The Sounders have hired new play-by-play announcer to replaced the beloved Arlo White.

Ross Fletcher will be the new “Voice of the Sounders” and get this… Kasey Keller will serve as analyst. They will team up for all the local broadcasts.

Filling Arlo Whites shoes will be no small task, as he was a Seattle fan favorite. In fact Arlo was so good he was named the MLS best announcer, and on top of that this little company by the name of NBC hired him for the nationally televised MLS games.

I was (and am) a huge fan of Arlo. So much so that it was disappointing for me to watch the games on Fox Soccer and ESPN because his voice was no where to be heard.

Since Arlo hit the big time Seattle fans have wondered who would step in and take his place. Ross Fletcher is that man, and paired with Kasey Keller as the analyst it should be a great combination. He sounds like he is going to make a great fit in “Soccer City USA”!

Well here is who is replacing Arlo… Check out the new voice (and face) and see what you think.

From Sounders FC:

The Seattle Sounders FC today announced Ross Fletcher has been hired as the club’s play-by-play announcer and Kasey Keller will serve as analyst. The duo will be heard on all local television and radio broadcasts.

“Ross and Kasey will bring a new dimension and perspective to Sounders FC broadcasts,” said Sounders FC owner Joe Roth. “The combination of Ross’ experience and Kasey’s knowledge gives us a sensational 1-2 punch which our fans deserve.”

Fletcher has spent the last five and a half years as a football commentator and reporter for the national stations BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra, covering the English Premier League and the Championship. For the past year he has also been a regular voice across the station’s schedule as a sports bulletin presenter.

For seven years Fletcher was the voice of Derby County for BBC Radio Derby, commentating on the English Premier League and Championship. His most memorable call was the 2007 Championship playoff final in which Derby beat West Bromwich Albion in front of 75,000 fans at Wembley Stadium. During his time at the station, he was part of the highly successful team which won the coveted Sony Radio Academy ‘Station of the Year’ title three times in five years.

“I’m honored to follow Arlo White and hope to match his enthusiasm and strong connection to the fans,” said Ross Fletcher. “The Sounders FC supporters are already legend, and I look forward to witnessing the dedication and passion of our fan base first hand.”

Keller completed his 20-year professional career in 2011 by earning MLS Goalkeeper of the Year and Best XI honors. He served as the Sounders FC captain and was an All-Star selection each of his three seasons. From 1991 to 2008 the Olympia, Wash. native played in Europe while accumulating U.S. National Team goalkeeping career records for most caps (102), wins (53) and shutouts (47). Keller played in three of the world’s top leagues: England’s Premiership, Spain’s La Liga and Germany’s Bundesliga.

“It’s exciting for me to be involved with our broadcasts and stay involved with the club,” said Keller. “I enjoyed my past experiences with broadcasting in England under a range of scenarios, and it’s appealing to be joining the Sounders in this capacity. It’s going to be fun.”

All Sounders FC MLS league matches not aired nationally will be carried live in high definition on KING-5 or KONG-6/16. All locally broadcast matches will also be aired either live outside of Seattle or on a delayed basis throughout the Northwest on ROOT SPORTS™. Each match will also be aired live on the radio home of Sounders FC, News Talk 97.3 KIRO FM.