ball, of course, before tossing back a quick-witted response: “Hey, I didn’t think I was going to have to work today!” Frei’s playful smile belied the competitive intensity that he brings to the pitch for the Seattle Sounders—and that fuels his success as one of the best goalkeepers in Major League Soccer today.

Athletes of Frei’s caliber, or even his species, are not the typical subjects of my writing. But given that he’s as tenacious as a wolverine, nimble as a cougar, and bold as a grizzly bear, maybe the fit isn’t too much of a stretch. Add in my enthusiasm for soccer and the Sounders—and Frei’s shared passions for art, dogs, and climate change awareness—and well, I couldn’t resist!

Frei is also a neighbor, having recently relocated with his family to Bainbridge Island. Like his many other local fans, I’m thrilled that he’s part of the community.

My article begins:

I once read that if soccer were a literary genre, it would be poetry. Played by more than 250 million people worldwide, The Beautiful Game (known as “football” in most countries) matches grace with grit; organic style with tight lines. So what would soccer be if it were a visual art? Stefan Frei, goalkeeper for the Seattle Sounders, addresses this question with bold paint and a blank canvas.