Three key veterans will be returning to the Philadelphia Union for the upcoming 2015 MLS Season. Team Captain Brian Carroll, Conor Casey and Fred have all agreed to contracts on Friday to once again play for the Union, a club that all have had success with during prior seasons. These three players combined have played in 209 matches and scored 29 goals for Philadelphia.
Philadelphia Union Sign Three Key Veterans
Brian Carroll, Team Captain, has been with the Union since the 2011 MLS Campaign and is second in games started and third in games played in Union history. As a creative defensive mid-fielder, Brian became the sixth MLS player (non-goal keeper) to reach the 300 career starts plateau, cementing himself as a true MLS Star. Carroll was selected 11th overall in the 2003 MLS Super Draft by D.C. United and played with the club until 2007, winning MLS Cup in 2004. Brian then signed with the Columbus Crew in 2008 and captured another MLS Cup later that season. Carroll played with the Crew through 2010 when he then signed with Philadelphia to start the 2011 MLS Season. Brian has played in eight matches for the United States Men’s National Team throughout his career.
Casey became a member of the Union prior to the 2013 campaign and subsequently, found his scoring touch once again as in only two seasons, Conor has scored eighteen goals, which ranks 3rd in club history, while only playing in 56 matches for Philadelphia. Casey began his MLS Career in 2007 when he was allocated to Toronto FC; however, he was quickly traded to the Colorado Rapids which he played for until 2012. During his phenomenal career with the Rapids, Conor scored fifty goals, won MLS Cup in 2010, in which he also was named MLS Cup MVP. Casey has also been capped by the United States Men’s National Team nineteen times.
Original Philadelphia Union member, Fred, will also return for the 2015 season in a dual role as player and coach. Fred originally played for D.C. United from 2007 through the 2009 season before being acquired by the Philadelphia Union. In December of 2010, Fred was selected by the New England Revolution during the 2010 MLS Re-Entry Draft. Fred declined to sign a contract and elected to play outside of the United States. Fred was unable to find a team to sign with and elected to once again play for D.C. United for the 2011 MLS Season. Fred scored a total of eleven goals while playing for the United. In 2014, Fred joined the Union and has tallied a total of 5 goals in his two seasons with Philadelphia.
The Union will begin their pre-season on February 7th as they take on the Jacksonville Armada of the North American Soccer League. On February 10th, Philadelphia will take on another NASL Club as they will play the Tampa Bay Rowdies. The MLS Regular Season for the Union will begin at home on March 7th at 4pm as they will play host to Western Conference Challengers, the Colorado Rapids.
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