TFC’S Osorio nears milestone for service
With apologies to Star Trek, Jonathan Osorio will boldly go where no other Toronto FC player has gone before, if he plays in TFC’S match on Sunday afternoon.
The Reds, undefeated in four straight, travel to Citi Field to face archrival New York City FC. If Osorio plays, the 29-year-old midfielder will become the first TFC player to record 300 total appearances for the club.
Michael Bradley is second in TFC appearances (260), with Justin Morrow third (254). Osorio also is third overall in goals for Toronto with 50 (Sebastian Giovinco is No. 1 with 83).
“Everyone looks up to Jonathan,” said TFC coach Bob Bradley, who took over the Toronto manager reins before the MLS 2022 season. “I’ve enjoyed working with him. He’s a good guy (and) I knew he was a good player. He’s shown so far that he’s smart and so in moments where we need him to understand the small differences in the way we want to play, or the way we want our midfield to operate, he can pick things up very quickly.”
In recent years, Osorio has established himself as a team leader and two-way stalwart with the Reds, and on the Canadian national team. The Brampton native was up to his old tricks in TFC’S 2-1 victory over previously unbeaten Philadelphia Union last Saturday at BMO Field when he fed Jesus Jimenez a perfect pass in the box, resulting in Toronto’s first goal of the match.
Unfortunately, Osorio left the game for Kosi Thompson in the 56th minute after he appeared to suffer a right thigh injury.
“For us, it’s very important for us to have him on the team. He’s quiet, he’s very relaxed (but) he’s a leader in the dressing room,” TFC attacking midfielder Alejandro Pozuelo said.
“He’s a very important player (for the team) because he’s a leader inside and outside. And for me, a good friend of mine. I wish he can (play) 200 more.”
Bradley said Osorio trained this week but his playing status is uncertain.
“He’s always had an ability to time moves into the box, so he scored two very good goals (this season). He still sees good passes, the ball that he gave to Jesus (Jimenez) for the goal against NYCFC was a really good pass,” Bradley said.
“He’s also is alert defensively. He’s a good player and a great guy.”
The son of Colombian parents, Osorio began his soccer career in Brampton’s youth league at 10.
At 15, he joined Clarkson Sheridan SC before travelling to Uruguay in 2010 to play with Nacional’s academy, where he played with his future national team teammate Lucas Cavallini.
Osorio began training with the TFC Academy in September 2012 and was invited to train with the Reds during the pre-season.
He joined the TFC first team in 2013 and made his debut for the Reds on March 9, 2013, against Sporting Kansas City. He scored his first goal against the L.A. Galaxy in a substitute appearance in the 78th minute on March 30, 2013.
The personable midfielder has been there for most of TFC’S biggest moments, including the Domestic Treble title in 2017. He won the Golden Boot at the 2018 CONCACAF Champions League, scoring four goals. In the first leg of the 2018 Canadian Championship final, Osorio scored in a 2-2 away draw against Vancouver.
In the second leg on Aug. 15 — his 200th appearance for the club — he set up Giovinco’s goal in a 5-2 home win, which enabled Toronto to win the title 7-4 on aggregate. Osorio was awarded the George Gross Memorial Trophy as the most valuable player of the tournament, having scored three goals in four games in the competition. He signed a multi-year contract extension with Toronto in 2018.
Bradley has been impressed with how Osorio and fellow midfielder Michael Bradley have complemented each other on the field.
“They have a good understanding,” said the coach. “Obviously, tactically, we have to different ways to do those things — there are games where we’ve asked Oso to play a little bit higher as an 8 (central midfielder). There’s other games where, especially with so many teams that have a guy follow Michael, that Oso can be a player then that, if the first pass from the defenders can’t go to Michael, then Oso can find good spots and help us build from the back. So I think the two of them have a good understanding. And then, again, depending upon how we’re playing at any given time, both of them are smart, and both of them understand some of the different challenges from game to game.”
Defending MLS Cup champion NYCFC has gotten off to a slow start this season with two wins and a draw in six games.