CINCINNATI — FC Cincinnati defender Nick Hagglund reached another milestone Wednesday night, making his 180th appearance for the Orange and Blue to become the club's all-time leader in matches played across all competitions.
Hagglund, a Cincinnati native and Lakota West High School graduate, surpassed former teammate Yuya Kubo, whose 179 appearances had stood as the club record. Hagglund tied that mark Sunday against Columbus before breaking it in Cincinnati's 2-1 victory over D.C. United at TQL Stadium.
The 34-year-old defender has been with FC Cincinnati since its inaugural MLS season in 2019 and is the only player to have been on the club's roster for all eight MLS seasons. His connection to the city runs much deeper, having grown up in the Cincinnati area before playing college soccer at Xavier University.
Hagglund also made an important defensive play Wednesday. With Cincinnati leading 1-0 in the 24th minute, he used a diving header to clear a D.C. United opportunity off the goal line, preserving the Orange and Blue's early advantage. D.C. eventually equalized in the 38th minute, but Teenage Hadebe scored the winner in the second half.
The milestone adds another accomplishment to Hagglund's career, but the veteran defender remains focused on helping Cincinnati win its first MLS Cup. The Orange and Blue return to action Saturday in Washington for another meeting with D.C. United, looking to build on Wednesday's victory and strengthen their playoff position.
