Matt Hedges played college soccer at both Butler and North Carolina. The center back won ACC Defensive Player of the Year in 2011, when his Tar Heels team also won the National Championship. In the 2012 MLS SuperDraft, FC Dallas picked Hedges in the first round, with the No. 11 overall pick. He became a starter fairly quickly as a rookie. He scored 3 goals in each of his first two seasons, in 2013 and 2014.
In 2014, Matt Hedges became the FC Dallas captain in his third professional season. In the second match of the season, Hedges rose up to head home an equalizer in the 90' in Kansas City. A month later, he flicked another one beautifully in a victory over Toronto FC. Later in the game, he assisted the match-winner to Blas Perez. In August, Hedges smashed one home at the back post against the Colorado Rapids. He helped keep a total of 6 clean sheets on the season. Dallas finished as the fourth seed, then knocked Vancouver out in the knockout round. Seattle ended up sending them out on a rough 1-1 draw on away goals.
In 2015, Matt Hedges helped solidify the Dallas back line, keeping a career-high of 12 clean sheets. He got a couple looks with the United States national team prior to the season, making two short cameos. After scoring 3 goals in each of his first three MLS seasons, he never hit that mark again. His lone goal of the year came in May, pounding a consolation rebound into the net against Montreal. He also added an assist against the LA Galaxy, in which he used a creative back-heel flick that most defenders could not pull off. FC Dallas won the Western Conference, tying the Red Bulls for the league lead, but losing the Shield by six goals. This time, they got past Seattle, but lost to the other Pacific Northwest side in Portland. Hedges was named to the 2015 Best XI.
FC Dallas finally got their Supporters' Shield in 2016. After falling just goals short of it the previous season, they finished with the exact same 60 point total and won the trophy. Hedges scored once during the historic season for the club, creating a free header for himself with a perfectly timed run on a set piece. He did score in the US Open Cup though, defeating LA Galaxy in the Semis with a 116th minute header to save Dallas' run. In the Final against New England, his power header helped Dallas hoist the trophy in a 4-2 victory. He also scored in another competition, the CONCACAF Champions League, which used to take place partly late in the season. He flew for a signature header in an away trip against Suchitepéquez. Seattle beat FCD in the playoffs again. Hedges kept 11 clean sheets. During the season, he suffered a meniscus injury that held him out for 8 games. No other time in his career has Hedges missed more than 4 games with an injury, his durability is incredible. Hedges made the MLS Best XI for a second straight year. Additionally, he won MLS Defender of the Year for 2016.
In 2017, Hedges held 9 teams to clean sheets at the back. His FC Dallas narrowly missed out on the postseason, finishing seventh place in the West. He scored on two occasions during the course of the MLS season. He placed a header into the top right corner against Real Salt Lake in May. He cleaned up a rebound against the Galaxy on Decision Day, but it did not put Dallas through to the playoffs. Hedges made the MLS All-Star team for the first time in 2017. He made it again in 2018 as well. He once again scored twice and kept 9 clean sheets, for the second straight year in both categories. Just 48 seconds into a visit to Houston, he hit the back of the net. He played one half against Juventus in the ASG soon after. He roofed a tap-in header inches from the netting in Vancouver. As the fourth seed, Dallas lost to Portland in the first round, though Hedges stretched his leg to pull one back late.
In 2019, Matt Hedges was named an MLS All-Star for the third straight year, keeping 8 shutouts. He scored in an Open Cup match against OKC Energy. In the All-Star Game, he played the first half in the loss to Atletico Madrid. On Decision Day, FC Dallas pounded Sporting Kansas City 6-0, with Hedges scoring his first goal of the season with less than 90 minutes remaining in it. In the playoffs, Hedges headed one in against Seattle to equalize at 2 and create some temporary drama. Seattle won the match 5-3, and Dallas was sent home once again. In 2020, Hedges had his first season without a goal, but he did provide a secondary assist with a beautiful ball. Seattle was there to knock them out of the playoffs again.
In 2021, FC Dallas had what was easily their roughest year with Matt Hedges at the back. He was only able to help the team to 2 clean sheets, and Dallas finished 11th in the conference. He mossed David Ochoa for a headed goal and his only of the year. In 2022, Dallas returned to third place in the Western Conference. Matt Hedges held 7 clean sheets in his final season in Dallas. His lone goal was a glancing header in a wild 2-2 draw against Houston in the Copa Tejas. In his penultimate FC Dallas match, he assisted the goal in a playoff penalty kick shootout win over Minnesota United. His final match was the next one, a loss to his future club in Austin FC.
Matt Hedges left FC Dallas as the all-time leader in appearances for the club. In December of 2022, he signed a two-year deal with Toronto FC. His time there was extremely short lived. He played just 14 games for the Canadian club, which was the second team he had ever played for professionally. In July, Hedges returned back to Texas through a $475K GAM trade to Austin FC. Hedges had a mix of starts and substitute appearance for the Verde and Black. In his second to last match of the year, he scored his first goal of the year against DC United. ATX missed the playoffs by a decent margin. For now, it seems that Matt Hedges will continue with Austin FC next year, barring any sudden changes. Hedges has consistently been one of the very best defenders in the past decade, known for his multitude of quality years with FC Dallas. Hedges comes in at #33.
YEAR | CLUB | MINUTES | GOALS | ASSISTS | CS |
2023 | ATX/TFC | 1,374 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
2022 | DAL | 2,228 | 1 | 0 | 7 |
2021 | DAL | 1,438 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
2020 | DAL | 1,538 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
2019 | DAL | 2,884 | 1 | 1 | 8 |
2018 | DAL | 2,925 | 2 | 0 | 9 |
2017 | DAL | 2,425 | 2 | 0 | 9 |
2016 | DAL | 2,334 | 1 | 0 | 11 |
2015 | DAL | 2,675 | 1 | 1 | 12 |
2014 | DAL | 2,790 | 3 | 1 | 6 |
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