Longtime MLS midfielder Ozzie Alonso announces retirement from football

Longtime Major League Soccer midfielder Osvaldo ‘Ozzie’ Alonso has confirmed his retirement from football.

The San Cristobal, Cuba native loved a extremely profitable profession that was nearly solely in MLS.

His profession began out within the US with Charleston Battery within the USL First Division in January 2008, the place he managed six targets and two appearances in 30 appearances earlier than signing for Seattle Sounders in January 2009 forward of the Western Conference aspect’s inaugural MLS season.

The 38-year-old’s time in Seattle was nothing in need of legendary. He went on to swimsuit up 339 occasions for the Sounders, scoring 21 targets and doling out 14 assists whereas taking part in primarily as a defensive midfielder.

Alonso was key to Seattle’s 2016 MLS Cup win, their first-ever, in addition to 4 US Open Cup titles in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2014. He departed Lumen Field in January 2019 after 10 unforgettable seasons that now sees him sit in second place in all-time appearances behind fellow membership legend Stefan Frei.

Alonso then performed his subsequent three seasons with Minnesota United, the place he continued to be dependable as ever in the midst of the park. In his first season with the Loons in 2019, he performed a key position within the workforce’s fourth place end within the Western Conference with 53 factors — their highest-ever league end thus far.

With Alonso within the aspect, Minnesota reached MLS Cup playoffs three straight years from 2019 – 2021 as he managed 72 appearances whereas scoring three targets.

The subsequent and last chapter of Alonso’s profession got here with Atlanta United within the Eastern Conference in December 2021. Alonso signed with the 2018 MLS Cup winners, hoping to make an affect within the midfield, however it wasn’t to be as he was dealt an ACL tear simply 4 video games into the 2022 marketing campaign.

Alonso returned to first workforce motion in June of final 12 months following his restoration from knee surgical procedure, as he made seven appearances off the bench for Atlanta, totaling simply 91 minutes performed in a troublesome 2023 season. With the Five Stripes, he made 11 league appearances (4 begins) over the past two seasons and was out of contract following Atlanta’s first spherical postseason exit to MLS Cup winners Columbus Crew in November.

Alonso may’ve favored to finish his taking part in profession differently, however he nonetheless leaves the taking part in subject not solely a Seattle legend — however an MLS legend — after his 349 league appearances whereas logging 28,333 minutes for 3 completely different golf equipment.

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