It was only six minutes at the end of a comfortable 3-1 midseason win, but Ozzie Alonso said it was the best night of his career.
To some, the six-minute appearance was a late substitution made to protect a comfortable two-goal lead. For the 37-year-old Alonso, it was a triumphant return, making it back to the field for Atlanta United 434 days after tearing his ACL.
Stepping onto the turf and hearing the crowd’s roar made thousands of hours of rehab worth it. Six trophies, including an MLS Cup, won during his 19-year professional career don’t compare with that Saturday night in June.
“(It was) one of the best days in my career because it was a lot of work to get back, a lot of pain,” Alonso said. “Finally, I did it. I was so happy to go through the process because I learned a lot. I’m very happy to be back in the field.”
The injury happened in the first half of a match, coincidentally against D.C. United, in April 2022. Alonso wasn’t even sure he was injured. The trainers weren’t sure either. He knew something was off, but continued to play until the pain refused to subside. He was subbed off after 61 minutes.
An MRI revealed a torn ACL. He would be out for as many as nine months.
After only four appearances for his new club, his 2022 season was done.
Alonso did what he could to find positives after the injury. He leaned on his family and enjoyed the added time with them. He couldn’t walk, nor kick a ball, but with the belief that everything in life has a purpose, he tried to learn from the experience.
“You realize what is important,” Alonso said. “Playing soccer is important. The little things are important in life. You realize that, sometimes you end up losing a game or something (happens) in life, and you say, ‘At least I’m walking. I can run. I can play.’”
In September, he faced another setback. Doctors found scar tissue in his knee, meaning another surgery and more rehab. He already had been looking at an early 2023 recovery date, but with the second procedure, he would be out for even longer.
Despite this, he never considered retirement. Some players with torn ACLs, especially at Alonso’s age, opt to end their careers and enter the next stage of their lives, but Alonso knew he wanted to return to the field.
“Never (in) doubt,” Alonso said. “As soon as I got my injury, I said it’s another challenge in my life I have to go through (to) get ready to play again.”
The process was long. Progress was slow. He took one step, training on his own at Atlanta United’s training facility. He took another in mid-April, returning to team activities. After another month, he was healthy enough to play 30 minutes off the bench for Atlanta United’s second team, and once he’d helped Atlanta United 2 to a 5-0 win, he was ready to return to MLS competition.
Alonso made an impact early. Within minutes after coming off the bench against D.C. United, he flattened a player and played well enough to ensure his team kept its lead. He’s not back at full speed yet, but he’s getting there.
“(My return) was, like I said, one of the best if not the best moment in my life,” Alonso said. " ... I’m very happy to win a football game because it was a long, long journey. I’ve gotten support from people around me. I’m happy to be here playing again.”
Manager Gonzalo Pineda, who played with and later coached Alonso in Seattle, is glad to have him back. Pineda lauded the medical staff for the work they did through Alonso’s rehabilitation.
“We’ve very very happy about it,” Pineda said. " … Kudos to my medical and my fitness side because, at times, from the outside, maybe it’s not appreciated, everything they do. Here, internally, we love them, and we know how much they care about the players.”
For the rest of the year, Alonso wants to make progress. He admits he’s a little nervous about injuries, as he would be if fully healthy, but he’ll only get more comfortable. On the pitch, he’ll help Atlanta United on defense, while off it, he’ll contribute as a leader, helping mentor young defensive midfielders Franco Ibarra and Santiago Sosa.
He doesn’t know when he’ll be back to full speed. He doesn’t know what it will feel like, or how he’ll know when he’s back to being Ozzie Alonso.
However, Alonso does know this: he’s looking forward to more of the best nights in his career.
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