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Daily Power Rankings: 6 (Former) Minnesota United Players You Probably Forgot About

Get ready for a blast from the past in the form of 6 names...

MLS: Minnesota United FC at FC Dallas
Remember him?
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Minnesota United may be in just its fourth Major League Soccer season, but plenty of players have come and gone in the MLS era.

Some, like Kevin Molino, have been there since that 5-1 drubbing in Portland on March 3, 2017. Others, like then-captain Vadim Demidov, departed quickly after that result.

There have been six players, however, who had especially forgettable stretches with the Loons or have since slipped out of memory. They’re the subject of today’s Daily Power Rankings.

The 6 Minnesota United Players You Probably Forgot About

No. 6: Johan Venegas (2017-18)

MLS: Vancouver Whitecaps FC at Minnesota United FC Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

Venegas arrived ahead of the inaugural season in a trade with the Montreal Impact. He scored two goals in 12 appearances, a largely disappointing haul for the winger/forward. After struggling in 2017, he was loaned to Saprissa for the 2018 season. He made two starts for Costa Rica at the 2018 World Cup.

He signed for Saprissa permanently after his loan deal and contract with United expired. Wikipedia says he’s scored 28 goals in 69 appearances there.

No. 5: Jermaine Taylor

MLS: Minnesota United FC at Atlanta United FC Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Taylor also signed ahead of the 2017 season and started the opener. He made seven appearances – three starts – over the course of the campaign, usually at right back. The Loons declined his option after one year.

The Jamaican joined Austin Bold FC of the USL Championship, where he’s still on roster, for the 2019 season and made 33 starts.

No. 4: Mohammed Saeid

Saeid had an extraordinarily short stay with Minnesota. He started the first-ever MLS game as the right-sided central attacking midfielder in 4-1-4-1, but was traded to the Colorado Rapids on March 31 of that year for Sam Cronin and Marc Burch.

Perhaps his most remarkable contribution, though, was this:

Saeid made 29 appearances for the Rapids over the rest of the season, but moved to the Danish league in 2018 before settling in his native Sweden to play 2019 with IK Sirius, where he scored five goals in 36 appearances.

No. 3: Brandon Allen

MLS: Portland Timbers vs New York Red Bulls
Allen (then with the Red Bulls) is in red.
Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports

Allen, a young striker, arrived on loan from the New York Red Bulls in July of 2017, looking for more playing time. He only made one appearance. Huh.

Allen’s moved to the USL since. He spent 2018 with Bethlehem Steel and Nashville and 2019 with the Tampa Bay Rowdies and Memphis 901, where he’s currently rostered.

No. 2: Bashkim Kadrii

MLS: Minnesota United FC at FC Dallas Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Kadrii arrived on loan from FC Copenhagen at the start of the 2017 season and stuck around until the beginning of September, when his loan was terminated. He made five starts in 11 appearances, scoring once in a friendly.

The Danish winger had, until recently, remained in Denmark with Randers and OB. At the end of January, though, he moved to Al-Fateh SC in Saudi Arabia, where he has yet to appear.

No. 1: Jose Leiton

MLS: 2018 Portraits USA TODAY Sports

Leiton only played 15 minutes for the Loons after arriving on loan from Herediano in the 2017 season, coming on during a 1-1 road draw with the Philadelphia Union. He was an unused sub in 11 other matches, though, and left midway through the 2018 campaign when his one-year loan ended.

The Costa Rican winger returned to Herediano after the end of his deal. He joined Grecia in January.

Any players we forgot to mention on our forgettable list? Or do you have memories of these Loons? Let us know in the comments section below!