Osvaldo Alonso

Personal information
Full name	Osvaldo Alonso Moreno
Date of birth	November 11, 1985 (1985-11-11) (age 24)
Place of birth	San Cristóbal, Cuba
Height	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Playing position	Midfielder
Club information
Current club	Seattle Sounders FC
Number	6
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2005–2007	Pinar del Río	42	(14)
2008	Charleston Battery	32	(8)
2009–	Seattle Sounders FC	27	(1)
National team‡
2006–2007	Cuba	17	(2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 2 November, 2009. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 24 October, 2009

Osvaldo Alonso (born November 11, 1985 in San Cristóbal) is a Cuban soccer player who currently plays for Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer.

[edit] Career

[edit] Professional

Alonso began his career with Pinar del Río in his homeland; following his defecting to the United States in June 2007.^[1], Alonso trained with Chivas USA, and was offered a $12,900 developmental contract with the team. Eventually, Alonso opted to sign with Charleston Battery on the theory he would get more playing time on a USL First Division team.^[2] He impressed early after a strong outing the preseason Carolina Challenge Cup 2008.^[3], and ultimately enjoyed an impressive rookie season in which he started 31 games for the Battery and scored eight goals.^[4] He was named 2008 team MVP and Newcomer of the Year on fan votes, the team's Player's Player of the Year by a team vote, and the USL-1 Rookie of the Year by league coach and GM vote.^[3]

[edit] International

Alonso served as captain of the Cuba U-23 national team during qualification for the men's football tournament at the 2008 Summer Olympics. He made his debut for the senior Cuban national team in a Caribbean Nations Cup 2006-07 match against the Turks & Caicos Islands in September 2006. During his time with the Cuban national team he earned 17 caps, scoring two goals.^[4] His final appearance for the national team was at the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup in June 2007 against Panama.

[edit] Statistics

Season	Club	Country	Competition	Apps.	Goals
2005/06	FC Pinar del Río	Cuba	Campeonato Nacional de Fútbol de Cuba	-	-
2006/07	FC Pinar del Río	Cuba	Campeonato Nacional de Fútbol de Cuba	-	-
2008	Charleston Battery	United States	USL First Division	31	7
2009	Seattle Sounders FC	United States	Major League Soccer	26	1
Total	Last Updated	8-07-2009		57	8

[edit] Defection to the United States

Alonso defected from Cuba while the team was in Houston, Texas to face the Honduran team. Another Cuban teammate, Lester Moré, defected to the United States during the team's same trip to the United States.^[1] Alonso was with teammates at a Wal-Mart when he went off by himself while browsing through merchandise and then left the store.^[2] Alonso walked several blocks from the store until he found a man who spoke Spanish and borrowed a cell phone to call a friend in Miami, Florida.

[edit] Honors

[edit] Pinar del Río

• Campeonato Nacional de Fútbol de Cuba (1): 2006

[edit] Seattle Sounders FC

• Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup (1): 2009

[edit] See also

• List of current MLS players

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• MLS player profile
• National Football Teams career stats

v • d • e Cuba squad – 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup 1 Molina • 2 Miñoso • 3 Márquez • 4 Caballeros • 5 Clavelo • 6 Alonso • 7 Martínez • 8 Joel Colomé • 9 Cervantes • 10 Moré • 11 Villarrutia • 12 Quintero • 13 Ramos • 14 Jaime Colomé • 15 Morales • 16 Fernández • 17 Faife • 18 Alcántara • 19 Duarte • 21 Aldama • Coach: González