Jakob Glesnes To Have Sports Hernia Surgery

The Philadelphia Union defender will miss the rest of the MLS Cup Playoffs

CHESTER — The Philadelphia Union will be without 2022 MLS Defender of the Year Jakob Glesnes for the rest of the MLS Cup Playoffs.

The defender has been dealing with a sports hernia issue for quite some time, and this week the pain got to be too much for the Norwegian to handle.

Glesnes is scheduled to have the surgery on Tuesday, according to Union manager Jim Curtin.

“Unfortunately it’s gotten to the point where Jakob has to have surgery and that will take place, as of right now, on Tuesday,” Curtin said in his post-game press conference on Saturday. “To our fans, to people who don’t realize, he’s played through one of the most painful injuries you can have in this sport.

“Kicking, everything that goes along with the jumping, change of direction, playing the center back position where you have to hit long diagonals. He’s played through as much pain as he possibly can. You can tell when a player comes in and we had that final talk where surgery is probably the smartest thing to do at this stage.”

“He gives everything for the badge. He left everything he could on the field this year. Unfortunately the pain has gotten to a point where it’s not tolerable. There’s no one tougher than Jakob so when I say pain it’s a point where he’s about as tough as it gets. He’s a true Viking and wants to be out there, but sometimes your body speaks and you have to listen.”

“He wants to get back to MLS Cup and be with the guys, but he has to do that as more of a coach, to be honest,” Curtin said.

The Union started Jack Elliott and Damion Lowe as center backs in the 4-4-2 diamond in Game 1 of the first-round best-of-three series with the New England Revolution.

They are better suited to deal with Glesnes’ absence than they would have been in previous seasons because Lowe and Elliott have regularly been on the field, whether it be in the diamond or the back three.

“Obviously Jakob is a huge miss for us,” Elliott said. “I think we will pick up the slack. We can all play as a team. When everyone plays their role, we’re always going to be okay and I think that’s what we have to do.”

“I think Damion understands the role very well. He’s a good player. We understand each other and I think it works out well,” Elliott said.

Photo Courtesy of Philadelphia Union.