Osvaldo Alonso joins the 5-Stripes and reunites with Gonzalo Pineda

Published Thursday, Dec 23, 2021 11:11 PM

Osvaldo Alonso joined MLS when he signed for the Seattle Sounders for the 2009 season, following one year with Charleston Battery
Alonso quickly became a regular starter for the Sounders and started 28 of the 29 games he played his first year in MLS, including regular season and Playoffs.
His regularity with the Sounders made him a fan favorite in Seattle and he established himself as a leader in the midfield.
Alonso will reunite in Atlanta with head coach Gonzalo Pineda. They both played together after Pineda arrived in Seattle in 2014.
The Sounders became one of the best balanced clubs in MLS thanks to Pineda and Alonso's versatility in the center of the pitch.
Pineda and Alonso played more than 50 games together, and were the backbone of the Seattle Sounders that won the Supporters' Shield and U.S. Open Cup in 2014.
This will be the second time Alonso reunites with Pineda, after the Mexican became assistant coach at Seattle Sounders following a TV commentator stint with Univision.
Alonso has been one of the most reliable central midfielders. In 2012 he was named to the MLS Best XI after registering a league-best 134 tackles.
Alonso was instrumental in Seattle's push in Concacaf Champions League, having played in in five different editions of the tournament.
With the Sounders he also played against several friendlies against international clubs, such as Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur.
Osvaldo Alonso has been praised throughout his career by several of the most prominent players to have played in the league in the past, including Thierry Henry.
Osvaldo Alonso was selected to the MLS All-Star team in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014, starting in the 2012 win vs Chelsea.
In the 2014 MLS All-Star Game vs FC Bayern, Alonso made his most recent appearance in the marquee summer MLS match-up. MLS All-Stars defeated Pep Guardiola's team 2-1, with the Cuban playing the entire second half.
Alonso played a vital role in his ten seasons with the Sounders, especially during the 2016 season when he won the MLS Cup as team captain.
Alonso also won fours Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cups with Seattle in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2014.
In the 2014 U.S. Open Cup Final against Philadelphia Union, Alonso played all 120 minutes, and in extra time he was joined in the midfield by Gonzalo Pineda.
Alonso was also instrumental in conquering the 2014 MLS Supporters' Shield for Seattle.
Alonso was released after the 2018 season as the player with most minutes played in the history of the Sounders, and the last one to have played for the club since their first MLS season. In 2019, he joined Minnesota United.
Alonso scored the first goal in the history of Allianz Field, the home of Minnesota United, and since then he's played 61 games with the Loons.