Matt Hedges
{{short description|American soccer player (born 1990)}}
{{About|the American soccer player|the British academic|Arrest of Matthew Hedges}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2015}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Matt Hedges
| image = MLS FC Dallas at Real Salt Lake (51428326041) (cropped).jpg
| caption = Hedges with FC Dallas in 2021
| fullname = Matthew James Hedges
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1990|04|01}}
| birth_place = Rochester, New York, United States
| height = {{height|ft=6|in=4}}{{cite web |title=Matt Hedges |url=https://www.fcdallas.com/players/matt-hedges/ |publisher=FC Dallas |access-date=23 August 2022}}
| position = Center-back
| currentclub =
| clubnumber =
| collegeyears1 = 2008–2010
| college1 = Butler Bulldogs
| collegecaps1 = 59
| collegegoals1 = 12
| collegeyears2 = 2011
| college2 = North Carolina Tar Heels
| collegecaps2 = 26
| collegegoals2 = 6
| years1 = 2009
| clubs1 = Fort Wayne Fever
| caps1 = 9
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2010–2011
| clubs2 = Reading United
| caps2 = 24
| goals2 = 4
| years3 = 2012–2022
| clubs3= FC Dallas
| caps3 = 310
| goals3 = 18
| years4 = 2023
| clubs4= Toronto FC
| caps4 = 14
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2023–2024
| clubs5= Austin FC
| caps5 = 21
| goals5 = 2
| years6 = 2025–
| clubs6 = Des Moines Menace
| caps6 = 0
| goals6 = 0
| nationalyears1 = 2015–2017
| nationalteam1 = United States
| nationalcaps1 = 5
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| medaltemplates = {{MedalCountry|{{USA}}}}
{{Medal|W|CONCACAF Gold Cup|2017}}
| pcupdate = 23:19, September 15, 2024 (UTC)
| ntupdate = July 19, 2017
}}
Matthew James Hedges (born April 1, 1990) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a center-back.
Hedges has been considered one of the better defenders in MLS since 2014, landing on the MLS Best XI in 2015 and 2016, and winning the MLS Defender of the Year Award in 2016.
Club career
=College and amateur=
Hedges was born in New York but grew up in Carmel, Indiana.{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/dallas/soccer/post/_/id/14226/matt-hedges-a-schellas-hyndman-kind-of-player|title = Matt Hedges, a Schellas Hyndman kind of player|date = January 14, 2012}} He attended Carmel High School (Carmel, Indiana), where he was a member of the 2006 Greyhounds soccer team that went undefeated, and won both the IHSAA Boys' Soccer State Championship{{Cite web|url=http://www.ihsaa.org/Sports/Boys/Soccer/StateChampions/tabid/221/Default.aspx|title=IHSAA Boys Soccer State Champions|last=IHSAA|website=www.ihsaa.org|language=en-US|access-date=2018-08-23}} and the NSCAA National Championship. He played college soccer at Butler University between 2008 and 2010, and at the University of North Carolina in 2011.
During his time at Butler, Hedges was named to the NSCAA All-America Second Team as a junior, and he was also named Horizon League Defender of the Year in both his junior and sophomore years. After transferring to North Carolina, he was named ACC Defensive Player of the Year and to the NSCAA All-America First Team. He scored 6 times on the season and helped lead the Tar Heels defense to a 0.69 goals-against average en route to the 2011 NCAA National Championship.
Hedges spent time with USL Premier Development League club Fort Wayne Fever in 2009, making 9 appearances. He also spent time with USL PDL club Reading United in 2010 and 2011, scoring 4 goals in 24 appearances.{{cite web |url=http://www.uslsoccer.com/teams/2011/22373.html#STATS |title=United Soccer Leagues (USL) |publisher=Uslsoccer.com |access-date=May 13, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407093705/http://www.uslsoccer.com/teams/2011/22373.html#STATS |archive-date=April 7, 2014 |df=mdy-all }}
=Professional=
FC Dallas selected Hedges in the first round (No. 11 overall) of the 2012 MLS SuperDraft.{{cite web|author=SportsDayDFW.com |url=http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/more-sports/soccer/headlines/20120112-fc-dallas-drafts-defender-matt-hedges-in-superdraft.ece |title=FC Dallas drafts defender Matt Hedges in SuperDraft | Dallas Morning News |publisher=Dallasnews.com |access-date=May 13, 2014}} He made his professional debut on April 5, 2012, in a 1–0 victory against the New England Revolution. Due to injuries and his excellent play for a rookie, he became a regular starter for the club. His first goal in the 2014 season was a header in the 90th minute against Sporting Kansas City off a free kick taken by Michel. The goal tied the game, 1–1.{{Cite web|url = http://www.sportingkc.com/post/2015/03/13/numbers-sporting-kc-fc-dallas-march-14-2015|title = By The Numbers: Sporting KC at FC Dallas - March 14, 2015}}
Hedges captained the team for the first time in 2014,{{Cite web|url = http://sportsday.dallasnews.com/soccer/rickgosselin/2015/03/26/gosselin-why-fc-dallas-coach-oscar-pareja-made-matt-hedges-youngest-captain-in-team-history|title = Why FC Dallas coach Oscar Pareja made Matt Hedges youngest captain in team history|date = March 27, 2015}} a move that eventually became permanent.{{Cite web|url = http://americansoccernow.com/articles/8-new-faces-klinsmann-should-consider-for-the-u-s|title = 8 New Faces Klinsmann Should Consider for the U.S.}} Since becoming captain, he has led the club into the MLS playoffs in 2014, 2015, and 2016. Also in 2015, the club was the Western Conference regular season champions and Supporters' Shield runner-up. For the 2015 MLS season, he was named to the Best XI{{Cite web|url = http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2015/11/29/2015-mls-best-xi-revealed-10-first-time-selections-get-nod|title = 2015 MLS Best XI revealed: 10 first-time selections get the nod}} and as a finalist for Defender of the Year.{{Cite web|url = http://pressbox.mlssoccer.com/content/mls-announces-2015-awards-finalists|title = MLS Announces 2015 Awards Finalists}} Dallas was even more successful in 2016, winning the Supporters' Shield and the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Hedges was once again named to the Best XI and, this time, was the winner of the Defender of the Year award.
In 2020, he became the all-time leader in MLS appearances for FC Dallas, passing Jason Kreis.{{Cite web|date=August 21, 2020|title=Matt Hedges Breaks FC Dallas' All-Time MLS Appearance Record|url=https://www.fcdallas.com/post/2020/08/21/matt-hedges-breaks-fc-dallas-all-time-mls-appearance-record|access-date=September 3, 2020|website=FC Dallas}}
In December 2022, he signed a two-year contract with Toronto FC beginning in the 2023 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.torontofc.ca/news/toronto-fc-sign-defender-matt-hedges|title=Toronto FC sign defender Matt Hedges|date=December 19, 2022|work=Toronto FC}}
In July 2023, he was traded to Austin FC in exchange for General Allocation Money.{{cite web|url=https://www.torontofc.ca/news/toronto-fc-send-matt-hedges-to-austin-fc-in-exchange-for-gam|title=Toronto FC send Matt Hedges to Austin FC in exchange for GAM|date=July 26, 2023|work=Toronto FC}} He signed a new contract with the club through the 2024 season, with options for 2025 and 2026.{{cite web|url=https://www.austinfc.com/news/austin-fc-acquires-defender-matt-hedges-in-trade-with-toronto-fc|title=Austin FC Acquires Defender Matt Hedges In Trade with Toronto FC|date=July 26, 2023|work=Austin FC}}
International career
Hedges made his United States men's national soccer team debut on February 8, 2015, when he came on as a substitute in the 72nd minute against Panama in a friendly.{{Cite web|url = http://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2015/02/08/16/40/150208-mnt-v-pan-gamestory|title = MNT Earns First Win of 2015, Shuts Out Panama 2-0 at StubHub Center}} He was selected to the U.S. squad for the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup, which the U.S. ended up winning. Hedges started and played 90 minutes in victories over Martinique in group stage play and El Salvador in the quarterfinals.
Career statistics
{{updated|match played September 14, 2024}}{{Soccerway|matt-hedges/132883}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|Playoffs !colspan="2"|U.S. Open Cup !colspan="2"|CONCACAF !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||||
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Wayne Fever
|2009 |rowspan="3"|Premier Development League |9 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 9 | 0 | |||||
| rowspan="3"|Reading United
|2010 |? | ? | colspan="2"|— | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | ? | ? | ||||
| 2011
|? | ? | colspan="2"|— | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | ? | ? | ||||
| colspan="2"|Total
!26 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 6 | |
| rowspan="12"|FC Dallas
|2012 |rowspan="11"|Major League Soccer |28 | 3 | colspan="2"|— | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 29 | 3 | ||||
| 2013
|33 | 3 | colspan="2"|— | 2 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 35 | 4 | ||||
| 2014
|32 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 37 | 3 | |||
| 2015
|31 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 36 | 1 | |||
| 2016
|26 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | 35 | 4 | ||
| 2017
|27 | 2 | colspan="2"|— | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 32 | 2 | |||
| 2018
|33 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 38 | 3 | ||
| 2019
|33 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 36 | 3 | |||
| 2020
|19 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 21 | 0 | ||||
| 2021
|20 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 20 | 1 | |||||
| 2022
|28 | 1 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 30 | 1 | ||||
| colspan="2"|Total
!310 | 18 | 15 | 2 | 15 | 4 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 349 | 25 | |
| Toronto FC
|2023 |rowspan="3"|Major League Soccer |14 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 14 | 0 | ||||
| rowspan="3"|Austin FC
|2023 |6 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 1{{efn|name=LC|Appearance(s) in Leagues Cup}} | 0 | 7 | 1 | ||||
| 2024
|15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 3{{efn|name=LC}} | 0 | 18 | 1 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!21 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 25 | 2 | |
| colspan="3"|Career total
!381 | 17 | 2 | 24 | 17 | 4 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 426 | 33 |
{{notelist}}
Honors
University of North Carolina
FC Dallas
United States
- CONCACAF Gold Cup: 2017{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2017/07/27/usmnt-defeats-jamaica-win-concacaf-gold-cup/515273001/|title= U.S. men's national team defeats Jamaica to win CONCACAF Gold Cup|date=July 26, 2017|work=USA Today|accessdate=July 5, 2023}}
Individual
- Horizon League Defender of the Year: 2009,{{Cite web|url=http://www.butlersports.com/news/2009/11/10/11_10_2009_379.aspx?path=msoc|title=Butler Lands Eight On All-League Men's Soccer Team|date=November 10, 2009|website=butlersports.com|publisher=Butler University Athletics|access-date=January 11, 2017}} 2010{{Cite web|url=http://www.horizonleague.org/blog/horizon-league-announces-mens-soccer-award-winners|title=Horizon League Announces Men's Soccer Award Winners|date=November 8, 2010|website=horizonleague.org|publisher=Horizon League|access-date=January 11, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161110174019/http://www.horizonleague.org/blog/horizon-league-announces-mens-soccer-award-winners|archive-date=November 10, 2016|url-status=dead}}
- ACC Defender of the Year: 2011
- NCAA 1st Team All America: 2011
- MLS Best XI: 2015,{{Cite web|url = http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2015/11/29/2015-mls-best-xi-revealed-10-first-time-selections-get-nod|title = 2015 MLS Best XI revealed: 10 first-time selections get the nod}} 2016{{Cite web|url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2016/12/05/mls-best-xi-revealed-who-was-best-each-position-2016|title=MLS Best XI revealed: Who was the best at each position in 2016?|date=December 5, 2016 }}
- MLS Defender of the Year: 2016{{Cite web|url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2016/11/11/fc-dallas-matt-hedges-named-2016-mls-defender-year|title=FC Dallas' Matt Hedges named 2016 MLS Defender of the Year|last=Stejskal|first=Sam|date=November 11, 2016|website=mlssoccer.com|publisher=Major League Soccer|access-date=January 11, 2017}}
- MLS All-Star: 2017,{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/all-star/2017/rosters/mls-all-star-team|title=2017 MLS All-Star Roster|date=August 2, 2017 }} 2018,{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/all-star/2018/rosters/mls-all-star-team|title=2018 MLS All-Star Roster|date=June 29, 2018 }} 2019{{cite web |title=2019 MLS All-Star Roster |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/all-star/2019/rosters/mls-all-star-team |website=Major League Soccer |date=June 20, 2019 |access-date=14 July 2019}}
See also
{{Portal|Biography}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{sports links}}
- [http://www.tarheelblue.com/sports/m-soccer/mtt/hedges_matt00.html University of North Carolina bio]
- [http://soccerstats.us/bios/matt-hedges Soccerstats bio]
{{Navboxes
|title=Awards and achievements
|bg=gold
|fg=navy
|list1=
{{PDL Defender of the Year}}
{{Atlantic Coast Conference Men's Soccer Player of the Year navbox}}
{{2012 MLS SuperDraft}}
{{FCDallasFirstPick}}
{{MLS Defender of the Year}}
{{2015 MLS Best XI}}
{{2016 MLS Best XI}}
{{2011 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer First-Team All-America}}
}}
{{United States squad 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hedges, Matt}}
Category:American men's soccer players
Category:Butler Bulldogs men's soccer players
Category:Carmel High School (Indiana) alumni
Category:North Carolina Tar Heels men's soccer players
Category:Reading United AC players
Category:Men's association football defenders
Category:Soccer players from New York (state)
Category:USL League Two players
Category:Major League Soccer players
Category:Major League Soccer All-Stars
Category:Sportspeople from Carmel, Indiana
Category:FC Dallas draft picks
Category:United States men's international soccer players
Category:2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup players
Category:CONCACAF Gold Cup–winning players
Category:All-American college men's soccer players