If you ask any Minnesota United fan about the turning point for the club’s defense, one name immediately comes to mind. Ike Opara arrived in Minnesota ahead of the 2019 season and instantly transformed the Loons from a struggling backline into one of the most formidable defensive units in Major League Soccer. During his stellar…
Luke Hille arrived in Minnesota in March 2025, signing a one-year MLS NEXT Pro contract with MNUFC2. The forward from Cary, North Carolina, joined the club after a successful collegiate career, spending three years at NC State before playing his senior season at the University of North Carolina. Hille wasted no time making an impact….
Life after the Loons After his brief stint with Minnesota United, Tyrone Mears headed back to England to finish his playing career with West Bromwich Albion. He officially hung up his boots in the summer of 2019, but the veteran defender didn’t stay away from the pitch for long. Returning to the United States, he…
Rory O’Driscoll is a true homegrown talent from Minneapolis. Before his professional career, he won five state tournament championships with Minneapolis United and spent time developing in the Minnesota Thunder Academy. He played collegiate soccer at the University of New Hampshire from 2019 to 2022, making 63 appearances and scoring 19 goals. His college accolades…
Mike Ambersley’s professional playing career took him all across the United States over the course of 11 years, but today, the former Minnesota United forward is firmly planted back where it all began. Since hanging up his boots, Ambersley has dedicated his post-playing career to youth soccer development in his hometown of St. Louis, Missouri….
From the backline of the NASL to the negotiating table of the USL, Connor Tobin has spent his entire career fighting for the American lower-division soccer player. Known affectionately as “Turbo” during his playing days, the former Minnesota United defender has transitioned from stopping attackers to securing labor rights as the Executive Director of the…
Today marks Fred Emmings’s 22nd birthday! When Minnesota United signed Emmings in January 2020, it was a landmark moment for the franchise. At just 15 years old, the towering St. Paul native became the club’s first-ever Homegrown Player, symbolizing the bridge between the Academy and the first team. Six years later, Emmings’ time in professional…
Today marks Lucas RodrÃguez‘s 40th birthday! Before the MLS era, the “Three-Year Plan,” or Allianz Field, there was the NASL championship team of 2011. And at the heart of that NSC Minnesota Stars midfield was Lucas RodrÃguez. The Argentine playmaker was a fan favorite during the club’s second-division days, known for his technical flair and…
Today marks Jonny Steele‘s is 40th birthday! For a brief moment in the NASL era, the “Man of Steele” was the marquee attraction in Blaine. Today, the Northern Irish journeyman who played for nearly 20 clubs across three continents is celebrating his milestone birthday in retirement. Where is he now? He has hung up the…
Today marks Franco Fragapane‘s 33rd birthday. For four seasons, Franco Fragapane was the engine that never stopped running in the Minnesota United midfield. Today, the diminutive Argentine winger is celebrating his birthday back where he first made a name for himself: home in Argentina, wearing the red and white of Unión Santa Fe. Where is…
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