MLS: Bedoya to Retire After 17-Year Career

Alejandro Bedoya announced on Monday that he will retire from professional soccer when the Philadelphia Union's 2026 season concludes. The 39-year-old captain stated the decision marks the end of a 17-year career spanning Europe and the United States.

Bedoya has spent the last decade in Philadelphia, having joined the Union in August 2016. During his time with the club, he guided the team to two Supporters' Shields, the only trophies in the franchise's history, and a berth in the 2022 MLS Cup final. His presence on the field coincided with a marked improvement in the club's consistency. The Union made the playoffs in nine of the 11 seasons since his arrival, including the current campaign. They also finished atop the Eastern Conference on three separate occasions.

Before joining Philadelphia, Bedoya played for Rangers in Scotland, Helsingborgs in Sweden, and Nantes in France. He began his professional journey with Orebro in Sweden after choosing that path over initial interest from MLS teams. Bedoya also represented the U.S. national team in 66 matches between 2010 and 2017. He scored two goals and won two CONCACAF Gold Cup titles in 2013 and 2017.

The player's on-field production remained high well into his late thirties. He recorded career-high totals of six goals and six assists in 2022, the year the Union reached the MLS Cup final. In 2023, he provided seven assists in over 2,000 minutes of play. Even in 2024, he started 13 games and appeared in 30. This year, his role has shifted to a part-time capacity. He has made nine starts in 19 appearances, logging 265 minutes and contributing three assists.

Union owner Jay Sugarman praised Bedoya's influence in a team statement. Sugarman noted that Bedoya helped establish the standard for the club's identity. He described the player as an integral part of the organization's growth over the last decade. Sugarman said the captain set an example for teammates and left a lasting mark on soccer in Philadelphia.

Bedoya's statistics place him among the club's all-time leaders. He holds the second-most appearances in MLS history with 286, trailing only Andre Blake. He is third on the all-time assist list with 43 and seventh in goals with 25. Only Bedoya and Blake have reached 300 appearances in all competitions for the Union.

The player has also been active in the community and the sport's business side. He was named the 2022 MLS WORKS Humanitarian of the Year and won the 2023 Audi Goals Drive Progress Impact Award. He served as honorary chair for the Philadelphia 2026 World Cup bid. Bedoya has also invested in several ventures through a company he leads.

Reflecting on his background as the son of Colombian immigrants, Bedoya expressed pride in his family's journey. He described it as a story of an immigrant family from Colombia whose son became a captain and represented the USA in a World Cup. Bedoya said he is leaving the game with no regrets and is looking forward to his next chapter.