Osvaldo Alonso

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

2017 (Seattle): Alonso made 24 starts in 26 league appearances despite enduring two injury layoffs, one from July 4 – August 5 before being sidelined from October 1 through the end of the season. For the fifth time in his nine-year tenure with Sounders FC, the midfield dynamo recorded at least three assists during the regular season. Alonso’s lone goal of the season was an 88th-minute equalizer in Sounders FC’s 3-3 draw with the New England Revolution (April 29), in which the Rave Green came back from 3-0 down after the 74th minute. The team captain recorded his second assist of the season on Clint Dempsey’s 94th-minute equalizer in the club’s 2-2 draw with the Portland Timbers (June 25). Though he missed most of the postseason due to injury, Alonso hoisted the MLS Western Conference trophy in front of the home fans after beating the Houston Dynamo 5-0 on aggregate.

2016 (Seattle): In one of the most productive seasons of his career, Alonso matched a career high with three goals while setting a new personal best with four assists. He started each of his 32 matches, marking the fourth time in his eighth years with the Rave Green that he played in at least 30 league fixtures. His goals came against Real Salt Lake (March 12), LA Galaxy (September 25) and Vancouver Whitecaps FC (October 2). The Sounders FC original also recorded two assists in a 5-0 rout over FC Dallas (July 13). For his efforts, Alonso was voted Team MVP for the fifth time in nine seasons. The club’s all-time leader in minutes in both the regular season and postseason, Alonso started all six of the club’s matches in the MLS Cup Playoffs. The midfield terror led MLS with 85 tackles won and 272 duels won, while finishing first among field players with 275 recoveries. Arguably the most active player in the league, Alonso also led MLS with 2,795 touches (more than 400 ahead of second place), 2,214 passes (more than 250 ahead of second place), 2,012 passes completed (nearly 300 ahead of second place) and a 93.33% passing accuracy. His 62 dribbles completed also ranked fifth league-wide.

2015 (Seattle): Alonso made 21 starts in 22 league appearances in central midfield, becoming the first player in franchise history to accumulate15,000 career minutes with the club. Maintaining his position as one of the most effective central midfielders in the league, Alonso led the MLS among qualifying players with a 92.32 percent passing accuracy. On May 24, Alonso combined for 232 passes with midfielder Gonzalo Pineda, which ranked first in MLS for passes among two teammates in a single match in 2015.

2014 (Seattle): Alonso started in 33 of 34 MLS regular season games, including a club-record 150th career appearance against New England (May 11). Across all competitions, Alonso appeared in 39 matches, netting two goals and adding two assists. Alonso was selected to the MLS All-Star team for the fourth consecutive season. In April, he recorded his first assist of the season in a 4-4 draw at Portland (April 5) and scored in a 3-1 win vs Portland in the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open Cup (July 9). He scored his third career playoff goal in a 1-1 draw against FC Dallas in the First Leg of the Western Conference Semifinals. Alonso was named to the MLS Team of the Week in Week 9.

2013 (Seattle): Alonso was voted team MVP by his teammates for the fourth straight season after starting all 26 appearances and logging 2,179 minutes. He scored his lone goal of season in 2-1 loss versus Portland (November 2) in the First Leg of the Western Conference Semifinals. Alonso recorded his only assist of season in 4-2 win versus FC Dallas (May 18). Alonso was named inactive MLS All-Star, marking his third consecutive All-Star season. He became the first player in club history to start 110 matches (Portland on March 6) and play 10,000 minutes (New England on April 13). He set the club record with his 120th appearance in 4-0 win versus San Jose (May 11). He started all 33 appearances and finished fifth on the team with 2,803 minutes across all competitions. He missed four games from June 8 – July 6 with a quadriceps strain.

2012 (Seattle): Alonso was named to MLS Best XI for the first time in four-year career after a stellar season in the midfield, leading the team with 30 starts. He compiled a team-high 2,688 minutes in regular season play, the second-highest total by a field player in franchise history behind his 2011 total. Alonso was named a MLS All-Star for the second straight season and voted team MVP for the third straight year. His lone goal of the season came on a 65th minute game-winner at Colorado (July 28) when he volleyed a 12-yard shot into the back of the net. In the 2012 U.S. Open Cup, he earned Player of the Tournament honors after scoring four goals and two assists in four games, including the winner versus Atlanta (May 30) and a 30-yard volley against California FC (June 5). He totaled five goals and five assists while leading the team with 42 starts and 3,749 minutes across all competitions.

2011 (Seattle): Alonso led Sounders FC field players with 33 appearances and 2,891 minutes (ranked 12th among field players in MLS). He played the full 90 minutes in each of his 32 MLS starts. Alonso scored a career-high three goals and matched his high with three assists. He scored the game-winner at Portland (July 10) by converting his first career penalty. He ranked second in the club with 54 shots. For his performance, he was selected as an MLS All-Star for the first time. He scored both goals in a 2-2 draw at Comunicaciones (September 27) in a CCL Group Stage match. He was named U.S. Open Cup Player of the Round for his performance in the final (added late goal in 2-0 win over Chicago). In all, he made 43 appearances and 40 starts across all competitions.

2010 (Seattle): Alonso returned from injury to help Seattle post the league's best record in the second half of the season. He started 23 of his 25 appearances in the regular season and playoffs, matching his 2009 totals with one goal and three assists. He scored the game-winner versus Chivas USA (October 15). He missed eight games due to a quadriceps strain (May 8) and returned versus FC Dallas (July 11). Seattle was 11-3-5 in regular season matches when he played at least 45 minutes. He also appeared in two U.S. Open Cup and five CONCACAF Champions League matches.

2009 (Seattle): A tenacious ballwinner, Alonso started 28 of his 29 appearances in the regular season and playoffs. He played the full 90 minutes in 26 games, and all 210 minutes in both playoff games against Houston (October 29, November 8). After missing three matches with a quadriceps strain, he returned to score on a long-range blast versus D.C. United (June 17). Alonso finished with one goal and three assists. All three assists came during his first two matches. He appeared in two U.S. Open Cup games, including 90 minutes in the final.

2008 (Charleston): He earned 2008 first team All-USL First Division honors and was voted the league's Rookie of the Year. Alonso scored four goals and added two assists to lead Charleston to the first round of the USL-1 playoffs. He started 31 games in all competitions and scored one goal in the postseason. Alonso scored two goals in U.S. Open Cup play, helping the Battery reach the championship final, where it fell to D.C. United. Previously he played three seasons (2005-07) for FC Pinar del Rio, winning the Cuban championship in 2006.

INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE

Alonso represented Cuba 17 times at the senior level, scoring two goals. He made his debut for the senior Cuban National Team in a Caribbean Nations Cup match against the Turks & Caicos Islands in September 2006. Alonso served as captain of the U-23 National Team during qualification for the 2008 Olympics.

PERSONAL

Alonso is married to Liang Perez, and has three children. He is the son of Osvaldo Alonso and Maria de los Angeles. He left the Cuban National Team in June of 2007 during the CONCACAF Gold Cup in Houston prior to a match against Honduras. He gained full U.S citizenship on June 16, 2012. His favorite sport other than soccer is baseball.

ACQUIRED

Acquired from Charleston Battery and signed on January 29, 2009.