Jakob Glesnes

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

2024 (Philadelphia): In the 2024 MLS season, Glesnes played in 32 games (32 starts) logging 2,810 minutes, second most among all Union defenders, scoring two goals and registering three assists.

2023 (Philadelphia): Glesnes made 31 appearances (31 starts) for the Union in 2023, registering two goals in that time…Named to the gameday roster for the 2023 MLS All-Star Game presented by Target…Tied for the team lead in minutes plates (2790 minutes)...With his start against CIN on 9/16, Glesnes joined Chris Klein (118) as the only two field players in MLS history to start 100 consecutive MLS regular season games. He is the sixth player overall to reach the milestone in the league.

2022 (Philadelphia): Glesnes made 34 appearances (34 starts) at centerback in 2022, starting every minute...Registered his first assist of the season against Minnesota United FC (2/26)... Named to the MLS Team of the Week (Week 23)...Named to MLS All-Star team for first time in his career.

2021 (Philadelphia): Glesnes made 42 appearances (42 starts) at centerback in 2021 across all competitions...He has registered 3 goals in MLS play. Contributed to the Union’s first shutout of the MLS season, a 0-0 away draw vs. Columbus (Apr. 18), as well as two additional clean sheets in both legs of the team’s Concacaf Champions League matchup against Deportivo Saprissa (1-0 Apr. 7, 4-0 Apr. 14)...Named to Concacaf’s Best XI for CCL Round of 16...Helped provide another clean sheet for the Union during the team's 3-0 first leg Concacaf Champions League quarterfinal win against Atlanta United FC (Apr. 27)...Named to the Week 4 MLS Team of the Week squad after a fantastic performance against the Chicago Fire where he scored in the 60' (May 8)...Scored a world class, game-tying goal in the 90+3' against Atlanta United FC from 30 yards out that rocketed in off the cross bar to secure a point for the Union (Jun. 20)... Provided an assist to Union striker Cory Burke during the 45+2' of the team's 3-3 draw at Chicago Fire (Jun. 26)...Assisted Paxten Aaronson's first career MLS goal at New England (Aug. 8)...Helped Union to their 10th clean sheet of the season (Oct. 3)... Scored the game-winning goal in the fist round of the Audi 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs against NYRB (Nov. 20). The goal is the latest game winner in MLS Cup Playoffs history (120+3’), as well as the latest goal in any MLS competition...Started in the Conference Semifinals match of the Audi 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs against Nashville SC (Nov. 28)..Glesnes won the team-voted Defensive Player of the Year award after another successful season with the club.

2020 (Philadelphia): Glesnes made 19 appearances (17 starts) for the Union at centerback, scoring one goal ... He made his Union debut in the season opener on the road against FC Dallas (February 29) … Glesnes registered his first Union goal on the road against LAFC (March 8), scoring off a long-distance freekick...Returned to the starting XI and helped the club a 1-0 shutout of New York Red Bulls (August 25)...Helped the club to another shutout against Red Bulls (September 30)...helped the club once more to back-to-back shutouts with a draw at FC Cincinnati (September 23) and then against Inter Miami CF (September 27) in a 3-0 winning effort.

Glesnes comes to Philadelphia from the first-tier Norwegian league, Eliteserien, where he captained Stromsgodset Toppfotball. Joining Stromsgodset IF in 2016, Glesnes made 30 appearances in the 2018/19 season, contributing three assists in that time and has totaled three goals and seven assists in 113 matches overall for the club. Additionally, he played in three NM-Cup matches.

Previously, Glesnes played for First Division club Asane in 2015 before joining first-tier club Sarpsborg 08, making his debut in March 2016. His first appearance for the Norway’s Men’s U21 national team came on October 7, 2016 and he was called up to represent the senior Norway Men’s National Team in October 2019.

Off the field, Glesnes has been recognized for his community work and commitment to youth soccer. He was named Norwegian soccer’s Role Model of the Year and Stromsgodset’s Community Player of the Year in 2017 for his work with community youth soccer program, Blue Hour.