Philly Sports Jabronis
Reports From Philadelphia Union
Three Philadelphia Union Players Earn United States National Team Call-Ups
Alejandro Bedoya, Chris Pontius, Keegan Rosenberry set to join USMNT for January camp;
All three players to be available via conference call tomorrow afternoon
CHESTER, Pa. – U.S. Soccer today announced that three members of Philadelphia Union have been called up by Head Coach Bruce Arena to join the United States Men’s National Team for its annual January training camp. Alejandro Bedoya, Chris Pontius and Keegan Rosenberry are set to join the team on January 10 for the duration of the camp, which includes two friendlies: January 29 against Serbia in San Diego, and February 3 against Jamaica in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
All three players will be available to members of the media via conference call tomorrow, Friday, January 6 at the below times:
– 3:00 p.m. ET: Chris Pontius
– 3:10 p.m. ET: Keegan Rosenberry
– 3:20 p.m. ET: Alejandro Bedoya
Members of the media wishing to participate in the call can dial 800-582-3014 and enter the code 17252609, followed by the pound sign (#) for access to the call. Upon entering the call, please announce your name and outlet, and then mute your line for the duration of the call, unless asking a question. A Philadelphia Union communications staff member will moderate.
Bedoya has earned 55 international caps, including four FIFA World Cup appearances. In 2014, he set a single year career-high 11 starts, starting in three matches in the World Cup, including the Round of 16 match against Belgium. Bedoya scored the game-winner in the 1-0 win against Czech Republic on September 3 in Prague and was a driving force in the team’s semifinal run during the 2016 Copa America Centenario. Overall, he’s scored two goals and handed out eight assists in his international career. Bedoya joined the Union as a Designated Player on August 3, 2016, scoring two goals across all competitions, including a tally in the MLS Cup Playoffs against Toronto FC on October 26.
Pontius joins the side after having been called up by the USMNT in the past, but the midfielder has yet to earn his first international cap. He was first called up by the United States for the January camp in 2010 in preparation for a friendly against El Salvador, where he was selected to the preliminary 20-player roster. He was called up for a second time in 2011 ahead of friendlies against Costa Rica on September 2 and Belgium on September 6, making the matchday roster for the clash against the Ticos. Pontius was named the 2016 MLS Comeback Player of the Year after a 12-goal, six-assist campaign for Philadelphia in 2016.
Rosenberry, meanwhile, is set to join the National Team for the first time in his career. The rightback earns the call from Arena following a breakout rookie season in which he was the runner-up for the MLS Rookie of the Year and the winner of the MLS individual Fair Play Award. He became the only rookie in MLS history to play all 3,060 minutes of a 34-match regular season, scoring two goals and two assists for the Union in 2016.
The Union begin the 2017 campaign by playing at Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Sunday, March 5 (9:30 p.m. ET) before returning to Talen Energy Stadium for the 2017 home opener on Saturday, March 11 against Toronto FC (4:30 p.m. ET). For ticket information, visit www.philadelphiaunion.com/tickets.
Philadelphia Union Sign Defender Giliano Wijnaldum
Netherlands native joins Union following 65 Dutch topflight appearances
CHESTER, Pa. (Jan. 5, 2017) – Philadelphia Union today announced that they have signed defender Giliano Wijnaldum (pronounced: Gill-ee-AH-no Why-NALL-dum) as a Discovery Signing. A leftback, Wijnaldum joins Philadelphia following stints with three Dutch topflight clubs, including AZ Alkmaar, where he played under current Union Sporting Director Earnie Stewart. The Netherlands native is set to join the Union following receipt of his International Transfer Certificate and P-1 Visa and will occupy an international roster spot.
Wijnaldum, 24, has made 65 appearances in the Dutch first division Eredivisie and helped AZ capture the 2012-13 Dutch Cup, starting the final and playing all 90 minutes in the victory. He most recently played for German 2. Bundesliga side VfL Bochum.
“We’re pleased to welcome Giliano to Philadelphia Union and are excited about the talent he adds to our defensive corps,” said Stewart. “As a young player who I have worked with before in the Netherlands, I know firsthand the potential he brings to our club. We are eager to integrate him within the squad and believe he has a bright future with the Union.”
Wijnaldum, Stewart, and Union Head Coach Jim Curtin will be available to members of the media via conference call this afternoon, Thursday, January 5 at 2:00 p.m. ET. Members of the media wishing to participate in the call can dial 800-582-3014 and enter the code 17252609, followed by the pound sign (#) for access to the call. Upon entering the call, please announce your name and outlet, and then mute your line for the duration of the call, unless asking a question. A Philadelphia Union communications staff member will moderate.
The defender came up through the academies of Sparta Rotterdam and AZ Alkmaar before joining the latter’s first team in 2010-11, where he made his Eredivisie debut against ADO Den Haag at the age of 18 on April 16, 2011. He would play three seasons for AZ, playing in a total of 24 matches across all competitions, including the triumph in the 2012-13 KNVB Cup final.
Wijnaldum moved to fellow Dutch side FC Groningen ahead of the 2013-14 campaign, where he made a career-best 26 league starts that season. He then joined Go Ahead Eagles in 2014-15, making 19 more Eredivisie starts before transferring to Bochum. The leftback played in seven 2. Bundesliga matches over the 2015-16 season.
The brother of current Liverpool midfielder and Dutch international Georginio Wijnaldum, Wijnaldum has made appearances across the Netherlands’ youth national team system, scoring a goal for the Under-20s on June 1, 2012.
TRANSACTION: Philadelphia Union signed defender Giliano Wijnaldum as a Discovery Signing on January 5, 2017. He will officially be added to the active roster and occupy an international roster spot upon receipt of his International Transfer Certificate and P-1 Visa.
Name: Giliano Wijnaldum (pronounced: Gill-ee-AH-no Why-NALL-dum)
Position: Defender
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 168
Born: August 31, 1992 in Rotterdam, Netherlands
Hometown: Rotterdam, Netherlands
Citizenship: Netherlands
Acquired: Philadelphia Union signed defender Giliano Wijnaldum as a Discovery Signing on January 5, 2017. He will officially be added to the active roster and occupy an international roster spot upon receipt of his International Transfer Certificate and P-1 Visa.
Previous Experience: VfL Bochum (2015-2016), Go Ahead Eagles (2014-2015), FC Groningen (2013-2014), AZ Alkmaar (2010-2013)
