Brenden Aaronson—you know the name, but you don’t know the story. While he is still finding his footing in the national setup, things are progressing on the domestic front, especially since his move to Leeds United. Of course, his rise is due to his talent and hard work, but for Aaronson, it’s the Leeds fans he ‘can’t thank enough’ for the progress he has experienced so far.

That’s the least he can do. It’s not easy for an American boy to quickly settle into the delicacies of the English game and especially earn recognition among its supporters. Yet, Aaronson can call himself lucky that he was able to win the trust of his loyal fanbase within a couple of years. “It was tough at first,” began the 24-year-old during a talk with CBS Sports Golazo, as compiled by @ussoccerplus.

“I understand the feelings they had coming back. It was tough, things happen, and that’s football at the end of the day. But they’ve gotten on my shoulders and they been pushing me, and I can’t thank them enough for that because it’s been really good me coming back. I’ve been pushing and putting a lot of work and I think they see that,” added Brendon, sharing how his relationship with Leeds fans has strengthened.

Having spent his early days at Bethlehem Steel and Philadelphia Union, Aaronson joined Austrian outfit RB Salzburg in the winter of 2021. It was a year later Leeds United signed him, where he made 41 appearances across all competitions and even notched 2 goals and 3 assists. However, the following summer saw him move to Union Berlin, making 38 appearances and 4 goal contributions (2G/2A) for the German outfit, before finally returning to West Yorkshire this summer.

Since then, it has been quite a ride for Aaronson, making 13 appearances for Daniel Farke’s side so far as well as notching 3 goals and an assist in the EFL Championship. In fact, the recent league game against Plymouth saw Brendon get his name on the scoresheet to help his side secure a 3-0 win. Surely, the trust of the ardent Leeds fans on Aaronson has paid off quite well. No wonder even his national team manager knew the influence that the youngster had on his domestic front!

Mauricio Pochettino praises the ‘impact’ of Brendon Aaronson at Leeds United

The new USMNT boss had earlier shared his views on Brendon Aaronson, insisting he would be giving special attention to the talented playmaker. “I know when he arrived to Leeds, and of course the impact was amazing,” began the 52-year-old manager. While praising Aaronson’s versatility across multiple positions—whether on the right, left, as a No. 8, or a No. 10—the former Tottenham boss noted, “He looks very professional, his standards are very high, he’s a player that always gives the best to the team.”

Pochettino also emphasized the ex-Union Berlin star’s strong work ethic, his knack for scoring, and his skill in breaking through defensive lines and exploiting half-spaces, adding that Aaronson offers a wide range of tactical options to the game. Similarly, Aaronson shared the same sentiment, enjoying his first camp under Pochettino earlier this September—though it was a bittersweet experience, including a 2-0 win over Panama and a 2-0 defeat to Mexico—where he started and played 78 minutes and the entire game respectively.

Either way, let’s hope it stays that way for Brendon Aaronson.