For Fire prospect Harold Osorio, last Sunday’s start against Philadelphia Union II was a culmination of many factors.
A native of San Salvador, El Salvador, Osorio’s journey began in the country's largest and most populated city in the country. Home to over 1,600,000 people, the capital of El Salvador is also home to a large majority of the country’s football talent.
Nestled in the heart of the capital is the Estadio Cuscatlán, home to the Alianza Fútbol Club, where Osorio’s highly touted career began.
Osorio had spent time developing in the Alianza academy system, before going on to spend the next two seasons as a member of Alianza F.C. first team. As a member of the organization, Osorio made his professional debut in 2021 when he appeared for Alianza in the Primera Division, the top division of professional football in the country.
Filled with promise, Osorio made appearances as both a central and attacking midfielder. In his first pro season, he recorded seven appearances for the Alianza first team, culminating in a total of 310 minutes played.
Making most of his appearances off of the bench, Osorio always let his presence be known.
On Oct. 2, 2021, Alianza found itself matched up against C.D. Municipal Limeño, winners of five Segunda Division championships. After coming into the game in the 65th minute for veteran Junior Burgos, Osorio only needed three minutes of game time to record his first professional goal.
With the goal, he gave Alizana an insurance goal en route to a 3-0 victory over the Limeño side. Additionally, he proved that he belonged. At that point, Osorio had just turned 18 a month prior to scoring his first professional goal and did so in convincing fashion.
Just a few months later, the Salvadorian would strike again.
This time against Once Deportivo de Ahuachapan, Osorio would check into the match in the 71st minute with the match all square at 1-1. With minutes left in the match, the ball found Osorio in the midfield, where he carried it up the pitch with plenty of space to capitalize.
A strike from outside the box would record his most memorable moment with Alianza, a dazzling shot that would lift his boyhood Club over Once Deportivo in Primera Division play. In both of his seasons with Alianza, the Club went the distance and captured league victories in the Apertura 2021, and the Clausura 2022.
On Aug. 10, 2022, the Fire acquired the promising prospect via transfer. His talent piqued the interest of both the sporting and coaching staff of Chicago Fire FC.
“We are thrilled to have Harold join us in Chicago,” said Chicago Fire FC Technical Director Sebastian Pelzer at the time of his signing. “Harold is a talented midfielder with a great deal of potential, who has already been tested on the international stage. We are excited to be a part of his continued development and look forward to watching him grow within our environment.”
His arrival to Chicago was highly anticipated, but his debut would have to wait. After nursing a small injury, the Fire provided Osorio the help and care he needed to return to his form, at the expense of his NEXT Pro debut waiting until the following season.
He returned to form in the offseason, just in time to make an appearance for the El Salvador Men’s National Team in an international friendly against Nicaragua at Estadio Nacional de Fútbol in Antiguo Cuscatlán, El Salvador on Nov. 16. It would be just the second time in his career that he would get the call up to the senior team.
Very excited at the prospect of representing his homeland, Osorio made it very clear that he was excited to be back on the pitch.
“I am very pleased with this new call-up and to have the chance to wear the jersey of the Senior Team,” Osorio mentioned to Salvadorian media. “We will work these coming days to give our best effort with these colors.”
Osorio would appear in the friendly, coming in at halftime and registering 45 more minutes into his senior team account in the 1-0 loss to Nicaragua.
It would all come full circle for Osorio and the Chicago Fire II when he made his MLS NEXT Pro debut for the Club in the 2-0 victory over Toronto FC II on March 31, 2023. Osorio checked into the match in the 60th minute of action with the task of covering the midfield to help Chicago pick up their first home victory of the season.
Only logging 30 minutes of play, it was enough to give a glimpse of what’s to come in the Windy City.
Additionally, it was enough to earn himself his first start as a member of Chicago Fire FC II.
In last Sunday’s match against Philadelphia Union II, the Salvadorian found himself in head coach Ludovic Tallandier’s starting XI for the first time this season.
“I felt very good, very comfortable on the field. I think that for it being my first game in the starting XI, I think I was able to manage it well and I’m happy about that,” Osorio mentioned following his first career start.
While the Fire would go on to lose the match, Osorio made the start and registered 45 minutes of playing time for the NEXT Pro side. Additionally, while excited about his start, his mind was already focused on how he can improve in the future.
“It was a painful loss,” Osorio said to the media. “On a personal level, I’m a little bit happy because of the game that I played but I’m not satisfied because I could have done more, and now I have to learn from this loss.”
As the season continues to progress, Chicago Fire FC II have a multitude of talent and depth. Finding themselves in a playoff spot early in the season, Chicago is poised to continue developing talent like Osorio, while still finding ways to get results.
While the international finds himself abroad in the United States, he still holds his home country close as he embarks in a new chapter of his career in Chicago.
“I’m very grateful to all of the people who are keeping an eye on me in El Salvador,” Osorio mentioned. “I’m always going to be grateful to them because they’re the ones who are always there, especially my family, my friends in El Salvador. I’m always going to be very grateful to them and, well, work so I don’t disappoint.”
Chicago Fire FC II heads south this weekend when they face Atlanta United FC II on Saturday, April 22 at 6:30 p.m. CT at Fifth-Third Bank Stadium in Kennesaw, Ga. The match will be streamed on MLSNEXTPro.com for free.
