339 appearances. 10 seasons. Eight trophies.
Trying to distill Osvaldo Alonso’s sprawling and successful career with the Seattle Sounders is a nearly impossible task. Arguably the greatest defensive midfielder in league history, Alonso helped catapult the Sounders in 2009 and became synonymous with a club that defined excellence during their first 10 years in MLS.
The club announced on Tuesday that Alonso will be signing a one-day contract on Thursday so that he can retire in Rave Green. He will also be honored at the club's home opener on Saturday against Austin FC (7:30 p.m. PT; Watch on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, 93.3 KJR FM, El Rey 1360AM| TICKETS).
Here are five of our favorite Alonso moments from his time with the Sounders organization.
Game winner in first road match at Portland Timbers (July 10, 2011)
Few players encapsulated the enmity between Seattle and Portland quite like Alonso. From the first MLS meeting in 2011, his fiery competitiveness helped shape the Sounders-Timbers rivalry, elevating into the premier fixture in MLS.
After drawing the first match at home 1-1, the Sounders twice battled back from one-goal deficits on the road to make it 2-2 in the 74th minute. Ten minutes later, Alonso scored the game-winning goal from the penalty spot, confidently placing the ball in the bottom right corner beyond the goalkeeper.
2011 U.S. Open Cup Final (October 4, 2011)
Entering MLS in 2009, the Sounders made history by winning back-to-back U.S. Open Cup titles in their first two seasons. In October of 2011, they had an opportunity to win a third consecutive trophy when they hosted the Chicago Fire in front of over 35,000 fans at CenturyLink Field.
With the Sounders protecting a 1-0 lead five minutes into second-half stoppage time, Alonso received the ball 30 yards from goal. He evaded the first defender before weaving past three more fire players and the goalkeeper before coolly slotting the ball into an empty net in front of the Brougham End. It was the perfect way to ice the match and secure another trophy for the club.
Honoring Ozzie Alonso
Join us as we celebrate the legendary Sounders career of Ozzie Alonso at our home opener on Saturday, March 2. Fans can meet Alonso pre-match, and there will be an on-field ceremony honoring the club legend.
2014 Supporters’ Shield (October 25, 2014)
The Sounders entered the final day of the 2014 MLS Regular Season level on points with their opponents, the LA Galaxy, with the winner securing the Supporters’ Shield. Alonso dominated the midfield all afternoon and helped shutout a Galaxy attack the led the league in goals scored, boasting the likes of Landon Donovan and Gyasi Zardes. An unforgettable moment in club history, the 2-0 victory secured the Sounders’ first-ever Supporters’ Shield title.
2016 MLS Cup Final (December 10, 2016)
Despite an era of dominance since 2009, only one trophy had eluded the Sounders: MLS Cup. That all changed in 2016.
After a miraculous run from the bottom of the Western Conference standings to qualifying for the postseason, the Cinderella story continued as the Sounders reached the MLS Cup Final. Facing an offensive juggernaut Toronto FC spearheaded by Jozy Altidore and Sebastian Giovinco, Alonso and the Sounders kept the hosts of the scoresheet for 120 minutes. That match was symbolic of Ozzie’s limitless grit, as he had to receive eight pain injections – four before the match, and four at halftime – for a knee injury he had sustained two weeks prior. Following a successful penalty-kick shootout, Alonso and the Sounders lifted MLS Cup for the first time in club history.
Miraculous Comeback against New England (April 29, 2017)
A hard-nosed defensive midfielder and possession metronome, Alonso didn’t score many goals throughout his career. But when he did, they were either stunning feats of technical brilliance or clutch goals that helped secure results.
The Sounders struggled out of the gates in the 2017 season after winning the championship the year prior. Hosting the New England Revolution in the ninth match of the campaign, the Rave Green found themselves 3-0 down in the 74th minute. Nicolás Lodeiro and Will Bruin each scored in a ten-minute span to pull Seattle within one goal. Then in the 88th minute, Alonso ghosted past his man to the back post to head home the equalizer as Lumen Field erupted. It marked the first time in club history that the Sounders had overturned a three-goal deficit to pick up a result.
