After seven seasons, six final appearances, four CPL championships and league-leading 183 appearances between regular season and playoffs, Alexander Achinioti-Jönsson is leaving Forge.
The 29-year-old from Hittarp, Sweden started the league's inaugural match on April 27, 2019 and hardly left the pitch at Hamilton Stadium since. In the process, he became one of the league's most beloved and recognizable players.
Achinioti-Jönsson made 222 appearances in total in a Forge shirt across those seven campaigns, with eight goals -- none more important than the winner in the 2020 final. On top of his four CPL titles, he also won two CPL Shields over the past two seasons as Forge topped the regular season table.
A versatile player, Achinioti-Jönsson deployed as a midfielder in his first three seasons with Forge before converting to central defender in 2022. Despite his often joking protestations and playing the new role, he was outstanding and won the CPL's inaugural Defender of the Year award that season.
“As a football coach, you need the Alex Achinioti-Jönssons on the pitch, that’s for sure,” said Bobby Smyrniotis, Head Coach and Sporting Director, Forge FC. “What he’s given this organization over seven seasons — the consistency, the standards, the leadership — is incredibly rare in this sport. He grew with this club, experienced everything the game has to offer, and played a huge role in establishing who we are. His impact here will be felt for a long time.”
For Achinioti-Jönsson, while this marks the end of a significant chapter in his career, he knows it was a special one -- with memories that will live with him for a lifetime.
“It was a tough decision to make,” Achinioti-Jönsson said. “I’ve grown attached to the city and built a life here. I’ve loved being a part of this club and I definitely do not regret staying here for seven years. I’m so grateful and so thankful that I did. I owe Forge a lot. Coming in here every day, the bond you create as a team and then win championships together doesn’t happen that often, and it creates a bond with those guys for the rest of our lives.”
Achinoti-Jönsson departs the club and the league as a key builder in its first seven years, one who played a significant role in raising the bar each and every season.
As an international player, he set the standard for those who have come from afar to elevate the quality of the young league on the rise. In turn, he was embraced by a city and a club for whom he became a legend.