The Philadelphia Union have certainly been one of the best teams in the MLS in recent memory. However, that hasn’t been the case for a great part of their history as a club, having more downs than ups ever since they started competing in the MLS.
Still, the Philadelphia Union are one of the biggest underdog stories in the league’s “short” history, being able to consistently punch above their weight and carve a reputation within the league.
From underdogs to one of the leagues best, it’s clear Philadelphia Union have been able to defy the odds and become one of bettors’ favorite choices when it comes to the MLS.
But how have they been able to reach such status?
Patience Makes Perfect
One of the main reasons the Philadelphia Union have gained their reputation as one of the MLS’ best clubs has been through patience, slowly building a club culture and a style that truly identifies what the team from Pennsylvania wants to portray as a club.
Unlike clubs like LA Galaxy or Inter Miami, who have spent a lot, compromising their future and stability, the Philadelphia Union shifted their focus into a more stable approach that would guarantee long-term success on a consistent basis.
Philadelphia Union have always been very keen on developing their own stars with the hopes of strengthening their team with loyal players who know the culture of the club, whilst also strengthening the US as a national team with local players.
Luckily, it has worked like a charm for the Union, as they have produced some great talent, with the likes of Brenden Aaronson or Mark McKenzie, who now play in Europe, coming through their youth system.
Besides those two excellent players, we can’t forget about arguably one of the hottest talents in world football: Cavan Sullivan. Making his first appearance for the Union at just 14, the midfielder has already agreed to join Manchester City, despite not being able to join them until 2027 due to age restrictions. Still, Cavan Sullivan is the prime example of how, patiently, the Philadelphia Union is creating a system where their youth become their future, both on the pitch and economically.
Defying the Odds on the Field and in the Market
Thanks to the huge emphasis on developing young talent and taking care of all aspects of the club, specially the economic side of things, the Union has been able to defy the odds both on and off the field, dominating the eastern conference whilst also becoming one of the best choices in the betting market.
Despite them being one of the best clubs in the MLS, that wasn’t the case not too long ago, with sportsbooks ranking them as underdogs or underperformers, always putting them as the “losers”. It didn’t matter if it was normal results, goals scored, shots or corners, most betting sites ranked them poorly, which was very far from reality. Slowly, bettors who took advantage of betting sites with live odds feed started to notice that, in reality, Philadelphia Union were actually smashing all odds, guaranteeing individuals huge wins.
Eventually, many bettors started to get on the Philadeplhia Union hype train, jumping in on one of the best paying clubs in the betting market, as betting sites tend to undervalue teams like Philadelphia Union who lack big names or big stars, which has been the case, specially since the arrival of the likes of Leo Messi to the MLS.
Luckily for those who followed the Union closely, they were able to see that sites only studied Philadelphia Union on a very basic level, which was a huge advantage for those who studied the Union closely.
A Bright Future for the Union, a Brighter Future for Bettors
Luckily for many, the MLS is not one of the most followed leagues in the world, specially teams like Philadelphia Union who are not as relevant as teams like Inter Miami or LA Galaxy are.
With more star players signing for other teams, the Union remains, even after managing to be one of the league’s best, as a true underdog, something bettors will be happy about, as it will keep the Union as an odds defier for at least a few more years.
