COLOMBIAN DEFENDER BEGINS NEW CHAPTER AFTER PLAYING ENTIRE MLS CAREER IN KANSAS CITY
NASHVILLE – Jimmy Medranda has pretty much done it all in his MLS career.
In his seven seasons with Sporting Kansas City, Medranda helped the club win a U.S. Open Cup title, reach the postseason in all but one of his seasons with the club and reach the CONCACAF Champions League multiple times all while playing nearly every position on the pitch.
Now, the 25-year-old Colombian is bringing that versatility to Music City to provide a different dimension to an expansion side.
Here’s all you need to know about Jimmy Medranda.
The Basics
Name: Jimmy Medranda
Position: Defender
How Acquired: Selected from Sporting Kansas City with the fifth pick in the 2019 MLS Expansion Draft. Was made available for selection as part of a trade that also brought goalkeeper Adrían Zendejas to Nashville.
Height: 5’5’’
Weight: 150
Hometown: Mosquera, Colombia
Past Clubs: Sporting Kansas City, Deportivo Pereira (Colombia)
Youth Academy: Deportivo Pereira (Colombia)
Three Things to Know
Here, There, Anywhere – Medranda is one of the most versatile players you can find in MLS. While he has played the vast majority of his MLS matches as an outside back, Medranda has taken the pitch as a central midfielder, left winger, right winger and even as a center forward. That versatility is one of the major reasons why GM Mike Jacobs wanted to bring Medranda in from his former club. Head Coach Gary Smith noted after the Expansion Draft that he would like to find a single area for Medranda to focus on in Nashville, but his versatility will give Smith some flexibility in how he assembles his lineups in 2020.
Lifting a Trophy – Like many different Nashville SC players, Medranda has won silverware in his career. In 2017, Medranda played a key role in guiding Sporting Kansas City to a U.S. Open Cup title. He registered a pair of assists in the club’s five matches on the way to the title, and also came through in the clutch with a converted penalty in the shootout that sent SKC to the Final. After assisting on the equalizing goal in the first half, Medranda was the fourth penalty taker in a penalty shootout that SKC won 5-4.
Que Golazo – Medranda has a tendency to score world-class goals from long range, and that ability was on display on April 20, 2018 with his beautiful curling effort from the wide area that beat the Vancouver Whitecaps keeper in a 6-0 rout in Kansas City. The incredible goal was nominated for 2018 AT&T MLS Goal of the Year, along with Wayne Rooney and D.C. United’s famous last-second winner against Orlando and Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s iconic long-range rocket against LAFC.
Bonus Thing to Know: Fan Love – Medranda became a fan favorite in his time with Sporting Kansas City. That love from the SKC faithful was on display last season when he made his first appearance since suffering a season-ending knee injury in 2018. He came on late as a substitute to a roaring welcome from the home fans, which meant a lot to Medranda.
What They’re Saying
General Manager Mike Jacobs
“Jimmy, from a technical standpoint and athletic standpoint, has the ability to be impactful in multiple areas on the field and where he came into the league very young as an attacking player, he’s got his most serious opportunities as a left back for SKC, and was among the league leaders in tackles per game when he played there, as well as the ability to score highlight-reel type goals from different positions and areas on the field. Where he had primarily played as an attacking player early on in his career, he played most recently as a left back, he can play either of those roles and in the midfield. We expect him to contribute an awful lot.”
Head Coach Gary Smith
“His versatility at that left side, whether it be at left back or left midfield, but there will be individuals who say he’s better inside in central midfield. I do think that there needs to be an area for him to really focus on. That’s part of our challenge and Jimmy’s challenge.”
Highlights
Goal of the Year Nominee (one more time)
From Distance, October 2017
