Less than a year after announcing his retirement from Major League Soccer, the celebrated and former Philadelphia Union fullback Ray Gaddis is returning to the field with FC Cincinnati.
Gaddis was a surprise retiree for the Union in March 2021 after he helped lead the club's on-field renaissance and ultimately to a first-ever major trophy in the 2020 Supporters Shield, awarded each year to the regular season champion.
His step away from the game was met with praise from every level of the Union organization, as well as MLS Commissioner Don Garber and Gaddis' peers.
But after a year of immersing himself in deeply personal philanthropic and community leadership opportunities in his native Indianapolis, Gaddis will join FC Cincinnati to help bolster the club's back line and instill a new culture in the dressing room.
Gaddis signed a two-year contract through 2023 with FC Cincinnati. The deal includes an option year in 2024.
"I had accomplished what I really wanted to do and helped really turn the (Philadelphia) franchise around having been there for many years, and to do it along with Jim Curtin, I thought that was a blessing," Gaddis told The Enquirer. "I really was in the space where it was time to transition and to bring a major trophy to the Union was always the goal.
"Chris (Albright) having been in Philadelphia for a while and me and him having a relationship, but also (FCC head coach) Pat Noonan, we just kind of had a couple conversations. I know I want to get in the front office space a little bit in various aspects post-career, but when an opportunity was presented and it was very similar to the Philadelphia Union, and me being a Midwest guy, I felt it was good to give back to not only the Midwest. Not on the field but also me being an Indianapolis native, so the idea of playing again was very intriguing."
Gaddis said he was presented with multiple front-office job opportunities around MLS, declining to name the clubs that sought his services.
The itch to return to the game, along with an opportunity for new community outreach possibilities, won out over the offers.
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While Gaddis is emerging from retirement, he's not far removed from playing a key role for the Union, where he remains the club's all-time leader in appearances (221), starts (211), and minutes played (18,702).
Gaddis started in all 15 matches he played during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, including back-to-back matches against the New England Revolution in November 2020.
The first of those two games saw the Union clinch the Supporters Shield. The second match against New England was a home playoff game. Both were big stages, and both starts indicate it hasn't been very long since Gaddis was playing at a high level.
Asked about the on-field role he'll play after more than a year on from his last MLS action, Gaddis said: "It was plain, it was clear from Chris and Pat. We want to help stabilize the defense. We want to help and try to cultivate TQL Stadium be a fortress for FC Cincinnati, where we're turning some of the losses into wins. I'm here to try to help shape up the defense."
Gaddis will also serve in a leadership capacity for FC Cincinnati's young stars. He noted his time as one of several mentors to former Union products Brenden Aaronson and Mark McKenzie – both of whom now play in Europe and fetched multi-million dollar transfer fees upon leaving MLS – as evidence of his ability to guide rising talents.
Gaddis is no stranger to Greater Cincinnati, and said he considers joining the club an opportunity to represent the Midwest region.
In his younger days, Gaddis was recruited to play for the University of Cincinnati men's soccer program lead by long-time coach Hylton Dayes (Gaddis eventually chose to play his college soccer at West Virginia. Separately, the UC men's soccer program was scuttled in 2020 – a subject Gaddis is also well-versed on).
One of Gaddis' family members attended Xavier University. Another works at Duke Energy, he said.
Gaddis also plans on diving into community outreach efforts while he's in Cincinnati, which is in line with what many would expect from the 2020 MLS WORKS Humanitarian of the Year award winner.
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Having previously experienced the various community challenges in the area surrounding the Union's Subaru Park, which is located in Chester, Pennsylvania, Gaddis said he wants to be a face that resonates with members of the West End community.
"That's not lost upon me," Gaddis said. "This is something that I've faced in Chester. The reality is, I know where the stadium is and I know what the demographic looks like around the stadium. I think that I'll be a tangible piece just there in general, number one.
"Also, just having done some former programming, we can see what type of partnerships and leverage (we have) where we can benefit not only the community but also create some long-lasting relationships for even after I'm gone for FC Cincinnati to continue to build upon the area in and around the stadium... Those are two things I just have in mind."
The Indy Star in September reported Gaddis helped open a mini-pitch featuring murals "celebrating Black excellence by artists Ashley Nora, Israel Solomon, Rebecca Robinson and Matthew Cooper. Depicted in the murals are Gaddis, Madam C.J. Walker, Oscar Charleston and Briana Scurry."
The miniature field is also used for educational purposes.
During his brief retirement stint, Gaddis was also involved in pandemic-related fundraising that benefitted students for Indianapolis Public Schools.
There was a drive through Gaddis' church to provide seasonally-appropriate shoes. He worked with Indianapolis' Kennedy King Memorial Initiative "to create and cultivate an environment where people are able to relate from different creeds, backgrounds and have a safe place where they can come and commune," Gaddis said, adding, "we're trying to create safe havens and safe places where we can talk about a lot of the things that went on in 2020 and 2019, which was so vivid."
Gaddis remains at work to launch a so-called "Mayor's Cup" – a small-sided soccer tournament in which the teams represent different Indianapolis based communities.
Gaddis was also a founding member of MLS’ Black Players for Change in 2020 and is a key member of the Black Players Coalition. Those initiatives came to the forefront of MLS after the league returned to play at the MLS Is Back Tournament and in the wake of the death of George Floyd.
"If you have that ball, that ball brings people together," Gaddis said. "If we get the product right on the field, a lot of other things and opportunities will open up for FC Cincinnati."
FC Cincinnati's 2022 regular season is scheduled to begin Feb. 26. Preseason is expected to begin in mid-January.
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