At the foundation of Philadelphia Union’s philosophy is the full embrace and belief in players that are deemed by the rest of the world as young, and sometimes too young to be regular contributors. This willingness to give young players the chance to showcase their skills in pressure moments is showcased once again on the league stage as Jack McGlynn, Paxten Aaronson and Leon Flach are recognized in the MLS 22 Under 22 presented by BODYARMOR.
Flach appears in the rankings for the second consecutive season and just like last year the midfielder could feel slighted with his rank at No. 14. Flach has started all but four matches since he arrived with the Union last season, even immediately subbing into a rainy, closed-door scrimmage during the preseason right off a plane.
Flach and his contagious smile fully embrace the culture of the Union and, thus, of the City of Brotherly Love. A city that embraces a bring-your-lunch-pail-to-work mentality and a leave-it-all-on-the-line approach meshes well with a player who brings that attitude to every single minute he plays. After an impressive debut campaign, Flach has increased his interceptions to 49 and raised his accuracy in the passing attack to 79% and maintained a ruthless ability to win tackles.
The German-American is willing to do whatever is necessary to help the Boys in Blue win. Playing primarily on the left side of the Union’s 4-4-2 diamond, Flach is called upon to assist on both ends of the field, covering defensively to support Kai Wagner’s dangerous forward runs and stretching his legs to join in on the club’s signature counterattacks.
Flach shines brightly in a city that values putting a shift in, and he’ll be looking to help the Union secure hardware as they look to conclude the 2022 campaign with more memorable moments and trophies.
