VANCOUVER — Take a bow, Osvaldo Alonso.
The Seattle Sounders captain reached the 20,000-minute mark for his Major League Soccer career in the 76th minute against the Vancouver Whitecaps on Friday night. Alonso, 31, is in his ninth season with the club and along with Brad Evans is one of only two remaining players from the inaugural 2009 MLS season.
Alonso additionally becomes just the 10th player in league history to reach 20,000 minutes with the same team to begin his MLS career. Sounders defender Chad Marshall is one of the other nine when he accomplished it with Columbus Crew SC prior to joining Seattle.
“I can’t believe it,” Alonso said earlier this week leading up to his milestone. “It feels great, especially this year after winning the championship. I can wear the Sounders jersey with the star on it. It’s great to be here in this great city with great fans.
“When I look at it right now, it feels like it’s gone by fast,” Alonso continued. “When I look back, it’s nine seasons with the team, that’s a lot. I don’t know a lot of people who play with the same team for many years. I got the opportunity to be here for so long, so I’m very happy for that.”
