Player Profile #1: Osvaldo Alonso

Four-time team MVP, three-time Sounder at Heart Defensive Player of the Year, one-time MLS Best XI player. Osvaldo Alonso continues to add skills to his repertoire and is now one of Seattle Sounders FC's three Designated Players.

#1 Osvaldo Alonso

From Cuba to Charleston to Seattle. At every stop Alonso is one of the best players in his league. Now, he's getting paid like it.

Offense: A surprisingly great passer. His passing tree continues to add new branches. One of the best long ball players in MLS. Great with a quick touch. Play can switch rapidly through Ozzie when he's above the box. Likes to shoot from distance; isn't very good at it. Rapidly improving touch radius. Useful picking up scraps and restarting play during dead balls. He is Seattle's best passer in the attacking third and one of the most used passers in the league.

Defense: He does it all. Third in the league for tackles per game. Anything you can ask of a defender he is at least in the top third of MLS. Greatest weakness is aggression. Probably should get more cards against him, but he wouldn't care. Is rarely beaten on dribble, what's a word for rarer than rare? Great positioning to stop counters and reduce passing lanes. Uses physical attributes well.

Physique: Fairly strong, fairly fast and with great endurance. He is built for the MLS style of play.

Best Case 2014: Another Best XI performance, borderline MVP consideration. He won't care.

He is our corazon, our ruh, he is us.