Minnesota United: First 18-man MLS squad, where are they now?

Substitutes

SUB – Patrick McLain – Orange County SC (USL Championship)

Minnesota’s substitute goalkeeper for their debut MLS match was Patrick McLain. The American’s first taste of top-flight action came with Chivas USA back in 2012. From there, he then played for Orange County SC and the Sacramento Republic before signing for Chicago Fire.

After a year with the Fire, he signed for Minnesota, but he did not play a single minute over the course of the campaign. He re-signed with the Fire for the 2018 season and is now back with Orange County SC.

SUB – Christian Ramirez – Los Angeles FC (MLS)

‘Superman’ Christian Ramirez started his career with Orange County SC before a spell with the Charlotte Eagles. He then joined Minnesota United ahead of their 2014 NASL campaign, going on to score 51 times in 90 league games, including earning the Golden Boot in both 2014 and 2016.

Ramirez remained with the team through the transition from NASL to MLS and scored the club’s first-ever goal in the top flight. He finished the 2017 campaign as top scorer with 14 goals, but halfway through the 2018 season was traded to Los Angeles FC, where he currently plies his trade.

SUB – Brent Kallman – Minnesota United

Centre-back Brent Kallman has been with the Loons ever since they made the transition to MLS in 2017. Prior to that, he spent time with Des Moines Menace, his first professional club, before joining MNUFC for the 2013 campaign.

The American defender spent four years with the Loons in the NASL, before making the move to MLS alongside the club. He has become an important member of the backline, even more so with the trading away of Francisco Calvo this season.

SUB – Kevin Venegas – New York Cosmos (NPSL Founders Cup)

Full-back Kevin Venegas started his career with Orange County SC, before joining MNUFC for the 2012 season in the NASL. Like Kallman, he was part of the team that transitioned from NASL to MLS ahead of their debut season in the top flight of American soccer.

However, the defender only played six games for the Loons in MLS in 2017, before being dropped from the team’s roster that winter. Venegas then spent a year with Indy Eleven and is now currently with the New York Cosmos in the newly-founded NPSL Founders Cup.

SUB – Ibson – Free Agent

Ibson started his MLS career on the bench after a lengthy career in Europe and South America. The Brazilian midfielder had spells at Flamengo, Santos and Corinthians, with time also spent in Europe, including playing for Porto and Spartak Moscow.

Ibson first signed for MNUFC in 2015 and spent four years with the club, becoming one of the most integral parts of the Loons’ midfield for their first two seasons in MLS. However, he was released at the end of the 2018 campaign and remains a free agent.

SUB – Miguel Ibarra – Minnesota United

Miguel Ibarra is the only man on this list to have had two separate spells with Minnesota United. The winger started his professional career with the Lancaster Rattlers, before then moving to Orange County SC ahead of his first stint with MNUFC. He spent three seasons with the side in the NASL before moving south of the border to play for Leon in Liga MX.

After 18 months there, he moved back to Minnesota for their inaugural MLS season. Since then, Ibarra, or ‘Batman’ as he has become affectionately known by the fans, has become a key part of the squad, notching up seven goals and eight assists in the 2018 campaign.

SUB – Collin Martin – Hartford Athletic (on loan from Minnesota United) (USL Championship)

Collin Martin came into MLS straight from college in 2013 when he was signed by D.C. United. The openly gay midfielder was then loaned out to Richmond Kickers, before signing for the Loons ahead of the 2017 campaign.

Martin made his debut in the Loons’ fourth game of the season and went on to feature 26 times for the team over the next two seasons. He remains on the books of the club but is currently out on loan at USL Championship side Hartford Athletic.

So there you have it, the first Minnesota United 18-man, matchday squad. It might not be a bad thing that most are no longer with the club.