PORTLAND, Ore. -- He's already a big hit in Seattle, and with good reason. Not only does Kasey Keller have the Sounders in the thick of the MLS playoff chase, he's playing in his own back yard.

The Olympia native recently came back to the United States after more than 15 years in Europe.

"When I was referring to home, I was referring to home back in the states, but to truly come home to the Northwest and to Seattle is everything. It’s just unbelievable," Keller said.

Courtney Blethen / Seattle Times

After 16 successful years playing in Europe, goalkeeper Kasey Keller returned home and signed a two-year contract with MLS expansion club Sounders FC.

'It's really the reason why I'm still playing today is the time I had with Clive Charles. If for whatever reason Seattle didn't get a franchise and Portland did, I could have very easily moved to Portland and been part of that," Keller said.

Though he jumped at the chance to finish his career at home, he admits it was a tough choice to leave Europe.

"It was what we had been part of for 17-18 years, and to come back home and not really know how that was going to work out had that little bit of anxiety. But it was very apparent after the first game that I’d made the right choice."

And it's a choice that has him excited about the future.

"I think that if you had asked anybody before the year that if we could be in the position we're in now, they would be very happy with that, myself included. I do think we will get better as the year goes along."

Timbers officials said at 5 p.m., 400 standing-room-only tickets would go on sale for $15 each. Ticket orders will be limited to four per person. Details: PortlandTimbers.com