CHESTER — Flexibility, for player and club, was the aim when Daniel Gazdag signed in the summer of 2021. The original deal was for two years, with club options, enough of an out should either party not want to continue with the arrangement.
Eighteen months on, Gazdag has worked out better than the Union could’ve hoped. And despite interest in Europe, the sides hammered out a deal last week that will keep him with the Union at least through 2025.
“I had some opportunities to leave, obviously because I had a really good season last year, but I’m very happy that I signed a new contract here,” Gazdag said at training camp on Tuesday. “Also my family is happy that we are living here in Philadelphia. We love the club, the fans, I like to play here in Subaru Park, so we are happy here.”
Family played a role in Gazdag staying, but so did his continued improvement as a player. He scored 22 goals last season to go with 10 assists, the most prolific season in Union history. An MLS Best XI selection, he is one of six players in league history with 20 goals and 10 assists in a season, helping the Union finish first in the Eastern Conference and reach the MLS Cup final.
Combined with his continued selection in the Hungarian national team, Gazdag is perfectly capable of ticking off goals on his career checklist in Philadelphia. So staying put became the right move for him.
Falling out of Hungary’s good graces wasn’t a concern for him when he left Honved in 2021, after helping the team secure survival from relegation. He figured that success anywhere would translate, and he didn’t feel pressure to return to Europe for the sake of his national team ambitions.
“Sometimes in Europe, you can feel that they underestimate the MLS,” he said. “But I think that’s a stupid idea because the league is really good here. I also was surprised when I arrived at how physical and fast the tempo was during the games. I think the MLS is growing really fast, and the people will see that.”
Gazdag has 17 caps for Hungary. He’s scored three of his four international goals since moving to the Union – two in World Cup qualifying in the fall of 2021, one in England in a 4-0 UEFA Nations League thumping of the Three Lions last June.
Gazdag made the Hungary squad for the rescheduled European Championships in 2021, just after his move to the Union, but a minor if untimely knee issue forced him to miss that. Regaining form with the Union was a big part of mentally getting over the disappointment. The next Euros, in 2024 in Germany, is the next significant international goal on the horizon.
“We’ve got a really good draw with the national team, so we have a good chance to do it,” he said. “I think we have to do it to be there.”
Part of the new deal is a raise (Gazdag earned just under $600,000 last year) and a change to wear the No. 10 shirt, hallmark of a team leader in the sport. That hallowed number is an honor Gazdag is ready to earn.
“That means a lot,” he said. “I think that shows that they … really like me, that they gave me this number. I want to give back during this season something. I would like to score a lot of goals.”
Source: Berkshire mont
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