Hamilton Forge midfielder Alexander Achinioti-Jonsson (13) battles for a ball with Cruz Azul midfielder Romulo Otero (10) during the first half of the first leg of the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League Round of 16 at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton, Ont., on Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022. Forge FC has re-signed key veteran Achinioti-Jonsson.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nick Iwanyshyn
Hamilton Forge midfielder Alexander Achinioti-Jonsson (13) battles for a ball with Cruz Azul midfielder Romulo Otero (10) during the first half of the first leg of the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League Round of 16 at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton, Ont., on Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022. Forge FC has re-signed key veteran Achinioti-Jonsson.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nick Iwanyshyn
He has played both defensive midfielder and centre back, winning CPL Defender of the Year honours in 2022 when he shifted to the backline to fill an injury hole. Achinioti-Jönsson has been a part of all four of Forge’s titles and scored the winning goal against HFX Wanderers FC in the 2020 CPL final.
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“Alex has solidified himself as one the top and most influential players in the CPL,” Bobby Smyrniotis, Forge’s head coach and sporting director of Forge FC. “He embodies the core values that define our club and we are excited to continue building, achieving, and showcasing the true essence of Forge FC together.”
While Achinioti-Jönsson Is expected to see action in both the defence and midfield this year, he may get more time at centre back. Forge sold veteran defender Manjrekar James to Costa Rican club L.D. Alajuelense in late December.
James was named to the CPL Best XI team in 2023 and nominated for CPL Defender of the Year.
The native of Hittarp, Sweden, played more than 100 games played in the top two Swedish leagues with IFK Varnamo (2018), Helsingborgs IF (2012-17) and Hittarps IK (2011-12) before joining Forge.
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Achinioti-Jönsson, who was a Sweden under-19 international, is currently with Forge in Mexico where it is preparing for the Feb. 7 first leg of its CONCACAF Champions Cup matchup with Mexico’s Chivas Guadalajara.
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