Daniel Edelman made a winning return to Sports Illustrated Stadium on Wednesday as a member of visiting St. Louis CITY SC.
Edelman played for 85 minutes and made seven passes into the final third as St. Louis defeated the Red Bulls 3-0.
The 23-year-old Warren, New Jersey, native who previously spent four seasons in the Red Bull New York first team and graduated from the Red Bull New York Academy entered his old stomping grounds in a visiting uniform for the first time in his career.
Edelman Receives a Warm Welcome From Red Bull New York
Prior to the match, Red Bull New York head of sport Julian de Guzman presented Edelman with a ceremonial plaque and a warm embrace.
“I’m super grateful that they still have that feeling towards me and can still have that relationship, and it can be a forever home for me,” Edelman said in the mixed zone following St. Louis’ victory.
“Red Bull will still be so special to me and what they were able to give me and how I was able to grow as a person and player. I needed the new challenge and moved on, but to know that they still have my back and full support, you don’t get those things often in life.”
Edelman made 118 appearances in all competitions for the Red Bulls and scored three goals. Perhaps none was more memorable than his winning penalty that knocked out the defending MLS Cup champion Columbus Crew in the first round of the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs.
Edelman Admits It Was ‘Weird’ Facing Former Red Bull New York Teammates
The 5-foot-11 midfielder admitted that it was a little strange to be lining up against his former Red Bulls teammates.
“Dylan Nealis was out there tonight,” Edelman said. “We were playing against him, Emil [Forsberg], [Eric Maxim] Choupo [Moting], Tim Parker playing. It was weird to see them out there, but I just had to lock in, kind of block all that stuff out, and then embrace each other afterward.”
Edelman also noticed several Red Bull New York II and Red Bull New York Academy members make the leap to first team opportunities, including midfielder Nate Worth, who made his Red Bull New York debut on Wednesday.
“I trained with him in the offseason — always been a good, tidy player,” Edelman said of Worth. “Great to see him making steps and step on the field tonight. He’s done really good with Red Bull II, so wishing him only the best.”
Damet Sees More Growth Ahead for Edelman
St. Louis CITY SC head coach Yoann Damet previously coached Edelman for the United States men’s national under-20 team before they reunited in their first year in St. Louis.
“I’ve known Danny for a little bit of time,” Damet said. “We came across each other with the youth national team a couple of years ago. He’s a young player that has a lot of experience.
“He already had a lot of experience before coming to us. So it’s always interesting to work with those young players because if they have that amount of game, they’ve done something really well already. So we had a good base to work with and then it was more a matter of him understanding what we wanted to do on both sides of the ball, defensively and offensively.”
Edelman Putting Up Career-Best Numbers With St. Louis
While Edelman played a deeper holding midfielder role with Red Bull New York, Damet has allowed him to play with greater freedom and attacking intent.
Edelman has responded by recording career bests with four goals and four assists through his first 26 MLS matches since he joined St. Louis.
“There are always nuances between clubs, between coaches as well,” Damet explained. “But when you work with a player that is fully committed, that has a growth mindset, that wants to get better every single day, that wants to be pushed and challenged, it’s always easier to work with those kinds of guys.
“So I think you’ve seen the way he’s been involved on the ball, the way he’s been able to help us on the build-up, but also joining the attack. This year is his most prolific year in the final third in terms of assists and goals. So that’s a little bit of his evolution. I still think there is a lot of room for progress. He knows it as well.”
Edelman Wants St. Louis to Become a ‘Team to Be Reckoned With’
Edelman’s impact has helped St. Louis rise to second in the Western Conference standings after the club finished 24th overall in Major League Soccer last season.
“We want to keep going,” Edelman stated. “We want to keep establishing our dominance and reputation within this league that St. Louis is a team to be reckoned with.”
Damet sees a bright future for Edelman not only because of his on-field traits but also because of his desire to improve.
“He’s still young,” Damet said. “I think all our players are thinking that way. So it’s been very positive to have him. He’s bringing experience, but at the same time he’s bringing that youth spirit of like, okay, I want more.”
Edelman and St. Louis will return home to Energizer Park on Sunday to face the Los Angeles Galaxy. Sunday’s contest is scheduled to kick off at 7 p.m. Eastern Time.
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