Young or old, emphasis on players’ improvement
The one sentence summary of all that the Philadelphia Union have become as an organization is easily distilled. It’s a club built around homegrown, American talent, around giving young players chances to play and improve.
To break down that mission statement reveals something even more elemental: Economically, the Union need to make players better. The club can’t afford the finished products that others can. Instead, they often need to purchase the raw materials and use their system to fashion something polished.
This ideological exploration is sponsored by what Jose Martinez did Wednesday night in the Union’s 1-0 win over Deportivo Saprissa in the CONCACAF Champions League Round of 16. Martinez is neither young (by global soccer standards) at 26 nor American. But the Venezuelan is as emblematic of the Union’s de- velopment ethos as almost anyone.
Martinez was signed before the 2020 season and explicitly billed as a project, someone who had never played outside his home country and would need time to adjust to MLS and living abroad. A year later, he’s one of the first names on Jim Curtin’s team sheet, an instrumental player whose health Curtin sweats every time he hits the turf. His influence far exceeds what the Union paid for him, a brilliant piece of business by Ernst Tanner.
That’s because he’s come to Chester and improved steadily. The same structures that have turned Academy players into European transfer targets has turned Martinez from a decent player to one of the better defensive midfielders in MLS.
Wednesday’s performance said it all. The Union knew Martinez as an indefatigable combatant in midfield who would break up plays and connect simple passes. But the Martinez that played against Saprissa – calming his team in moments where Saprissa surged, playing the over-the-top ball opening the defense leading to Kacper Przybylko’s goal, taking on players in the attacking third – that’s a new level.
Martinez has added such layers to his game thanks to his work ethic and to the infrastructure the Union have in place. It’s evidence that a player need not be a teenage resident of the greater Philadelphia area to benefit from that.
“The ball that Jose plays is something that’s so simple and such a subtle thing, but it’s that ability to turn in a tight spot and just switch a ball that leads Olivier (Mbaizo) into space and almost invites him forward,” Curtin said. “… When you speak about Jose Martinez, this is the type of game that’s right up his alley: It’s about tackles, altercations, duels, whatever you want to talk about, he comes out on top more times than not.”
As much as the Union Academy gets the plaudits, and deservedly so, the improvement has to be vaster for the Union to succeed. There’s only so many players at so many positions that any Academy can churn out. Placing young players around middling late-career pros does not a winning team make.
The Union’s starting lineup in San Jose was loaded with players who’ve made huge strides in MLS. Kai Wagner, who was tremendous before being shivved by Ricardo Blanco in stoppage time, has gone from the 2.Bundesliga to the subject of Premier League transfer rumors. Mbaizo, who had the assist and is the incumbent
right back, has been with the club since 2018. He’s now 23, a full Cameroon international and one good season from European interest. Jack Elliott’s ascent from fourth-round SuperDraft pick to starter is self-explanatory. Ditto Przybylko’s rise from German soccer purgatory to health and happiness in the U.S. There’s more, but you get the picture.
The next candidate in this factory is Leon Flach, who got his first start Wednesday. At 20, the American-born and German-raised midfielder has been with the Union for barely two weeks. His first game action was a 64-minute shift in hostile territory where he impressed his manager.
“Leon, for a debut, we’re asking him to come into a new team, get thrown out there after basically a half of soccer with the group, his first real, live game,” Curtin said. “The performance that he put in, I thought, was excellent. Leon’s skillset, and we’re still learning each other as a coach and a player, but I think it’s perfectly suited for that left side of the diamond. He’s left-footed, he has characteristics and the intelligence of a No. 6 but also the timing to move forward of a left back. He gives a great amount of defensive cover for Kai, but in the right moments, you saw in the first 10 minutes, how often and dangerous he was in getting to the end line and getting service. Overall, really proud of him.”
The Academy pathway is central to what the Union are about. But in Flach, or Mbaizo, or in the Union’s rumored interest in (and alleged tampering with) 20-year-old American/wantaway FC Cincinnati midfielder Frankie Amaya, the paradigm requires expanding to players from external sources.
One look at Martinez’s impact will tell prospective players just how broad the player development plan stretches.