We’ve taken a deep dive into Minnesota United’s best defenders of all time. We’ve lauded the skill of our intrepid attack. But we’re not yet done giving the Team of the Decade their flowers, folks, because one crucial part of the squad remains: the bench.
Our bench consists of the five players who received the most votes outside of our starting XI, and what a lineup it is. Here are the five guys (no, not the restaurant) who might just be the biggest impact subs ever.
Bakaye Dibassy
Bakaye Dibassy was the epitome of defense, a real force to be reckoned with, and boy, were we happy to have him repping the Black and Blue. Joining the club in 2020, he played a massive role in propelling the Loons to their first-ever MLS Cup Western Conference Final, even logging two stellar goals of his own in the postseason. In regular-season play, he tallied 227 clearances in 67 starts, consistently removing the ball from dangerous spots in the critical moment. We remember him as the man who was always there — and always ready.
Hassani Dotson
This man was a Loon through and through, to the point that he even proposed on the pitch after a match. In his seven seasons donning the Black and Blue, he made a mark we’ll never forget. Selected by MNUFC in the 2019 SuperDraft, Dotson went on to become a midfield staple who helped the team to their first-ever postseason in his first season with the club.
But perhaps our most prominent memories of Hassani are of him scoring banger after banger, as he contributed 17 goals and 10 assists on his way to becoming one of the best attacking midfielders in Loons history. (I have a Dotson jersey and I don’t care that he plays in Seattle now. I’ll still wear it.)
Bongokuhle Hlongwane
This beloved Loon signed with MNUFC as a U22 initiative player in 2022, and has since become the club’s second-leading scorer across all competitions, only behind Robin Lod. A large part of that goal tally comes from Leagues Cup, where Bongi made a name for himself as one of the tournament’s most prolific scorers. Top three of all time, to be exact, behind only Denis Bouanga and Lionel Messi himself.
One of Bongi’s most valuable traits is his sheer versatility. We’ve seen him shift from a speedy attacking winger to a steady wingback, proving himself up and down the field, and our boy continues to contribute in his fifth season with the Black and Blue. (Also, his matchday outfits are unmatched.)
Darwin Quintero
One of my earliest memories of being a Loons fan was screaming Quintero’s name at then-named TCF Bank Stadium in August 2018, as he took the lead for the Loons in the 19th minute with a beautiful left-footer off a ball from Miguel Ibarra. (Against Seattle, obviously, our mortal enemies.)
I thought, This is a real soccer player. I stand by it. Quintero was central to Minnesota’s attacking unit for his two seasons with the club. Nobody can forget his iconic hat trick against Toronto that same year, just one of many examples of him carrying the Black and Blue to success with a combination of fancy footwork and crazy conversion ability. Truly a legend for the ages.
Christian Ramírez
Last but most certainly not least, we have Superman himself. Christian Ramírez started out with Minnesota back in the Loons’ NASL days, and he made the big jump to Major League Soccer with us. He had no problem adapting to the new demands of the nation’s top league, leading the club in scoring in his first year with 14 goals in 27 starts. Though his MLS days in Minnesota were short-lived (he was traded to LAFC in August 2018), it was perhaps the most concentrated impact a player has ever had on this club. Twenty-one goals and five assists across 3,776 minutes, and a legacy cemented in the hearts and minds of every Loons fan out there.
And there you have it, folks: the final installation of our Team of the Decade breakdown. I hope you had as much fun as I did diving back into our best memories. You can join us in recognizing our Team of the Decade at the Year 10 Celebration match against Atlanta United on August 19.
