Philadelphia Union head coach Jim Curtin believes club captain Alejandro Bedoya deserves his own statue.
Bedoya signed a one-year contract extension with the Union on Thursday, taking him through the 2023 MLS season.
Since joining as a Designated Player from Ligue 1 side Nantes in 2016, Bedoya has scored 25 goals and provided 24 assists in 206 appearances across all competitions, helping Philadelphia win the Supporters’ Shield in 2020.
And at 35 years old, it looks like Bedoya is getting even better, notching six goals and six assists this season alone, with the Union battling hard for another Supporters’ Shield title.
It’s easy to see why Bedoya is idolized by the Union fanbase.
“To be honest, they should build a statue for this guy at the club,” Curtin told reporters on Thursday.
He added: “He embodies everything we want from this club. The next step is the Ring of Honor, for sure, but he shows he’s getting better even as years go by, which is not usually how most careers go. He plays so many important minutes and is such a leader.”
A 66-time United States international, Bedoya has been with the Union through thick and thin but is now able to enjoy his final years with the club among the very best in MLS right now.
According to Curtin, none of Philadelphia’s recent success would be possible without the efforts of the veteran midfielder.
“Without him, our success never comes as a club. I can say that with 100% certainty,” Curtin said. “Coaches come and go, sporting directors come and go, but if you don’t have that leader in the locker room, someone who embraces what Philadelphia is about, it doesn’t work. We owe everything to Ale.”
Add Comment