Osvaldo Alonso is a hard-tackling, long-range shooting, sound-distributing midfielder, one of the best at his craft in MLS. He is also now an American.
The 26-year-old Seattle Sounders midfielder passed his U.S. citizenship test last Thursday, completing a five-year process that dates back to when he defected from Cuba during the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Alonso's story is well-documented. While with the Cuban national team in Houston during that tournament, he bolted from a team trip at a Walmart and found his way to the USL's Charleston Battery before signing with Seattle in 2009.
So what does Alonso's new citizenship status mean for his hopes of potentially playing for the United States men's national team?
It should not mean much. Despite the fact that Alonso and his agent will be petitioning to FIFA for a change of association, his chances would appear to be faint at best. Given that he has played in a Gold Cup, an "A" competition by FIFA standards, for Cuba, he should be prohibited from suiting up for any other nation. Considering that Alonso was also not eligible to play for the United States while he played for Cuba, that works against his favor as well.
What Alonso is holding out hope for is that FIFA recognizes that since he is no longer allowed to play for Cuba and is prohibited by Cuban government from entering the country again, he will be granted the opportunity to switch international allegiances.
"In Ozzie's case, there's an argument there," Alonso's agent, Shaun Higgins, told SBI. "We're going to see where FIFA lies with that decision.
"He's excited about the potential opportunity. He obviously has to show to the U.S. national team staff that he's that caliber of a player (should a favorable decision be granted)."
Higgins added that there is no set timetable for the decision and that the petition would formally be submitted in the coming days.
Regardless, gaining his U.S. citizenship is important for Alonso off the field, as he can now be reunited with family members whom he has not seen in five years, including both of his parents and his sister, according to the Sounders' official website.
"On a personal level, it's obviously great for him," Higgins said. "On a soccer level, it's exciting for him to see what the future holds."
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What do you think of this development? Are you holding out hope that Alonso will be granted a ruling that allows him to play for the USA? Where do you think he would fall in the U.S. central midfield depth chart?
Share your thoughts below.
Exactly…. which is why my observation was based on 2012 form. Also, as I stated, Beckerman is much better on the ball.
I completely disagree. Edu isn’t great on the ball, but from a defensive standpoint, Edu is a actually really reliable and makes a lot of excellent tackles. Alonso might be better on the ball though.
Honey Badger = American Badass!
Wow.
One sarcastic, albeit not far from the truth remark, and the shotgun wielding backwards bunch come out and pretend to be pro-diversity.
Pure comedy.
Please!!!!! This is the man that will finally take Maurice Edu off this team permanently. I hope.
Good player. Pretty sure political asylum is one of FIFA’s exceptions. It would be awesome if they say yes. If so then the USMNT just gained a very good player. January camp invite is a no brainer!
“Tough sell for Latinos without Rubio. Especially with all the hard line immigration bills in Arizona, Bama, etc.”
You’re assuming that all Latinos think alike about immigration. I think Latinos are more diverse than that. Sad.
unless he can play center back
But hasn’t Beckerman missed a lot of time while with the NT?
no
YES BUT CAN HE PLAY CENTER BACK?
He’s an automatic for the January camp if FIFA grants him permission. Talk about a feel good story, I’d like to see him in a US shirt for that very reason, not to mention he’s a hard nosed CDM who means business.
If he is granted the switch I might be the first in line for his U.S. jersey…The blue one – not that hideous striped shirt.
Since no on has yet to say it, I will! .. CAP HIM!lol jk
This is part of the article on the Sounders’ official website:
As a US citizen, he can now bring his family to come visit from Cuba. He anticipates that his mother and sister will come very soon to see him for the first time in five years, but he is not as certain about his father.
“That’s my next challenge, to bring my mom and my sister,” Alonso said. “I don’t know if my dad wants to come, but in the future, if he says yes, then he can come.”
what i’m wondering is how he will be able to see his parents? will his parents be allowed to enter the USA? I highly doubt the Cuban gov’t would allow that
They should allow him to play for the US team. He defected, so he obliviously was not happy play for (and living in) Cuba.
While Alonso is a good player CDM is the deepest position the USNT has. Jones, Bradley, Edu, Torres, and Beckerman…not to mention the young players coming up…Williams, Morales, Kitchen. Not to say he wouldn’t have a chance, but he’d likely be a “B” teamer.
cj, Thank you for educating Old School and DJ on political current events. Sounds like Old School may enjoy life in Venezuala or Cuba.
BTW, I hope Alonzo gets to play for us… he’s already better than Beckerman and Edu (although they are both good guys and good club players). Alonzo reminds me of Chris Armas.
Vamos Rubio y Vamos Estados Unidos.
He wins games…period. I think he would do the same for the National team.
I’m NO expert at all and could be completely wrong, but maybe because he can get a passport again and be able to travel overseas?
With a US passport he will be off to Europe
I would like seeing him over Edu. I think his distribution is better and tackles heavier.
The Jones reference is sarcasm. His Romney comment was like a hard unnecessary tackle that gets u a yellow. And to Rubio being Vetted Romney came out and held an impromptu presser to say Rubio is being begged and called out ABC for a made up story. The other guy nobody is talking about who is quietly being begged is Gov. Furtado of Puerto Rico. So I hope the anti Hispanic racial crticism stopes and let’s keep this focused on the beautiful game.
2012,
“Through eight games, Alonso once again leads MLS in total tackles by a wide margin, averaging nearly three more tackles per game (6.50) than his closest competition, the Rapids’ Brian Mullan (see chart at right). He leads the league in interceptions per game as well, outpacing the league’s best in a statistical category traditionally dominated by defenders.”
No contest, none at all.
2011 tackles, GP Tkls
Osvaldo Alonso SEA 43 213 4.95
Gonzalo Segares CHI 40 138 3.45
Diego Chara POR 37 126 3.41
Benny Feilhaber NE 29 93 3.21
Richard Eckersley TOR 31 92 2.97
What does Jones have to do with this? And who says Romney is going to pick Rubio? And…you know what, never mind, I’m already getting a headache.
But hasn’t Beckerman missed a lot of time while with the NT?
MLS Stats 2011 showed Alonso with twice as many tackles as any other D-mid including Beckerman. That’s complete destruction, twice as many.
“… citizenship status mean for his hopes of potentially playing for the United States men’s national team?”
Book him Dano. He’s better than Beckerman ( those who disagree, go to MLS stats, no contest)and at least equal to Edu.
Agreed 100%
A good MLS player a USMNT star does not necessarily make
Unfortunately in CONCACAF, tough defensive play and hard-nosed tackling gets you red card. Alonso would be a target internationally in our squad, MLS is a physical so he can get away with that style of play in the league.
Wait, how does he get to see family and friends again now that he’s a citizen? I’m confused.
I think he is a far better player than Mo Edu is. Better tackler and better passer.
If you’re referring to Rubio, the news just reported he hasn’t even been vetted. So it looks unlikely that the Romney campaign is going that route. Tough sell for Latinos without Rubio. Especially with all the hard line immigration bills in Arizona, Bama, etc.
Anywho, let’s see Alonso compete if FIFA let him play. For my money, apart from Jones and Bradley, he’s better than the other 2. Imagine if he played against Cuba in a Gold Cup. They wouldn’t be kind to him, I’d reckon.
I don’t think he’s as good on the ball as Beckerman. In fact Beckerman has looked much better overall than Alonso in 2012.
congrats to him, how is he now allowed to see his family? i assume they are in Cuba how is he allowed to see them now?
the whole Cuba – US hiding from each other thing needs to end, anyhow keep the politics off this site.
I could really see him making a January camp appearance if allowed. If he impresses there he could into or over the Fielhaber, Beckerman, Zuzi, etc. crowd.
I could see him being used to “replace” Beckerman in the future. I mean, the debate in MLS is always seems to be Alonso v. Beckerman as far as best holding mi; but Ozzie is 4 years younger. 4 years is an entire World Cup cycle, so I personally hope we could get him available.
since you went political. Why would u say that. Mitt is about to pick a first generation Cuban to be his VP, and you are going racial, talk about going all Jermaine Jones.
While I agree with you, I think he matches up against the CONCACAF opponents much better than Jones or Edu though.
“I’m not happy about this.”
-Mitt Romney
Not to mention Alonso is better than Beckerman. Not Edu and Jones and Bradley, but Beckerman for sure.
*Year older than Edu
Osvaldo Alonso – Born November 11th, 1985
Kyle Beckerman – Born April 23rd, 1982
Jermaine Jones – Born November 3rd 1981
He’s also less than a year younger than Edu
I believe the rule regarding the one-time switch is that you must have been eligible for the other country as a youth player when you initially played for the first country.
However, given the political climate surrounding Cuba and political asylum I wouldn’t be shocked to see an exception.
“hard-tackling, long-range shooting, sound-distributing midfielder”
Like Beckerman, Bradley, Edu, and Jones? And he’s older than them?
Happy for him from a human perspective. From a usmnt perspective, not much emotion.
I don’t think the switch applies if you’ve played in a competitive match. Since he represented Cuba in the Gold Cup, he isn’t eligible for a switch. Someone please correct me if I’m wrong.
Is he not allowed to file a one time switch?
I give him credit for exploring this directly instead of tossing it over to USSF to figure it out.
And the obligatory “CAP HIM NOW!”
My impression was that political asylum was one of FIFA’s exceptions to cap-tying.
Not that I think Alonso would break into the US central midfield, which is pretty crowded already.