Neil Pierre Stands Out for Philadelphia Union After Lyngby Loan

Philadelphia Union's most eye-catching name at training was center-back Neil Pierre, who stands 6 feet 7. But height is not the only thing that stands out about him. Pierre was loaned to Lyngby in Denmark, where he helped the club earn promotion to the Danish Superliga.

Pierre played as a right-back at Lyngby and had to adapt to a new position. Co-head coach Andreas Bjelland praised the player's strength and determination. According to Bjelland, Pierre needed to improve his game intelligence and composure. The young defender scored four goals in 10 matches during this spell.

After returning to the Union, Pierre played a part in the team climbing up from the bottom of the Eastern Conference. The club collected seven points before the World Cup and 40 points after it. Since the World Cup, the defense has been the third-best in MLS at restricting goals, conceding 21.

Pierre was called up to the senior national team for the first time and made his debut for the side. He was then selected again for the CONCACAF Nations League. The United States will play two matches against Haiti in this window.

Pierre's path to football was shaped by his family. He was initially interested in basketball, but turned to football after seeing the passion his father and older brother Nelson had for the sport. Nelson Pierre is currently on loan from the Vancouver Whitecaps to HFX Wanderers.