Union Legend Ray Gaddis has Announced His Retirement
On March 4th, Union defender Ray Gaddis announced he will be retiring from MLS.
Gaddis was drafted by the Union back in 2012 and would go on to be the Union’s all-time leader in appearances, starts, and minutes played. Ray was a staple of the backline for years as a right-back who always brought everything he had, and his passion and energy flowed through the entire team. Being drafted out of West Virginia, Ray Gaddis was born to play in Philly.
Ray was also an important part of bringing the Union’s first-ever club trophy, the Supporters Shield, in 2020. Coming off one of the best seasons of his career, the news of his retirement was a bit surprising to hear. Many fans were anticipating the day they could riot as Ray scored his first career goal. No matter what, Ray Gaddis has earned everything he has worked for.
While he left his mark on the field, off the field Ray Gaddis is one of the most humble and nicest humans you could ever meet. Anyone who has ever played, coached, or even interacted with him will tell you the kind of person he is. While Ray’s contributions on the field are coming to the end, there is no question his work off the field will continue to make the world a better place.
Ray Gaddis ends his Union career appearing in 221 games and starting in 211, totaling a career 18,702 minutes. Just because he never found the score sheet himself, doesn’t mean he wasn’t integral to the Union’s offense. Ray is the only player in Union history to register an assist in 7 consecutive seasons.
There is no question, we WILL see Ray Gaddis’ name in the Unions Ring of Honor soon. And hopefully, Subaru Park can be packed full of fans to give him the love he deserves!
We wish the best for whatever the future holds for Ray! He will forever be a part of the Union family.
Featured Image: Wes Shepherd/PhiladelphiaSportsNation
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Categorized:Union