Nashville SC Turns the Tables and Bets on the Future With Edvard Tagseth | OneFootball

Nashville SC is looking for a fresh start. After a disastrous season that left the team in 13th place in the Eastern Conference, missing the playoffs for the first time in its short history in Major League Soccer (MLS), the club seems to be taking a road less traveled, but one that might just be more exciting. The arrival of Edvard Tagseth, a 23-year-old Norwegian midfielder with European pedigree, is a clear sign that Nashville wants to build something solid. They're not rushing things; they’ve got their eyes set on the long game.

Now, let’s be real, Tagseth isn’t the kind of signing that’s going to have fans lining up for tickets or lighting up social media with over-the-top hashtags. During his time at Rosenborg BK, a powerhouse in Norwegian soccer, Tagseth put up respectable stats: 9 goals and 19 assists in 138 matches. Those are solid numbers, especially for a player who doesn’t thrive on chasing headlines. His game is all about grit and smarts, the exact kind of mentality Nashville needs to turn the page.

And let’s not forget the cherry on top: his time in Liverpool’s youth academy. That’s no small footnote. Training at the same academy that molded legends like Steven Gerrard and Trent Alexander-Arnold says a lot about his foundation. Sure, he didn’t crack the first team, but that doesn’t discredit the value of his development. In fact, his time with Liverpool’s U-18 and U-23 squads means he knows what it’s like to perform under pressure and in tactically advanced systems.

For Nashville SC, 2024 was a season to forget. Losing Gary Smith, the coach who had cemented the team in MLS, was a massive blow. When B.J. Callaghan stepped in as head coach in July, it felt more like damage control than anything else. He was left juggling fires while trying to figure out how to rebuild a team that had lost its way. It’s no easy task, but signing Tagseth signals that Callaghan, along with general manager Mike Jacobs, is laying the groundwork for a rebuild from the bottom up.

And here’s the kicker: Tagseth isn’t going to be carrying this weight alone. He’ll share midfield duties with Australian newcomer Patrick Yazbek, another recent signing from Viking FK, and seasoned MLS veteran Sean Davis. That trio has the potential to form a midfield that’s balanced, dynamic, and forward-thinking.

By betting on younger players like Tagseth and Yazbek, Nashville is planting seeds that could pay off big time down the road. With the league’s popularity on the rise and soccer vying for a bigger slice of the U.S. sports landscape, teams have to find ways to stand out. Nashville SC seems to be banking on strategy and patience rather than quick fixes, and that might just be the smartest move they’ve made in a long time.