Alvaro Fernandez officially returns to the Sounders

Alvaro ‘Flaco’ Fernandez has officially re-joined Seattle Sounders FC on a free transfer from Gimnasia of the Argentine Primera Division. The team introduced him to media after practice today.

Flaco was previously with the Sounders as a Designated Player from 2010-2012, before being traded mdiseason to the Chicago Fire to make room for the signing of Designated Player Christian Tiffert. Fernandez played 81 games in all competitions for Seattle, scoring 17 goals and contributing seven assists. His best year was 2011 when he scored 11 goals across all competitions, including nine in MLS play.

Since leaving he has played for Chicago, been loaned to Al-Rayyan in Qatar, Nacional in Uruguay, and Gimnasia in Argentina. He joined Gimnasia permanently in 2014 on a free transfer. For Gimnasia, he has played nearly 6,000 minutes scoring six goals and assisting on eight more.

While primarily used as an attacking winger in his first stint with the Sounders, he has played mostly as a box-to-box center midfielder in Argentina with appearances on both wings, as an attacking midfielder, and as a secondary striker. This versatility may allow him to play three or four positions if Seattle continues on with a 4-3-3.

Flaco also adds his relationship with Nicolas Lodeiro, which could be a big help in transitioning the new DP to Seattle. The two were teammates at Nacional and played together during the 2009 Copa Libertadores. They were teammates for the Uruguay National Team at the 2010 World Cup and have most recently played against each other in Argentina at clubs based only 30 miles apart. Flaco being a familiar face to help Lodeiro transition to a new city, country, and league should not be underestimated.