In some ways, it is easier to play a type of soccer filled with highlight reel goals and crowd-pleasing moves. Those moments stand out in memory and are discussed by fans around the water cooler the next day.
But the type of soccer Alejandro Bedoya plays is discussed in the film room, as coaches and teammates watch a player that always provides support, makes the lung-busting run from midfield through the back line, and then does the “dirty running” Jim Curtin loves so much to recover and slow opponent transitions.
As soccer has developed from a game in which some players defended while others attacked into one in which the whole team must be responsible for both offense and defense, Bedoya’s all-around game has become recognized as a unique and ever-desirable skillset.