Alejandro Bedoya

1.1. Birth and Early Childhood

Bedoya was born on April 29, 1987, in Englewood, New Jersey. Of Colombian descent, he was raised in Weston, Florida. His family had a strong soccer lineage: his father, Adriano, played professional soccer in Colombia for Millonarios, and his grandfather, Fabio, played for Deportes Quindío.

1.2. Education and Youth Career

During his youth, Bedoya played for local clubs in Weston, Florida, including the AYSO Weston Fury and FUTSOC USA ENIGMA Elite. In high school, he achieved a state championship with St. Thomas Aquinas High School (Florida) in 2005. Following high school, Bedoya embarked on his college soccer career. He attended Fairleigh Dickinson University and played for the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights from 2005 to 2006, where he made 35 appearances and scored 13 goals. He then transferred to Boston College for the 2007 and 2008 seasons, playing for the Boston College Eagles, contributing 14 goals in 37 appearances. Despite the common path for college seniors to enter the MLS SuperDraft, Bedoya chose to explore opportunities to play abroad after his college career.

2.1. Örebro SK

Alejandro Bedoya signed a professional contract with the Swedish club Örebro SK in late 2008 and officially joined the team on January 7, 2009. His debut for Örebro SK came on April 6, when he entered the match as a substitute in the 73rd minute. He scored his first goal for the club against Assyriska FF in the Svenska Cupen, securing a 1-0 lead for his team. Over the course of the season, Bedoya established himself as a regular starter, becoming a crucial central midfielder in Örebro SK's 4-3-3 formation. In February 2011, Bedoya underwent a trial with English Premier League side Birmingham City F.C., but ultimately was not signed by the club.

2.2. Rangers

On July 21, 2011, it was announced that Bedoya had agreed to personal terms with the Scottish club Rangers F.C., with his move initially planned for January 2012 after the conclusion of the Allsvenskan season. However, Örebro SK and Rangers reached an agreement on an undisclosed transfer fee on August 17, 2011, allowing Bedoya to join Rangers immediately. He made his debut for the club on August 28, 2011, coming on as a second-half substitute in a Scottish Premier League match against Aberdeen F.C.. Bedoya scored his first goal for Rangers on May 2, 2012, in a decisive 5-0 victory over Dundee United, a result that helped the Glasgow-based club secure second place in the league.

2.3. Helsingborgs IF

Following Rangers' entry into administration, Alejandro Bedoya signed a short-term contract with the Swedish Allsvenskan champions Helsingborgs IF on August 10, 2012. In his debut with Helsingborg on August 18, 2012, Bedoya scored an impressive overhead kick goal, though his team ultimately lost 2-1 to Elfsborg. He was a key player for Helsingborg in their UEFA Champions League play-off matches against Celtic F.C., starting both legs, but the Swedish champions were eliminated on a 4-0 aggregate. Helsingborg subsequently entered the 2012-13 UEFA Europa League group stage, where Bedoya scored two goals against Hannover 96 and FC Twente. His contributions helped the team finish third in their group. After his contract with Helsingborg expired, Bedoya received several offers but ultimately decided to remain with the club for at least an additional six months.

2.4. FC Nantes

On August 7, 2013, Alejandro Bedoya moved to France, joining Nantes, a club that had recently been promoted to Ligue 1. He made his first Ligue 1 appearance for Nantes on August 25, 2013, in a match against the reigning champions, PSG. Bedoya scored his first goal for Nantes on October 19, 2013, netting the lone goal three minutes from time in a 1-0 victory over AC Ajaccio, which extended the club's winning streak to four consecutive games. Following this performance, his manager, Michel Der Zakarian, publicly praised Bedoya for his intelligent play and technical excellence.

Bedoya continued his impactful performances, scoring his second goal for Nantes, and his first at the club's home ground, the Stade de la Beaujoire, on December 3, 2013. This goal was Nantes' equalizer in an eventual 2-1 victory over struggling Valenciennes FC. His scoring run persisted on December 6, 2013, when he scored the only goal in Nantes' 1-0 defeat of Olympique de Marseille. This significant result propelled Nantes into fourth place in the league and notably led to the sacking of Marseille manager Élie Baup. On February 10, 2016, Bedoya scored a dramatic winning goal with a header in the 118th minute for Nantes in a Coupe de France match against FC Girondins de Bordeaux.

2.5. Philadelphia Union

On August 3, 2016, Alejandro Bedoya transferred from Nantes to Philadelphia Union in Major League Soccer for a reported transfer fee of 1.00 M USD, joining as a designated player. In the remainder of the 2016 season, he started all ten of his appearances for the Union and scored two goals, including the team's only goal in their playoff match against Toronto FC.

For the 2017 season, Bedoya was named the Union's captain, taking over the role from Brian Carroll. He quickly became a cornerstone of the Union's midfield. Initially, he was often deployed as a central attacking "number 10" as the team sought a dedicated player for that position. However, as the Union's tactical approach evolved over subsequent seasons, Bedoya settled into a more familiar role on the right wing and as a midfield shuttler, where his dynamic play and leadership were highly valued.

On August 4, 2019, Bedoya gained significant national attention not just for his play, but for his powerful public statement. After scoring in the third minute of a 5-1 victory for the Union over D.C. United at Audi Field, he celebrated by taking an on-field microphone and emphatically stated, "Congress, do something now. End gun violence." This direct appeal was a response to the recent tragic mass shootings in El Paso and Dayton. His statement, broadcast live on Fox Sports 1, sparked widespread discussion and, notably, resulted in no punishment or fine from Major League Soccer. For his performance during that match, Bedoya was also awarded the MLS Player of the Week honor.

Ahead of the 2020 season, Bedoya signed a contract extension with the Union, which would keep him with the club through 2021, with a club option for 2022. Under this new agreement, he would no longer be classified as a designated player. The 2020 season proved to be one of the most successful in the club's history. Despite the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Bedoya skillfully captained the Union, leading them to the semi-finals of the MLS is Back tournament. More significantly, he guided the team to finish with the best league record of the season, earning them their first major trophy, the 2020 Supporters' Shield.

In September 2022, the Philadelphia Union announced that they had re-signed Bedoya to a new one-year deal, extending his contract through the 2023 MLS season. His commitment to the club continued, as on February 1, 2024, the Union announced they had once again signed Bedoya to another one-year contract, securing his presence for the 2024 MLS Season.

3.1. Youth National Teams

Bedoya was part of the United States U-23 national team that was preparing for the 2008 Summer Olympics qualifiers. However, he was ultimately not selected for the final squad that traveled to China for the Olympic Games.

3.2. Senior National Team

On December 22, 2009, Bedoya received his first call-up to train with the senior United States national team. Training for Bedoya and his teammates began on January 4, 2010, in Carson, California, ahead of a friendly match against the Honduras national team. He earned his first senior cap on January 23, 2010, entering the match in the 61st minute when the U.S. was down 3-0 and playing with ten men.

Bedoya was included in the preliminary 30-man roster for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and participated in a warm-up friendly against the Czech Republic. Despite this, he was ultimately cut from the final 23-man roster for the tournament. He earned his first international start in August 2010 during a friendly match against Brazil. Bedoya was later added to the 23-man roster for the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup, replacing Benny Feilhaber, who was unable to play due to an injury sustained while with his club team.

On July 5, 2013, Bedoya scored his first international goal in a friendly match against Guatemala at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. He was a key member of the United States roster for the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup, contributing significantly as the national side secured its first Gold Cup championship in six years. Bedoya was also part of the United States squad at the 2014 FIFA World Cup and notably played in all four of the U.S. games during the tournament.

3.3. International Goals

This section details the goals scored by Alejandro Bedoya for the United States senior national team.

4.1. Club Statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season, and competition, as of February 22, 2025. The National Cup includes Svenska Cupen, Coupe de France, and U.S. Open Cup. The League Cup includes Scottish League Cup, Coupe de la Ligue, and MLS Cup playoffs. Continental appearances comprise matches in the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, and CONCACAF Champions League/Cup. Other appearances cover the MLS is Back Tournament knockout stage and Leagues Cup.

4.2. International Statistics

Appearances and goals by national team and year, as of June 29, 2019.

5.1. Club Honors

Philadelphia Union

• Supporters' Shield: 2020
• MLS Cup runner-up: 2022

5.2. International Honors

United States

• CONCACAF Gold Cup: 2013, 2017
• CONCACAF Gold Cup runner-up: 2011

5.3. Individual Awards

• NCAA First-Team All-American: 2007
• Atlantic Coast Conference Men's Offensive Player of the Year: 2007
• MLS Humanitarian of the Year: 2022