Sounders FC defensive midfielder Osvaldo Alonso was named to the Major League Soccer Best XI team announced Monday.
Alonso, 27, was a key part of a Seattle defense that allowed the second-fewest goals (33) and shots on goal (122) in MLS, and recorded the third-most shutouts (12). He also recorded a goal and two assists, and led all Sounders with 2,688 minutes of league play.
It was Alonso’s first time named to the team, which honors the top starting lineup available in the league, and which is determined by vote of club representatives, players and media. Alonso is a two-time MLS All-Star. He was named to the MLS team of the week four times and was named player of the tournament in the 2012 U.S. Open Cup.
He is the third Sounder named to a Best XI, joining Freddie Ljungberg in 2009 and Kasey Keller in 2011.
“I’m feeling so good,” Alonso said through a club press release. “I think I did a good job this year playing for my team: being an All-Star and now Best XI. So, I’m feeling happy, and I enjoy this moment.”
Other members of the Best XI are goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen (Kansas City); defenders Victor Bernardez (San Jose), Matt Besler (Kansas City) and Aurelien Collin (Kansas City); midfielders Landon Donovan (Los Angeles), Chris Pontius (D.C.) and Graham Zusi (Kansas City); and forwards Thierry Henry (New York), Robbie Keane (Los Angeles) and Chris Wondolowski (San Jose).
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