Minnesota United FC announced that Cuban veteran midfielder Osvaldo Alonso is staying with the club for at least one more year.
Alonso, who serves as the Loons captain, signed a new deal with the organization on Saturday.
Since joining Minnesota in 2019, Alonso emerged as a team leader and key piece of their midfield. The 35-year-old veteran’s impact was highlighted by head coach Adrian Heath, who called Alonso the best player in his position in the last decade.
“Ozzie has maximized everything that he has ever had: his talent, his personality, his leadership qualities, and his professionalism,” said Heath. “It’s more than just his football, everyone knows how good he is on the field, you can’t have enough people in your organization like him.”
While Alonso missed half of the 2020 MLS season due to injuries, he returned in time to propel the Loons into a deep playoff run. Minnesota had their best postseason performance in franchise history last year, reaching the Western Conference Finals.
Osvaldo Alonso previously spent 10 seasons with the Seattle Sounders. He played 338 games in all competitions for the franchise, scoring 20 goals and adding 28 assists in the process.
Alonso won six trophies in a Seattle jersey, including the MLS Cup in 2016, while receiving four MLS All-Star nods and one MLS Best XI selection.
