Jakob Glesnes Explained

Jakob Glesnes (born 25 March 1994) is a Norwegian professional footballer who plays as a defender for the Philadelphia Union of Major League Soccer.

Club career

Early career

He hails from Steinsland in Sund and started his career in local Skogsvåg IL. In 2010, he started playing regular senior football as he transferred to Hald FK. After half a season he went on to Løv-Ham,^{[2] [3]} which was soon merged to form FK Fyllingsdalen. He stayed with Fyllingsdalen until the summer of 2015, when he stepped up one tier to First Division club Åsane.

Sarpsborg 08

Glesnes had been on trial with multiple clubs domestic and abroad, including Liverpool FC, FC København, Brann, Sogndal, Hønefoss,^[4] Lillestrøm and Nest-Sotra.^{[5] [6]} In 2016, he finally joined a first-tier club, Sarpsborg 08, and made his first-tier debut in March 2016 against Haugesund.

Strømsgodset

In March 2017, Glesnes was named captain for Strømsgodset.^[7] He scored his first goal for the club on 29 May 2017.^[8]

Philadelphia Union

On 31 January 2020, Glesnes moved to the Philadelphia Union of Major League Soccer.^[9] Glesnes made headlines with his first goal for the Union, scoring a free kick from over 35 yards from goal against Los Angeles FC.^[10]

On 20 June 2021, Glesnes scored a late equalizer from well outside the 18-yard box to secure a 2–2 draw vs. Atlanta United.^[11] In the first round of the 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs on 20 November, he scored a long-distance screamer in the 123rd minute versus the New York Red Bulls to seal a 1–0 victory and send the Union to the Eastern Conference semifinals.^[12] On 8 December 2021, Glesnes signed a new, multi-year contract extension with the Union through the 2024 season.^{[13] [14]}

On 19 October 2022, Glesnes was awarded the MLS Defender of the Year Award, becoming the first Philadelphia Union defender to win the award.

International career

In November 2016, Glesnes played for the Norway national under-21 team for 2017 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification.^[15]

In October 2019, he was selected for the Norway national team for the first time.^[16]

Career statistics

Club

^[17]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National Cup		Continental		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Løv-Ham	2011	Adeccoligaen	16	1	1	0	–		17	1
	2012	2. divisjon	11	0	0	0	–		11	0
	2013		21	2	2	1	–		23	3
	2014		24	3	3	1	–		27	4
	2015		11	1	3	0	–		14	1
	Total		67	6	8	2	–		75	8
Åsane	2015	Norwegian First Division	14	0	0	0	–		14	0
Sarpsborg 08	2016	Tippeligaen	14	0	2	0	–		16	0
Strømsgodset	2016	Tippeligaen	11	0	2	0	–		13	0
	2017	Eliteserien	28	2	3	0	–		31	2
	2018		30	1	6	0	–		36	1
	2019		29	0	3	0	–		32	0
	Total		98	3	14	0	–		112	3
Philadelphia Union	2020	MLS	20	1	–		–		20	1
	2021		36	4	1	1		6	0	43	5
	2022		37	0	1	0	–		0	38	0
	2023		31	2	0	0		5	0	36	2
	2024		14	0	0	0		4	0	18	0
	Total		138	7	2	1	15	0	155	8
Career total			331	16	26	2	15	0	372	19

Honours

Philadelphia Union

• Supporters' Shield

2020^[18]

• MLS Cup runner-up: 2022^[19]

Individual

• MLS All-Star

2022,^[20] 2023^[21]

• MLS Defender of the Year

2022^[22]

• MLS Best XI

2022^[23]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Jakob Glesnes. Philadelphia Union. 23 August 2022.
2. News: Overganger i 3. divisjon. 6 February 2010. Bergensavisen. 56. Norwegian.
3. News: Spillere som kommer og spillere som går. Støverud. Eirik Bentdal. 11 September 2010. VestNytt. 18. Norwegian.
4. News: Glesnes fortsetter som prøvekanin. Nydal. Trond Roger. 15 January 2013. Bergensavisen. 41. Norwegian.
5. News: Lundsør, Einar. Sjansen han har ventet på. 3 July 2015. Bergensavisen. 41. Norwegian.
6. News: Nest-Sotra vurderer Jakob Glesnes. 25 January 2015. Bergensavisen. 41. Norwegian.
7. Web site: Her er vår nye kaptein. Strømsgodset.
8. Web site: Jakobs første i Godset. Strømsgodset.
9. Web site: Philadelphia Union add Jakob Glesnes to back line, sign Norwegian on TAM deal . MLSsoccer.com . 31 January 2020 . 25 September 2020.
10. Web site: Meet Philadelphia Union free-kick sensation Jakob Glesnes, scorer of the goal seen around the soccer world . Matthew Ralph . MLSsoccer.com . 11 March 2020 . 25 September 2020.
11. Web site: 20 June 2021. Glesnes scores goal-of-the-season contender for Philadelphia – ESPN Video. 20 June 2021. ESPN.com. en.
12. Web site: Legend of Jakob Glesnes: Philadelphia Union defender nets another golazo vs. RBNY . Jonathan Sigal . MLSsoccer.com . 20 November 2021. 20 November 2021.
13. Web site: Philadelphia Union Sign Defender Jakob Glesnes To Contract Extension . philadelphiaunion.com . 8 December 2021. 8 December 2021.
14. Web site: Jakob Glesnes signs extension with Philadelphia Union through 2024 . MLSsoccer.com . 8 December 2021. 8 December 2021.
15. Web site: U21-landslagstroppen til kampene mot Serbia. Norges. Fotballforbund. fotball.no – Norges Fotballforbund.
16. Web site: Kapteinen tatt ut på A-landslaget. Strømsgodset.
17. Web site: Jakob Glesnes. altomfotball.no. TV 2. 13 April 2019. Norwegian.
18. News: Philadelphia Union win 2020 MLS Supporters' Shield on regular season's final day. Major League Soccer. 8 November 2020. 9 November 2020.
19. Web site: Sigal . Jonathan . 5 November 2022 . Hollywood ending! LAFC win legendary MLS Cup 2022 over Philadelphia Union . 27 April 2023 . Major League Soccer.
20. Web site: 2022 MLS All-Star Team Roster . MLSsoccer.
21. Web site: 2023 MLS All-Star Team Roster. Major League Soccer. July 18, 2023. July 7, 2023.
22. Web site: Philadelphia Union's Jakob Glesnes named 2022 MLS Defender of the Year. 19 October 2022. 19 October 2022. Major League Soccer.
23. Web site: 2022 MLS Best XI presented by Continental Tire. Major League Soccer. 2 November 2022. 2 November 2022.