.jpg) Bedoya with thePhiladelphia Union in 2017 | |||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Alejandro Bedoya[1] | ||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | (1987-04-29)April 29, 1987 (age 38) | ||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Englewood, New Jersey, United States | ||||||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[2] | ||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||||||||||||||||
| Team information | |||||||||||||||||
Current team | Philadelphia Union | ||||||||||||||||
| Number | 11 | ||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||
| AYSO | |||||||||||||||||
| 2001–2003 | FUTSOC | ||||||||||||||||
| College career | |||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||
| 2005–2006 | Fairleigh Dickinson Knights | 35 | (13) | ||||||||||||||
| 2007–2008 | Boston College Eagles | 37 | (14) | ||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||
| 2009–2011 | Örebro SK | 65 | (8) | ||||||||||||||
| 2011–2012 | Rangers | 12 | (1) | ||||||||||||||
| 2012–2013 | Helsingborgs IF | 21 | (6) | ||||||||||||||
| 2013–2016 | Nantes | 87 | (11) | ||||||||||||||
| 2016– | Philadelphia Union | 250 | (24) | ||||||||||||||
| International career‡ | |||||||||||||||||
| 2010–2017 | United States | 66 | (2) | ||||||||||||||
Medal record
| |||||||||||||||||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of April 19, 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of November 14, 2017 | |||||||||||||||||
Alejandro Bedoya (born April 29, 1987) is an American professionalsoccer player who plays as amidfielder for thePhiladelphia Union ofMajor League Soccer, and serves as theircaptain.[3]
Bedoya, ofColombian descent, was born inNew Jersey and raised inWeston, Florida,[4] where he played youth soccer for local clubs; theAYSO club: Weston Fury,[5] and FUTSOC USA ENIGMA Elite.[6] In high school he won a state championship while playing forSt. Thomas Aquinas High School in 2005.[7] His father, Adriano, played professional soccer in Colombia withMillonarios, and his grandfather, Fabio, played forDeportes Quindío.[8]
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Although college seniors often enter theMLS SuperDraft, Bedoya explored options abroad. In late 2008, he signed a contract withSwedish clubÖrebro SK and joined the club on January 7, 2009. On April 6, he made his debut for Örebro SK coming on as a substitute in the 73rd minute. He scored his first goal for Örebro SK when he gave the team a 1–0 lead againstAssyriska FF in theSvenska Cupen. Over the course of the season, Bedoya worked his way into the starting line-up and became a mainstay at central midfield in Örebro SK4–3–3 formation. In February 2011, Bedoya was given a trial at EnglishPremier League sideBirmingham City, but was not signed.[9]
On July 21, 2011, it was announced that Bedoya had agreed to personal terms with Scottish clubRangers, pending the approval of a work permit,[10] with a view to joining in January 2012, once theAllsvenskan season was finished. However, Örebro SK and Rangers agreed an undisclosed fee on August 17, 2011, allowing him to join Rangers immediately.[11]
Bedoya made his debut as a second-half substitute in aScottish Premier League match againstAberdeen on August 28, 2011.[12] He scored his first Rangers goal in a 5–0 victory overDundee United on May 2, 2012, to help secure second place for the Glasgow club.[13]
When Rangers entered administration, Bedoya signed a short-term contract withAllsvenskan championsHelsingborgs IF on August 10, 2012.[14] On August 18, 2012, in his debut with the club, Bedoya scored an overhead kick goal in his team's 2–1 loss toElfsborg. He started both games for Helsingborg in the home-and-away series againstCeltic in theUEFA Champions League; the Swedish champions were eliminated on a 4–0 aggregate. Helsingborg were sent into the2012–13 UEFA Europa League group stage where they finished in third place and Bedoya scored two goals againstHannover 96 andFC Twente.[15] Bedoya received a number of offers after his contract expired with Helsingborg but decided to stay for at least another six months.[16]
On August 7, 2013, Bedoya joined newly promoted Ligue 1 sideNantes.[17] He went on to make his firstLigue 1 appearance for Nantes against reigning championsPSG on August 25, 2013.[18] Bedoya's first goal for the club came in Nantes' 1–0 victory overAC Ajaccio on October 19, 2013, when he scored the only goal three minutes from time to extend the club's winning run to four games in a row.[19] Following the match, his manager,Michel Der Zakarian, praised Bedoya for his intelligent play and technical excellence.[20] Bedoya scored his second goal for the club, and first at Nantes' home ground theStade de la Beaujoire, on December 3, 2013, notching Nantes' equalizing goal in an eventual 2–1 victory over strugglingValenciennes.[21] Bedoya continued his scoring run on December 6, 2013, netting the game's only goal in Nantes' defeat ofMarseille, a result which lifted Nantes into fourth place and caused the sacking of Marseille managerÉlie Baup.[22][23] On February 10, 2016, Bedoya scored the winning goal with a header in the 118th minute forFC Nantes in aCoupe de France match againstFC Girondins de Bordeaux.[24]
On August 3, 2016, Bedoya joinedPhiladelphia Union fromNantes for a reported $1 million transfer fee as adesignated player.[25][3] He started all ten appearances for the Union during the remainder of the 2016 and scored two goals, including the lone playoff goal againstToronto FC.[26]
For the2017 season, Bedoya became the Union's captain, taking over forBrian Carroll.[27][28] Becoming a mainstay of the Union's midfield, Bedoya was early on deployed as a center attacking "number 10" as the team continued to search of a dedicated player for that position. Bedoya would settle into a more familiar role on the right wing and as a midfield shuttler as the Union's tactics transitioned through the next few seasons.[29][30][31]
On August 4, 2019, Bedoya scored in the third minute of a 5–1 victory for the Union over D.C. United atAudi Field and celebrated by taking an on-fieldmicrophone to say "Congress, do something now. End gun violence," in response to recent mass shootings inEl Paso andDayton.[32] His statement, which was aired live onFox Sports 1, resulted in national attention but no punishment or fine from the league. Bedoya also won the MLS Player of the Week for his performance during the match.[33]
Bedoya signed a contract extension with the Union ahead of the 2020 season through 2021, with a club option for 2022, however he would no longer be a designated player.[28][34][35] The 2020 season proved to be the most successful to date. Despite the disruptions of theCOVID-19 pandemic, Bedoya captained the Union through to the semi-finals of theMLS is Back tournament and finished with the best league record of the season earning the team's first trophy, the2020 Supporters' Shield.[36][37]
In September 2022 the Union announced they had signed Bedoya to a new one-year deal through the 2023 MLS season.[38]
On February 1, 2024, the Union announced they had once again signed Bedoya to another one-year contract through the 2024 MLS Season.[39]
Bedoya was part of theUnited States U-23 national team preparing for the2008 Summer Olympics; however, he was not selected for the squad that traveled to China.[40]
On December 22, 2009, Bedoya received his first call up to train with the seniorUnited States national team. Training inCarson, California began for Bedoya and the other players called up on January 4, 2010, leading up to a friendly match in Carson against theHonduras national team on January 23. In the 61st minute of this match, when the U.S. was down 3–0 and was playing with ten men, Bedoya earned his first senior cap.[41] Bedoya was named to the preliminary 30-man roster for the2010 World Cup and played against theCzech Republic in a tune-upfriendly, but was cut from the final 23-man roster.[42] He earned his first international start in a friendly againstBrazil in August 2010. He was added to the 23-man roster for the2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup whenBenny Feilhaber was unable to play due to an injury sustained while playing for his club team, theNew England Revolution ofMajor League Soccer.[43]
On July 5, 2013, Bedoya scored his first international goal in a friendly match againstGuatemala atQualcomm Stadium inSan Diego, California.[44] He was included in the United States roster for the2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup,[45] helping the national side to its first Gold Cup championship in six years.[46][47] He was part of the United States squad at the2014 FIFA World Cup and played in all four of the U.S. games.
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Örebro SK | 2009 | Allsvenskan | 25 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 3 |
| 2010 | Allsvenskan | 26 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 2 | |
| 2011 | Allsvenskan | 14 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 4 | |
| Total | 65 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 72 | 9 | ||
| Rangers | 2011–12 | Scottish Premier League | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 1 |
| Helsingborgs IF | 2012 | Allsvenskan | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8[c] | 2 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 3 |
| 2013 | Allsvenskan | 12 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 7 | |
| Total | 21 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 10 | ||
| Nantes | 2013–14 | Ligue 1 | 31 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 6 |
| 2014–15 | Ligue 1 | 28 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 3 | |
| 2015–16 | Ligue 1 | 28 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 5 | |
| Total | 87 | 11 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 96 | 14 | ||
| Philadelphia Union | 2016 | MLS | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 2 |
| 2017 | MLS | 28 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 2 | |
| 2018 | MLS | 33 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 4 | |
| 2019 | MLS | 32 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 5 | |
| 2020 | MLS | 21[d] | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3[e] | 0 | 25 | 3 | |
| 2021 | MLS | 32 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6[f] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 3 | |
| 2022 | MLS | 30 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 6 | |
| 2023 | MLS | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6[f] | 0 | 2[g] | 2 | 39 | 2 | |
| 2024 | MLS | 30 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4[f] | 0 | 7[g] | 0 | 41 | 2 | |
| 2025 | MLS | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | |
| Total | 250 | 24 | 5 | 1 | 11 | 2 | 16 | 0 | 12 | 2 | 294 | 29 | ||
| Career total | 435 | 50 | 21 | 6 | 15 | 3 | 24 | 2 | 12 | 2 | 507 | 63 | ||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2010 | 6 | 0 |
| 2011 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2013 | 12 | 1 | |
| 2014 | 12 | 1 | |
| 2015 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2016 | 11 | 0 | |
| 2017 | 11 | 0 | |
| Total | 66 | 2 | |
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | July 5, 2013 | Qualcomm Stadium,San Diego, United States |  Guatemala | 6–0 | 6–0 | Friendly[54] |
| 2 | September 3, 2014 | Generali Arena,Prague, Czech Republic |  Czech Republic | 1–0 | 1–0 | Friendly[55] |
Philadelphia Union
United States
Individual
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