Yordany Alvarez

Alvarez performed well in a limited role during the 2012 season, providing able cover at defensive mid when Claret-and-Cobalt captain Kyle Beckerman was out of the lineup. The 27-year-old Cuban made 15 league appearances in 2012, starting five times and playing a total of 500 MLS minutes.

Expect to see Alvarez’s role increase in 2013, when  the 2011 USL Pro League MVP will have an opportunity to play on the outside of RSL’s midfield diamond and will slot in for Beckerman when he’s away on international duty.

Acquired

RSL: Acquired via loan deal with Orlando City S.C. (USL PRO) on 9/15/11; Signed new three-year contract on 2/09/12

Professional Career

2012: Came to terms with Real Salt Lake on a three-year contract after expiration of loan agreement from USL PRO side Orlando City S.C, keeping Alvarez in Claret-and-Cobalt through the end of the 2014 campaign … Acquired United States Green Card during the offseason, thus will no longer occupy one of the squad’s International Player slots … Appeared in 15 MLS games for RSL, starting five times for captain Kyle Beckerman … Emerged as a valuable late-game defensive sub for RSL Head Coach Jason Kreis, frequently entering late in games that RSL led to help clog the midfield and lock down the opposition

2011: Acquired for the remainder of the season by RSL on 9/15 via a loan deal with Orlando City SC on the MLS roster freeze deadline date … Stepped in to play five regular season contests (four starts) – in place of captain Kyle Beckerman at the holding midfield spot … Also featured in the first XI in all four appearances in MLS Reserve League play across Sept. and Oct. … Made his RSL debut in the first XI six days after signing on 9/21 @ NY, going the distance in a thorough 3-1 triumph at Red Bull Arena … Played 75 min. off the bench on 9/28 v. CHI, filling in for an ejected Beckerman in RSL’s 0-3 home defeat … Also provided cover for the RSL captain during his three-game suspension, covering 10/1 @ LA (1-2 L), 10/14 @ COL (0-0 T) and 10/22 v. POR (1-1 T) affairs … Political asylum status prevented him from joining RSL north of the border for its 10/06 @ VAN contest (0-3 L) … Made MLS Cup Playoffs debut on 11/02 @ SEA, his 76^thminute inclusion helping RSL hold down the fort at the end of a 0-2 loss in the 2^nd leg of the Western Conf. Semifinal Series, allowing the Utah side to advance over Sounders FC 3-2 on aggregate.

2011 – Orlando City S.C. (USL PRO): Moved with his former club (Austin Aztex) when the team was purchased by new owners and moved to Orlando, where they competed in the United Soccer Leagues Professional Division (USL PRO) for the 2011 season … Was named the USL PRO Most Valuable Player for his contributions in 2011, which included three goals in his 25 overall appearances (24 starts) between regular season, playoff and U.S. Open Cup play … Helped Orlando City to the league’s top regular season record (15-3-6, 51 pts.) and the USL PRO title … After playing all 120 minutes of regulation and overtime of the USL PRO Championship on 9/03 v. Harrisburg City Islanders (2-2 T), converted Orlando City’s second PK during their 3-2 penalty shootout triumph at the Citrus Bowl … Opened his 2011 goal-scoring account in a 3-0 victory on 4/09 v. New York … Scored a stoppage-time equalizer from distance on 6/28 @ FC Dallas in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Third Round, only to see his squad allow another shortly after in a heart-breaking 2-3 defeat at Pizza Hut Park … Scored what would prove to be the game-winning goal on 8/06 v. Charleston Battery (2-1 W).

2009-10 – Austin Aztex (USL First Division): Made 41 appearances for the Aztex during the squad’s two seasons in Austin … After failing to latch on to an MLS club the previous season, attended open tryouts for the the Aztex in California in March 2009, impressing enough to earn a spot on the start-up USL First Division squad  … Started in all 14 of his appearances for Austin during his first season in the American soccer ranks, scoring three times in regular season play before a foot injury cut his season short … Made his first appearance for the Aztex in the squad’s season opener on 4/18/09 v. Minnesota Thunder … Renewed his contract with the Aztex on 1/21/10, signing a three-year deal … Was a stalwart for Austin in 2010, starting all 27 appearances and tallying a pair of goals … Shortly after defecting to the United States in the spring of 2008, was invited to the LA Galaxy’s preseason camp as a trialist, but failed to latch on to the MLS outfit.

2006-08 – FC Cienfuegos (Campeonato Nacional de Fútbol de Cuba): Began his professional career with a three-year stint with his hometown side, FC Cienfuegos.

International Career

From 2006-08, scored three goals for Cuba in eight contests between the Under-23 and Senior team levels … In March 2008, Alvarez and six fellow Cuban teammates defected to the United States while playing with the Cuban U-23 National Team in the CONCACAF Olympic qualifying tournament in Tampa.