The venerated Philadelphia Union captain, Alejandro Bedoya, was re-signed for 2025 to continue in his player/front office role, while longtime center back Jack Elliott has signed with the Chicago Fire after negotiations with the Union fell through.
In what some may say was a surprising move as the buzzword at the club lately is “development,” the Philadelphia Union announced today they had reached an agreement with midfielder and captain Alejandro Bedoya. The 37 year old will continue in his role from 2024 for the 2025 season, which included not only his presence on the pitch and locker room, but in the front office as a player development and front office specialist. As someone who has a business/management background and has been a part of several ventures such as Padel Haus and other investments, it allows Ale to have the best of both worlds while the Union are able to lessen their payroll and retain his leadership and skills, both on and off the pitch.
From the official press release by the Philadelphia Union:
“Alejandro’s contributions as a player, leader, and front office specialist proved invaluable last season” said Philadelphia Union Sporting Director, Ernst Tanner. “While he is still an important player on the field, his leadership and insights in his Player Development role are especially beneficial. His experience, combined with his passion and dedication to the Union, makes him an important mentor for our young players, while his business acumen is beneficial to the entire organization. We’re happy to welcome Alejandro back for another season.”
While some may argue that he is taking up a roster spot that could go to a younger player, as Ale pointed out to us in the media at the end of the 2024 season, the Union won more games when he played. He may not be a good option necessarily to play all 90 minutes, but his leadership and skills are a benefit to the team still.
After the away match at New York Red Bulls on 8/31/24, when asked about his status by José Nuñez, Ale made it clear he felt he still had “it” and was not ready to retire.
Video by Jillian Almoney
I had the opportunity to speak with Ale last summer, and his leadership qualities were evident as always. Check out full article and interview audio:
Jack Elliott signs with the Chicago Fire
In an Instagram post today, center back Jack Elliott confirmed what many expected to happen between the rumors of Chicago Fire’s interest in Jack and the rumors about Argentinian center back Ian Glavinovich coming to the Union.
Jack was a great example of a draft pick exceeding expectations. From being a 4th round pick to being seconds away from being the MLS Cup MVP after scoring two goals in the 2022 Final and having a case for Defender of the Year, he was a true success story and a reason to make one think, “Why did the Union give away all their draft picks?” If not for a certain Welsh footballer, Jack may have had Nick Foles status in Philly (well, at least amongst the people who don’t diss soccer). He was also a class act from my dealings with him, and what I observed and heard about him. When Kyle and I traveled to the Union’s match in Montreal in June 2024, there was a sizeable group of away support. The result was disappointing, and the players looked dejected. Only one player came over and applauded the Union supporters: Jack Elliott.
Jack was great with the fans. A special young man comes to mind in Elliott Slocum, a childhood cancer survivor who has a special bond with his favorite player. His whole family formed a great friendship with Jack and his wife, Shelby. I wrote about them in this article from September.
It was no secret that the defense struggled last season, and changing it up on the back line probably is the right move, but it is always tough seeing a beloved player move on, especially one who spent eight seasons with the Union. Who will be joining Jakob Glesnes remains to be seen: will it be Ian Glavinovich, rumored to be loaned from Newell’s? Will Olwethu Makhanya finally get a chance, especially with a new coach perhaps willing to let him sink or swim? Or will the highly touted 17 year old Neil Pierre make the jump to the first team? Time will tell, and this is only the beginning of the news we will likely be hearing in the coming days and weeks.
In closing, while I have gotten to interact with Jack Elliott in a media role, and appreciated his responses to questions, Kyle and I started out as just fans of the Union. We traveled to Los Angeles in November 2022 and celebrated and despaired in the stands with the Union faithful as it went from pure elation one moment, to utter shock. We will always have those few minutes of joy after Jack Elliott’s goals. I included the photos and videos below. Thank you for the memories, Jack, and best of luck in your future endeavors.
Memories from MLS Cup Final 2022:
Main article photos courtesy of Philadelphia Union
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