To the city of Philadelphia, to the Philadelphia Union family, to the fans who have stood beside me, and to the friends who have become family along the way…..
Ten years. It’s hard to put into words what ten years in one place can mean to a person. I still remember like it was yesterday when I first met with Jim and Chris out in France and expressed an interest. When I think about my time with the Philadelphia Union, I think about the matches, the goals, the victories, the heartbreaks, and the moments that will forever be etched into my memory. But more than anything, I think about the people. Because when I look back on this chapter of my life, I realize that what made it so special was never just what happened on the field. It was everything that happened beyond it.
Philadelphia, you became home sweet home. The birthplace of our daughter.
I came here to play soccer, to compete, to win, and to give everything I had to this club. I loved the ambitious project that was laid out to me and the challenge truly resonated with me. What I found was so much more than another stop in my career. I found a city that embraced my family and me, that challenged me, inspired me, and helped shape the person I am today. For ten years, this wasn't simply the city where I worked or the place where I pulled on a jersey every weekend. It was home. The streets, the neighborhoods, the familiar faces, the local restaurants, the small businesses, the conversations with strangers who became friends—I came to love all of it. From our neighborhood in Northern Liberties to Fishtown, Old City, Center City, South Philly, West Philly, Northeast Philly and everywhere in between and around Philly, I got a taste of the most underrated food destinations in America.
There is something special about Philadelphia. This city doesn't hand out its heart easily, and it doesn't ask for perfection. It asks for authenticity, honesty, grit, loyalty, and effort. It asks you to show up, to stand for something, and to care deeply about the people around you. And when you give this city your all, it has a way of giving you something back that is difficult to describe and impossible to replace.
To the fans of the Philadelphia Union: thank you!
Thank you for your passion, your loyalty, your belief, and your willingness to ride every high and low with us. You have made Subaru Park feel like so much more than a stadium. You have made it a place where a community comes together, where families build traditions, where friendships are formed, and where thousands of voices become one. You have pushed us to be better, held us accountable, and reminded us what it means to represent something bigger than ourselves. Wearing this badge has been an honor, and knowing that I represented you has made that honor even greater.
We shared some incredible moments over these ten years. We celebrated a lot of victories that brought us together and endured defeats that tested us. I’m proud to be able to say that, since 2016, the Philadelphia Union have been one of the strongest and winningest clubs in MLS. We chased trophies, made memories, and fought for every inch. Through it all, you showed up. And whether you were in the stands, watching from home, cheering from a local bar, or wearing Union colors around the city, I felt that support. I will carry it with me long after my playing days are over.
To my teammates, coaches, ownership, and everyone who works behind the scenes at this club: thank you for being part of this journey. Soccer is a team sport, but the word team never tells the whole story. It takes countless people working together, sacrificing, believing, and pushing one another to create something meaningful. I have been fortunate to share a locker room with incredible players, learn from remarkable coaches, and work alongside people whose dedication often goes unseen. The relationships built in those moments—the conversations, the laughs, the challenges, the shared ambitions—will always mean more to me than any statistic or individual accolade.
And to my family and friends, thank you for being my foundation. Professional soccer comes with sacrifices, uncertainty, and a life that can sometimes move faster than you realize. Through the demands of the game and the pressures that come with it, you have been my constant. You have celebrated the good days, lifted me through the difficult ones, and reminded me that there is so much more to life than the final score. This journey belongs to you, too, and I am forever grateful that I have been able to share it with you. To my parents and siblings, I’ll always remember the countless road trips we took with the makeshift beds in the back of the Suburban driving up and down freeways to tournaments, games, and training sessions. All the hotel rooms we’d stay at and places we’d dine at became family rituals that made our bonds stronger. There are so many memories to reflect back on, and your sacrifices will never go unnoticed. I am forever grateful for them.
To my wife, Beatrice, and my two beautiful kids, Santino and Milena, thank you for your unconditional love and endless support throughout my career. I know how hard you’ve worked at taking care of so many things off the field to make sure I could focus on performing on it. These achievements in Philly wouldn’t have been possible without your contributions and keeping me grounded in your own sarcastic, Norwegian ways. To Tino and Millie, it’s hard to describe in words the blessing of coming home to 2 kids who don’t care as much about wins and losses but just daddy being daddy. I’m so grateful you’ve been able to be part of this journey. Through all the highs and lows, I could always count on you guys to keep me grounded while inspiring me to be better. I hope I’ve made you proud. I do look forward to spending so much more time with you guys in this next chapter!
But there is another part of my Philadelphia story that I hold especially close to my heart: the city itself and the people who make it what it is.
I have always believed that being part of a community means more than living in a place. It means showing up for it. It means getting to know your neighbors, supporting the people who pour their hearts into their work, and investing in the places that give a neighborhood its character. Over the years, some of my favorite Philadelphia memories have had nothing to do with soccer. They have come from walking into a neighborhood restaurant and being greeted like an old friend, discovering a small business run by someone with a big dream, sharing a meal around a table, or striking up a conversation that turned an ordinary afternoon into something memorable.
I have loved exploring this city, dining at its restaurants, supporting its local businesses, and discovering the stories behind the people who make Philadelphia so vibrant while supporting causes that matter. Every neighborhood has its own personality. Every small business has someone taking a chance, working long hours, and believing in what they are building. Every restaurant has a story, and every familiar face has helped make this city feel smaller in the best possible way. Thank you for letting me be part of your world. Thank you for the meals, the conversations, the laughs, the generosity, and the sense of belonging. You may have thought I was simply stopping by for dinner or supporting your business/organization, but those moments became part of my life here. They helped turn a professional commitment into a personal connection with this city.
As I prepare to retire at the end of this season, I find myself reflecting on how quickly these years have passed. There is a strange feeling that comes with knowing a chapter you have lived so deeply is about to close. Part of me wishes I could slow everything down, take in one more walk through the city, enjoy one more coffee/meal at a favorite neighborhood spot, share one more laugh with a teammate, and hear the roar of the crowd just one more time before the final whistle.
But I also know that retirement doesn't mean leaving behind everything that made these years meaningful. The relationships remain. The memories remain. The friendships, the lessons, and the love for this city remain. The final whistle may mark the end of my playing career, but it cannot mark the end of my connection to Philadelphia.
I will miss the preparation, the competition, the energy of matchday, and the privilege of representing this club on and off the field. I will miss the feeling of stepping onto the pitch knowing that so many people are counting on us and believing in us. There is nothing quite like that feeling, and I know I will spend many years looking back on it with gratitude.
Yet I am excited for what comes next, too. I leave the game knowing I gave it everything I could, that I was part of something special, and that my time here was about far more than soccer. I leave with a lifetime of memories and a community that will always hold a place in my heart.
To the city of Philadelphia: thank you for welcoming me, challenging me, and allowing me to call you home.
To the Philadelphia Union: thank you for ten unforgettable years, for the opportunity to wear this badge, and for giving me a platform to compete, grow, and connect with so many incredible people.
To the fans: thank you for every cheer, every message, every moment of belief, and every reminder of what this club means to you.
To the families, friends, local businesses, restaurants, and neighborhoods that have become part of my life: thank you for making this city feel like family.
And to everyone who has crossed my path over these ten years, whether we shared a lifelong friendship or simply exchanged a few words along the way, please know that you have been part of something meaningful to me.
People sometimes ask what I will remember most about my career. Of course, there will be games and moments that I will never forget. There will be achievements that I will always be proud of. But when I think about what I will treasure most, I know the answer will always come back to people. The teammates beside me, the fans behind us, the friends around the city, and the community that made Philadelphia home.
I arrived here as a soccer player. I leave this chapter as someone who has been shaped by this city in ways that go far beyond the game.
I may be retiring from professional soccer, but I am not retiring from cheering for this city, supporting the Philadelphia Union, or finding new ways to give back to the place that has given me so much.
So, as this season comes to a close, I won't simply say goodbye. I will say thank you. Thank you for the journey, for the love, for the lessons, and for allowing my family and me to be part of your story while you became such an important part of mine.
No matter where the next chapter takes me, a piece of me/us will always belong here.
To the city of Brotherly and Sisterly love, once a Union player, forever Philly!
With gratitude, love, and a full heart,
