DOOPy Links: Gaddis Receives Hercules Award, Picault and Santos Reuniting & More

Former Philadelphia Union defender Ray Gaddis was recently honored with the United Soccer Coaches Hercules Award. Presented by the Black Soccer Coaches Community, the award recognizes individuals who “demonstrate outstanding leadership, mentorship, and advocacy for social and economic equality within the Black soccer community.”

Gaddis has served as the Director of Player Development and Ambassador for his former youth club United Soccer Alliance of Indiana since he retired in 2023.

Gaddis made 248 appearances and logged more than 21,000 minutes during his time with the Philadelphia Union and came out of retirement to play at FC Cincinnati for two seasons.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by USA of Indiana (@usaofindiana)

Fafa Picault and Sergio Santos Reunite
Former Union teammates Fafa Picault and Sergio Santos are reuniting with Atlanta United. The duo combined on this memorable goal against the Red Bulls when they were still with the Union.

Atlanta will be the fourth MLS club for the 31-year-old Santos and the 7th for the 34-yer-old Picault.

Tanner Investigation Still Ongoing
The Guardian reported this week that the investigation reopened last year into Philadelphia Union Sporting Director Ernst Tanner is still ongoing and that non-disclosure agreements have held up the process.

Replay of Concacaf Champions Cup First Leg Available
A full replay of last night’s Champions Cup match win over Defence Force is available to watch online with a TV provider login.

Concacaf Champions Cup Game Coverage

The Free Kick
Philly Soccer Page
Union Soccer Blog
Concacaf.com
FotMob
The One Team We Agree On
Philadelphia Inquirer

Quotable

“We felt a lot more comfortable after the first goal, and it allowed us to play a bit more free and a bit more open. We knew it was going to be a tough challenge coming here and playing in a tough environment, but, you know, once we got the first goal, we settled into the game a little bit and took control from there.”

-Milan Iloski, the Superior Man of the Match in the Union’s 5-0 win over Defence Force in Champions Cup play

Matthew Ralph

Matthew Ralph is the managing editor of Philadelphia Soccer Now. He's covered soccer at all levels for a decade in the Philadelphia region and has also written for TheCup.us, NPSL, PrepSoccer and other publications. He lives with his wife and two young children in Broomall, Pa., but grew up in South Jersey and is originally from Kansas.

See Full Bio