So much talk of the Seattle Sounders’ success in the Leagues Cup and their 3-0 win in the final over Inter Miami was rightfully about the club’s pathway. Goalscorers Osaze De Rosario and Paul Rothrock both came through MLS NEXT Pro affiliate Tacoma Defiance, with the latter previously an Academy product. Georgi Minoungou, who drew a late decisive penalty, was a former Defiance player as well.
But the Man of the Match in Seattle’s title-clinching win was Alex Roldan, a player who took a similar, albeit different, roundabout route to becoming a First Team mainstay.
“I’ve had a long road, worked really hard,” said Roldan. “This is something that I get to enjoy. Every player dreams of having these moments in a final, so be able to contribute and help my team win, it’s a special feeling.”
Roldan, who assisted both De Rosario and Rothrock and converted Minoungou’s drawn penalty, went the college track to Seattle University. The Sounders selected him as a First Round pick in 2018, but his opportunities were scarce in a crowded midfield. He made a career-altering move to right back in 2021, and since then has made nearly 150 MLS appearances as a penned-in starter.
“When he first came out of Seattle University, there were some up and down moments, even stretches of games where he might not have played up to his level, but he acknowledged those,” Sounders Head Coach Brian Schmetzer said of Roldan. “He did the work…He’s a strong character. When things go wrong, [he figures] out solutions.”
Now 29, Roldan has seen his role shift from up-and-coming hopeful to mainstay and veteran.
“Alex is a perfect example of someone who’s now been long enough in a team where you start as someone trying to find your way into the squad, find your role, then develop into being a starter and contributor,” said Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei. “Then at some point, all of a sudden, you’re like, ‘Whoa. Now I’m someone who people look up to. What do I do with that?’ One thing that he does really well, and we’ve seen that, is he’s a really smart player to the point where we’re able to utilize him in different positions.
“He’s grounded and humble,” Frei continued. “He’s not forcing being a leader, but players look up to him because he’s got a lot of experience and he knows what he’s doing.”
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As much as Roldan has grown on the pitch, he’s grown off it during his time in Seattle as well. He welcomed his first child earlier this year, and his birth has given Roldan some new perspectives on both the game and life. He’s trying to savor more moments of gratitude and think more of the bigger picture.
Roldan credits older brother and teammate Cristian, who became a father himself last year, for much of the direction Alex has been following.
“Cristian has been such a good role model for me as a person, as a player,” said Alex. “I give a ton of credit to him for keeping me in the right lane. He’s had such a successful career that I can just try to model and try to strive to anything close to that. His work ethic is amazing. He’s a great leader, so I’m trying to learn off those pieces as well and trying to take advantage of being on the same team as him.”
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As Roldan’s eighth season in Seattle nears its conclusion, he has had a little more time to reflect on his journey so far and what type of legacy he hopes to someday leave behind. The impact of so many greats before him — Nicolás Lodeiro, Ozzie Alonso, Raúl Ruidíaz, Chad Marshall, etc. — are what the club is built upon and are people who Roldan once followed as a young player finding his path.
Now, the responsibility has shifted, and the plethora of young talent littering the Sounders’ pipeline is looking up at Roldan the same way.
“I don’t try to be the biggest person in the room, but just lead by example,” said Roldan. “I try to work hard in trainings and do the right things. Especially with how many young kids we have on this team, it’s definitely a pleasure to try and motivate these kids.
“I sweat for this badge,” he added. “I sweat for this club. [I worked] extremely hard to get here and would just hope to be recognized in an impactful way that I left a mark here, especially our last name and having two people on this team is an important thing to us, and so our family is also a big part of this legacy that we hope to one day leave.”
