In Anderlecht, most fans remember Sacha Kljestan. The American midfielder played 180 games with the Mauves between 2010 and 2015 before returning home to the United States, where he still plays, at the Los Angeles Galaxy, at 36. And Kljestan was at the center of a great story this weekend after the meeting between his club and Charlotte FC in MLS. At the end of the match, he exchanged his jersey with an opposing player, a certain Chris Hegardt, 20 years old and who is playing his first season in the American elite. Until then, it’s not surprising to see two players swapping their shirts after a meeting.
Except this isn’t the first time Kljestan and Hegardt have crossed paths. In 2010, when Klejstan was about to leave Chivas to sign Anderlecht, he visited young Chris Hegardt, who was only 8 years old and was suffering from cancer, at the children’s hospital in Los Angeles. Kljestan had offered a jersey to the sick young child. Fully recovered a few months later, Hegardt started playing soccer. At the start of the year, he therefore reached the MLS, the American division 1 championship.
Prior to the meeting, Kljestan posted a message on his social media: “In 2010 my wife and I visited this young man at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Today I ran into his parents in the lobby of our hotel in Charlotte. His name is Chris Hegardt and he has just started in midfield for Charlotte. I gave him my shirt when we first met, I hope he will give me his tomorrow after the game!” His wish has been granted and the circle is complete!
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