Jakob Glesnes to undergo sports hernia surgery, set to miss rest of season

Jakob Glesnes has been a key leader for the Philadelphia Union during his time with the club, but the Norwegian will likely miss the remainder of the current 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs.

Glesnes is set to undergo sports hernia surgery, head coach Jim Curtin confirmed to media on Saturday after the Union’s 3-1 home playoff victory over the New England Revolution. The Norwegian’s absence on Saturday forced Jamaican international Damion Lowe to partner Jack Elliott in the Union backline.

“It’s a surgery that he’s not coming back in a week or two,” Curtin said to media. “I’ll never rule him out, but it’s going to take a couple of weeks to heal. To our fans, he’s played through one of the more painful injuries you can have in this sport because the kicking and everything that goes along with playing the center back position.

“He’s played through as much pain as he possibly can,” Curtin added. “You can tell when a player comes in and we have that final talk where surgery is probably the smartest thing to do at this stage.”

Glesnes was key for the Union in their run to MLS Cup in 2022, finishing the year as a Defender of the Year finalist. The 29-year-old joined the Union from his native Norway in 2020 and since has totaled 124 combined league appearances for the Eastern Conference side.

He has contributed seven goals and six assists in MLS play, while earning two All-Star Game honors. Glesnes lifted a Supporters’ Shield with the Union in 2020 and was a Best XI selection in 2022.

“He gives everything for the badge and left everything he could on the field this year but unfortunately the pain has gotten to a point where it’s not tolerable and no one is tougher than Jakob,” Curtin said.

“He’s about as tough as it gets, he’s a true viking and he wants to be out there but sometimes your body tells you and you have to listen. He wants to get back to MLS Cup and be with the guys but he has to do that now basically as a coach with me on the sideline.”

Lowe, 30, joined the Union ahead of the 2023 campaign from Inter Miami. The Union sent $225,000 in General Allocation Money and their 2024 first-round draft pick to the Herons in exchange for Lowe.

He mainly has featured this season as part of a three-center back system, partnering both Elliott and Glesnes in Curtin’s squad. However, Glesnes’ injury will likely force Curtin back into the 4-4-2 formation that he used heavily over the last few seasons.

The Union will return to playoff action on November 8 against the Revs at Gillette Stadium.