With Rangers Dropping To The 3rd Division, Bedoya Elects To Go To Sweden

It was only a matter of time before the U.S. men's national team members on Rangers went elsewhere to play this season since the Scottish club is being punished for its financial problems by getting dropped to the third division.

Midfielder Alejandro Bedoya, who has 13 CAPs for the U.S., was the first to break the ice as he announced earlier today that he's headed for Helsingborgs IF in Sweden. The Boston College product was only in Scotland for one season and while he scored but one goal in 13 appearances, his future is still bright because he's only 25.

With players leaving Rangers left and right, he would have received more playing time but he probably weighed that against the fact that they wouldn't be on the biggest stage for at least a few more years. We'll have to see what happens with U.S. defender Carlos Bocanegra and midfielder Maurice Edu, the two other Americans that called Rangers home.

The roster for the U.S. vs. Mexico friendly next week will be announced on Sunday at 4 p.m. Jurgen Klinsmann hasn't called Bedoya into training camp in a while so it'll be interesting to see if he gets some love any time soon from his country. In the limited amount that he has played for the U.S., he has looked good. I'm not sure why he seemingly fell out of favor.

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Charlie Davies Is Still Out There Working

In case you forgot, Charlie Davies is still playing professional soccer for a living. The former Boston College and U.S. men's national team striker was most recently at Sochaux in France but he spent most of last season on loan at DC United in MLS.

We don't have to review his horrific car accident in October 2009 that likely robbed him of millions in career earnings not to mention his playing ability because this story is still developing and most importantly, it has a happy ending for him.

Davies signed a two-year deal with the Danish club Randers and he was set to begin training with them today. Their club season starts in a few weeks.

From CNNSI.com
Davies said on Randers' website that the deal "gives me a great chance to show I can be a success on European soil."

Randers club director Jacob Nielsen said the 26-year-old American will bring more speed to the lineup and that "he will fit in well with our current team of attackers."

The easiest thing to do is lament what he's lost and wonder what would have happened if he didn't nearly lose his life that fateful night. However, if he has the strength to move on and keep working on the comeback trail, the least we can do is support him throughout his journey. Not many people are as mentally and as physically tough as Davies, this much I know has to be true.

From following him on Twitter (@CharlieDavies9), I know that he recently got married. Give him a follow if you want to keep up with the latest news in his life, he is a truly inspirational guy.

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Alejandro Bedoya Moving On Up: From Sweden (Orebro) To Scotland (Rangers)

Other than Freddy Adu, nobody on the U.S. men's national team improved their stock more than midfielder Alejandro Bedoya during last month's Gold Cup.

Today, the former Boston College star agreed to terms with Scottish champions Glasgow Rangers. He's signed a pre-contract and will join the club in the January transfer window on a three-year deal.

Bedoya joined the U.S. Gold Cup squad after midfielder Benny Feilhaber (of the New England Revolution) went down with an injury right before the tournament started. Life is all about making the most of opportunities and Bedoya did just that. He worked his way up from a substitute to starting later in the tournament.

He had been playing for Swedish club Orebro (where former BC teammate Charlie Davies made his mark) and having the best season of his three-year pro career. Bedoya is only 24 and now he gets to play in the Champions League. Even better, his U.S. teammate Maurice Edu is still with Rangers so any culture shock shouldn't be too bad while Edu can tell him what to expect about the underrated Scottish league.

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Bedoya in U.S. camp for injured Feilhaber

When one door closes for the U.S. men's national team, another opens in every sense of that tired cliche.

New England Revolution midfielder Benny Feilhaber went down on Saturday night with an ankle injury against the Los Angles Galaxy. That puts his status in serious jeopardy heading into the friendly against Spain this week, not to mention the Gold Cup later in June.

The positive side of that is it gives Boston College product Alejandro Bedoya, a chance to get back with the national team.

Bedoya, a midfielder, has made seven appearances for the U.S. and was on the preliminary roster for last year's World Cup. He has spent the last two years in Sweden with Orebro, scoring four goals in nine matches this season.

Feilhaber is being evaluated after injuring his ankle in New England's 1-0 loss to Los Angeles. Teams have until 24 hours before their first Gold Cup game to replace injured players. The Americans begin group play June 7 against Canada.

The U.S. also faces World Cup champion Spain on Saturday in an exhibition.

It would be the best of both worlds if Feilhaber's injury isn't that serious while Bedoya flourishes in camp and gets a real shot to show what he can do with the U.S. in June.