Minnesota United roster analysis: Decisions about players must be made
Minnesota United's next general manager and head coach will inherit a roster of puzzle pieces assembled by fired predecessors Adrian Heath and technical director Mark Watson.
Several are foundational commitments signed through 2025 or 2026, to contracts as large as newcomer Teemu Pukki's $3.55 million salary and star midfielder Emanuel Reynoso $2.15 million this season. Others are decisions needed on players with expiring contracts such as right back DJ Taylor or with team options.
Some are seemingly simple, such as keeping improving 22-year-old Joseph Rosales and fellow Honduran Kervin Arriaga. Some could take some thought on veterans Michael Boxall, Wil Trapp and Ján Greguš, depending on roster fit and cost.
Here's a look at that roster:
ATTACKERS
Teemu Pukki
Center forward, age 33
Country: Finland
Contract expires: June 30, 2025
Signed as a designated player to score, he delivered 10 goals in 14 games — four of them in one game — despite a slow start when he went eight consecutive games without one.
Right-wing attacker, age 33
Country: South Africa
Contract expires: Dec. 31, 2024 (team option for 2025)
He became a breakout star by scoring two goals each in three consecutive Leagues Cup games, but he didn't score in final five regular-season games on his way back from a knee injury.
Sang Bin Jeong
Center forward, age 21
Country: South Korea
Contract expires: Dec. 31, 2025 (club option for 2026)
He played less and less as season progressed, scored once in 23 appearances, nine of them starts most early on.
Left wing, age 30
Country: Argentina
Contract expires: Dec. 31, 2024
He played a lesser role in 2023, scoring one goal in 24 appearances — 14 of them starts —during a year when he missed a month midseason.
Don't forget: Designated Player Mender García, the Colombian striker is waiting to break through like Hlongwane has.
MIDFIELDERS
Emanuel Reynoso
Attacking midfielder, age 27
Country: Argentina
Contract expires: Dec. 31, 2025 (team option for 2026)
Heath and Watson did so much to get him here, as a designated player signed through 2026. Reynoso calls himself committed to the club and new management. "I have lots of desire to continue," he said in Spanish translated. "I'm very content and satisfied with what the club is doing. Let's keep moving forward."
Midfielder and attacker, age 30
Country: Finland
Contract expires: Dec. 31, 2025 (team option for 2026)
Versatile veteran had May surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee. He was ahead of schedule late this season for a return starting next season. He's Pukki's Finland national teammate.
Caden Clark
Attacking midfielder, age 20
Hometown: Medina, Minn.
Contract expires: June 30, 2025
Last big move made by Heath and Watson to bring a young, gifted player back home to Minnesota starting next season. He's on loan from RB Leipzig to a Denmark second-division team until then.
Midfielder, age 26
Hometown: Federal Way, Wash.
Contract expires Dec. 2024 (team option for 2025)
Heath often called him the team's best player late in a season when he moved up and played a left-side attacking role.
Joseph Rosales
Central midfielder, age 22
Country: Honduras
Contract expires: Dec. 31, 2023 (team options 2024 and 2025)
He showed his versatility and growth by playing anywhere from left back to left-side attacker until a hamstring injury sidelined him late in season.
Kervin Arriaga
Midfielder, age 25
Country: Honduras
Contract expires: Dec. 31, 2023 (team option for 2024)
His season-ending knee surgery in early August wasn't season-ending at all. He was back by late September and could take over at defensive midfield in 2024.
Will they return?
• Captain Wil Trapp's contract expires at a position where the club has other options. "I would love to," he said when asked if he expects to be back
• The Loons brought back Ján Greguš when Arriaga was injured, and Greguš started 10 of the 12 games he played. The team has an option for Greguš but the midfield already is full.
DEFENDERS
Micky Tapias
Left center back, age 26
Country: Mexico
Contract expires: Dec. 31, 2025 (team option for 2026)
He played 32 of 34 games this season — and started all 32 after Heath & Co. discovered him in a 2019 friendly against Tapias' Pachuca club team.
Michael Boxall
Center back, age 35
Country: New Zealand
Contract expires: Dec. 31, 2023
A Loon since their inaugural MLS season in 2017, Boxall has a contract expiring at year's end, and he wants to return. "I'm not too worried," he said. "I'm a one-day-at-a-time guy and everything else will take care of itself down the road."
Left back, age 21
Country: England
Contract expires: Dec. 31, 2025
He started six of nine games soon after arriving from England's second division but made some costly mistakes.
Gone? The new guys all will decide the futures of veterans Bakaye Dibassy, Zarek Valentine, Brent Kallman as well as DJ Taylor and Devin Padelford.
GOALKEEPER
Age 26
Country: Canada
Contract expires: Dec. 31, 2024 (team option for 2025)
Just finished his fifth MLS season and still approaching his prime, he started 30 MLS games and all five Leagues Cup games. Add a couple CONCACAF Gold Cup games he started for Canada, too.
Veteran backup Clint Irwin is signed through 2024 with a team option.
