Occasionally, players grace the Stadium of Light and astonish onlookers with their technical ability on the ball. Marcos Alonso is one of these players. Despite just spending one season on Wearside, the Spaniard impressed fans with his brilliant displays there. Sunderland fans knew how excellent Alonso was, and their assessment was correct as the left-back went on to win multiple big championships with Chelsea and FC Barcelona.
Marcos Alonso’s time with Sunderland was short but sweet. Many would have remembered Alonso from his three-year tenure with Bolton Wanderers, when he had joined from Spanish giants Real Madrid. The left-back became Gus Poyet’s first signing in January 2014, joining on a six-month loan from Fiorentina. Sunderland were at the bottom of the Premier League and had limited funds to sign new players. The Spaniard was thrust straight into Poyet’s starting eleven at Craven Cottage, where the Wearsiders romped to a convincing 4-1 win over Fulham. Alonso became a consistent fixture in the side and played a key part in victories over Stoke City and Newcastle United.
Sunderland had already advanced to the League Cup semi-finals when Alonso joined, and within a few weeks of signing, he was on the pitch at Old Trafford, helping the Wearsiders reach Wembley. After two closely contested legs, the match went to penalties, when the left-back demonstrated his skill by shooting past compatriot David de Gea. Alonso was mostly responsible for the Black Cats’ trip to Wembley Stadium. After losing to Manchester City in the final, the focus was on survival, but the odds were stacked against Sunderland, who faced City, Chelsea, and Manchester United in their final six games of the season.
Remarkably, the Black Cats picked up seven points in those games and kept a clean sheet at Old Trafford. Alonso was essential to the team’s back line and helped the club achieve the unlikeliest of survivals. Alonso was a silky smooth performer at the Stadium of Light, and fans felt fortunate to have experienced such a remarkable talent, albeit for six months. While fans wanted him back, they recognized that the left-back was destined for bigger things.
Alonso’s stints at Chelsea and Barcelona reinforced Wearside sentiments.
After returning to Fiorentina following his stay on Wearside, Sunderland supporters were not surprised when Alonso returned to England with Chelsea two years later. In his debut season at Stamford Bridge, Alonso proved to English supporters that he had moved his game up a level with some spectacular attacking displays. Under Antonio Conte, playing as a left wing-back was not easy, but the Spaniard thrived in the position. Alonso scored eight goals and provided four assists in all competitions as the Blues won the Premier League title in Conte’s first season. The Spaniard’s spectacular attacking displays were a key component of the Italian’s finely polished tactical strategy.
While the left-back’s defending was occasionally scrutinized, he made over 200 games for the West London club, including a Champions League victory over Manchester City in 2021. In 2022, the defender returned to Spain with Barcelona, who were going through a terrible financial moment. Alonso joined on a one-year contract following his free move from Chelsea. Despite being used as a squad player during his stint at the Camp Nou, the left-back made 37 appearances in all competitions, scoring three times.
Alonso, who previously played for Chelsea, won the La Liga title in his first season at Barça. However, his second season was plagued by injuries, resulting in only eight appearances across all competitions. At 33, Alonso is still active in the Spanish top flight with Celta Vigo.
Some may argue that six months is insufficient time to make an impact at a club, but Alonso exceeded expectations by reaching a cup final and helping Sunderland stay in the Premier League. The left-back demonstrated his technical ability, and Black Cats fans would have been delighted to see the Spaniard succeed in European football. Even though the 33-year-old’s best years are behind him, he will still want to prove a point at the highest level where he was born to shine.
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