Jonathan Osorio - The Story Of The Captain Of FC "Toronto"
A hometown boy, modern-day legend, and national team stalwart, Jonathan Osorio’s career has fully transitioned from the base to the pinnacle of Canadian football.
Born in Toronto to Colombian parents on June 12, 1992, Osorio’s rise to the top of Canadian football is evidence of hard work and sheer determination. Let's put the life of Osorio Jonathan under the microscope and explore his meteoric rise to the helm of Canadian football, looking at his:
Early career,
Beginning of his Toronto FC journey,
Club achievements,
National call-up, and
Country legacy
Early Career of Young Osorio Jonathan
The ambidextrous midfielder, adept at using both feet comfortably, began playing football with the Brampton youth soccer team when he was 10, developing a deep passion for the beautiful game.
Shortly after graduating from secondary school, Osorio followed up his keen interest in soccer by moving abroad to Uruguay to play with the club Nacional de Football Academy, where he developed and honed his skills further.
The Boy Returns Home As a Man
Osorio Jonathan’s professional career began at age 20 in 2012, back home with SC Toronto in the Canadian soccer league.
His performances earned him rave reviews, winning the CSL Rookie of the Year in a season where he finished as his team’s second-highest goal scorer. Quite a remarkable feat from a man plying his trade from midfield.
Osorio excelled alongside his team, Toronto FC, finishing third in the overall standings in the 2012 season. His achievements earned them a postseason berth.
Osorio's Toronto FC Love Affair Begins
Osorio began training with Toronto FC youth team in September 2012. His performances caught the eye of the first-team coach Ryan Nelsen, who included Osorio in his preseason team, where the latter duly impressed.
Osorio was then rewarded with a senior contract in 2013, earning his place amongst the senior team. He made his first team debut officially on March 9, 2013, coming in as a substitute against Sporting Kansas City.
Even when Osorio was relatively unknown, there were lovers of the game who saw something the world had yet to realize in the young Canadian. Osorio would eventually grow to outperform expectations, impressing the few who believed in him and those who were brave enough to bet on his future.
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Earning His Flowers: Jonathan Osorio Stats Before Fame Speaks Volumes
Jonathan Osorio's first goal for Toronto FC came on March 30, 2013, against LA Galaxy in a match where he featured off the bench.
He would then make several appearances across the season, albeit as a sub on several occasions. Regardless, he carried himself comfortably at a young age in a demanding midfield. He even managed to nick another goal against the New York Red Bulls.
His performances across the season earned him his first senior call-up to the Canadian national team, having previously represented his country of birth at youth level for the U-20.
Jonathan Osorio Canada Call-Up
The Jonathan Osorio Canada call-up was inevitable. Osorio would make his international debut on May 28, 2013, coming on as a substitute in a friendly loss to Costa Rica. He was enlisted in the Canadian team’s 2013 Concacaf Gold Cup squad, as well as representing the team in the sequel edition in 2015.
Osorio scored his first senior goal for the national side against Bermuda in a friendly match in 2017. He would go on to affirm his presence in the team over the years, appearing in further Gold Cup squads and the World Cup in 2022 for Canada.
Affirming His Presence
Osorio would go on to represent his team, Toronto FC, cementing his status internally as a focal point in the squad.Osorio’s peak arguably came in 2018, where a string of fine performances in the season caught the eye of many home and abroad who began courting his services.
His return of 4 goals from midfield in the Concacaf Champions League earned him the Golden Boot for being the highest goal scorer in the competition. On his milestone 200th appearance for the club, Osorio assisted Sebastian Giovinco in a 5-2 home win, which culminated in Toronto FC being crowned champions in the Canadian championship final, winning 7-4 on aggregate.
His performances earned him the George Cross Memorial trophy, crowning him the most valuable player in the tournament after scoring three goals in four appearances. He was rewarded with a multi-year contract extension on August 30, 2018, making him one of the highest-paid Canadian players worldwide.
"I think keeping the team in possession is my biggest strength. My feet, my technical ability, I feel that is really, really good. All these things, all my strengths, I want to keep improving," Osorio said.
Playing His Part In Modern-Day History
Osorio would go to represent Canada at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, ending the country's 36-year drought from the world’s biggest football stage.
Coming into the tournament as underdogs, Osorio and his teammates fought doggedly and earned love from neutrals during their short stint in the World Cup, where they were eliminated in the group stages. Osorio would appear thrice in their group stage fixtures, etching his name into modern-day Canadian football history.
The Osorio-led Canada went on to make their 2024 Copa America debut tournament, even reaching the semi-final, where they were eliminated by eventual champions Argentina. Canada dared to do the impossible, earning the respect of fans, neutrals, and opponents.
Jonathan Osorio Stats Earn Him Captaincy and Legend Title
After a decade at the club, Osorio reached 300 appearances for his hometown team On April 24, 2022, against New York City FC, becoming the first player ever to do so for the club in the process.
With his contract expiring at the end of the season, Osorio's future was somewhat uncertain regarding his next career path. However, in December 2022, Toronto announced they had agreed to a new three-year contract with their starman. This contract made Osorio a designated player under the MLS salary cap rules, as it was later revealed in 2023.
Prior to the start of 2024, Osorio Jonathan was officially made club captain for the team he holds dear to heart. As a one-club player, Osorio will surely go down in the books as a Toronto FC legend. His 48 goals and 52 assists across the years equates to 100 goal contributions in 302 appearances currently in the MLS regular season, a fine feat for the Canadian-born Colombian.
When queried about European transfer links, Osorio had this to say, "As a player, you can never close the door on anything. You can never know. But what I will say is that Europe isn't really my focus - my focus is here in Toronto, and winning with my hometown club."
