Brandon Servania has had a long journey to success. From his upbringing in Birmingham, Alabama, Servania’s path has brought him to DC United, where he signed during the offseason and has become one of Troy Lesesne’s most important players in the midfield. With eight appearances and six starts for the Black-and-Red so far this season, Servania has been a key piece of an aggressive midfield that has looked to press and create scoring chances by forcing the opposition into mistakes.

Servania’s arrival at Audi Field comes after he returned late last season for Toronto FC after a torn ACL kept him out for almost an entire calendar year. Looking at an opportunity for a fresh start, the 26-year-old midfielder, in his eighth season in Major League Soccer, hopes to do what needs to be done in order to get the Black-and-Red back to the playoffs with a chance to once again compete for a MLS Cup. He recently spoke with The District Press about his time at DC United, his recovery from injury, and his mindset for being successful in this league as a young veteran.

The District Press: You came to D.C. United, a new situation [for you], this offseason. Talk about how that opportunity came about and why you thought it was the best move for you. 

Brandon Servania: Yeah, the end of 2023, I took a big injury, so pretty much all of 2024 wasjust a long rehab process, just trying to get back out on the field. And I was able to come back at the end of last season [for Toronto FC], made a few appearances. But you know, after a long, big injury like that, you don’t really feel like yourself 100%. Obviously you get cleared, but you’re still off the pitch for a whole year, and it takes time to come back and feel like yourself again. So, I just tried to work really hard in the offseason trying to get back to 100% and when this opportunity came, I just felt like it was a good fit for me. Obviously, being in the league for a few years, you know people on different teams and heard stuff about the coaching staff. And obviously I’ve known some of the players that were playing with [DC United] in previous years. So, I was just excited for the opportunity, and it’s been great so far. 

DP: You mentioned the injury…first of all, how are you feeling from all of that? Do you feel like you’re back to 100% or do you feel like you still have some lingering things that you just manage? 

BS: No, no I’m feeling good. Obviously, like you said, there’s a bit of managing trying to make sure when you feel little things here and there, just like doing the maintenance beforehand to stay on top of those things. But as far as being on the field, [it was] great this year to finally feel like Brandon again and not overthink, you know, or hesitate on certain movement, actions, and just being able to play. So it’s been great. 

DP: So with the injury and coming to this new opportunity here at D.C United, it kind of feels for you, correct me if I wrong, like a fresh start, a way to start a new chapter and start anew. What about your game may have changed as a result of the injury or have you been able to get back to what you feel like got you to this place? 

BS: That’s a good question. I think part of my game that’s improved is just a little bit of my aggression. I think coming into this system, it’s different than teams I’ve been on in the past where we want to be aggressive and high press a little bit more than in the past where [other teams] try to be a little bit more possession based. And this is a little bit more straightforward, like attack and aggression leads to a lot of intensity at all times. So I think that part of my game has improved, especially defensively. And then obviously moving a little bit more defensive this year has helped me to improve in those areas as well. 

DP: Throughout the preseason, as you signed and even early on the season, the word about you was that you were aggressive, that you have this vigor that is displayed on the field. What about your game would you like fans to know about you? What about your game do you feel like best represents you? 

BS: Ooh, good question…I would take pride in that word aggression. I think for me, I’m that guy that’s always going to put the team first and trying to be as selfless as possible and doing whatever it takes to put my team in a better position, whether it’s doing a little dirty work that you don’t get as much credit for sometimes, running extra, making some tackles, just distributing the ball, making things tick. Obviously, it’s not [scoring] as many goals and not on the highlight reel as much, but just want to sense that I’m working extremely hard just to put the team the best position that I can possibly put them and put the team first before myself. 

DP: You come from Birmingham, Alabama. My mom actually was from Jasper and I have a bunch of family all about Birmingham and throughout the great state of Alabama. Not a lot of soccer players come out of there, but in recent years, we’ve seen more coming from Birmingham…you, Chris Richards are really kind of carrying the state on your back. What about growing up in Birmingham, first of all, made you want to become a soccer player and how difficult was it to kind of pierce through the veil that is college football that dominates the state to get that background and get that experience?

BS: Yeah, first of all, Roll Tide. Second of all, like you said, soccer is not really the main sport there. It’s all about football and maybe basketball. But I think the credit has to go to my dad because he played soccer growing up in St. Croix. And so that’s one of the first sports I played and and I just loved it. I played a few other sports…I got into flag football, but by the time they started getting more serious with tackle football, it was interfering with soccer and I was just soccer all the way. So I think from a young age, I just knew I loved soccer and I think one of the things that helps guys like myself, Chris Richards, Tanner Tessman, my little brother as well, to get out of Birmingham and to flourish is just having that underdog mentality, because people don’t expect soccer players coming out of Birmingham, you know? So whenever we get opportunities, like going to FC Dallas Academy and things like that, it was always having a chip on our shoulder and having to prove something. But I think that we were just ready for that task because growing up, even in club soccer, when you’re playing teams from Georgia, Florida, they they have bigger names and better players in a sense. [We’re] always fighting adversity. So getting to this stage is nothing new for us. So I think that helped us a lot. 

DP: This year, obviously, the team has had some ups and downs. It started off pretty well, and then you’ve had kind of a rough go at the past month or so. What about this season do you feel needs to improve the most for you guys to achieve your goals, get back to the playoffs and compete for a title? 

BS: Yeah, I think first of all, it’s a long season. It’s going to be ups and downs. That’s just MLS. It’s such a tight league, from the top to the bottom. It’s not that big of a gap as like compared to the [Premier League] or some other leagues. So, there’s going to be ups and downs and I just think the biggest thing is just us sticking together as a team and fighting because once it starts going back our way, we just want to be able to ride that momentum and keep climbing. So just as a team, we’re just focused on being present in the moment and the next action and what we can control. And I think we’re doing a good job with that. 

DP: You’re one of the lot of players on this team who are new to DC United in the past couple of years, but also have quite a bit of experience in Major League occer. So you’re kind of that young veteran given your age, but you still have a lot of experience in the league. When you got here and talking with Troy [Lesesne] and Ally [Mackay] about your role and what they wanted for you here, what about the leadership portion did they speak with you? And do you feel like on the field that you have that ability to kind of command and really be a leader on the field and off? 

BS: Yeah, I think it’s funny that you brought that up because the other day we did kind of like a young versus old little drill, mostly just for fun. And I think this was the first time in my career that I was on the old team. So that was a cool little moment. [chuckles] But yeah, I think this year, especially talking to Troy and the staff, for me, growing as an individual is kind of taking out a next step as far as, like you said, trying to be more of a leader, because I do have experience in this league. And even though I’m not the oldest, I guess, in age, with that experience I should still command a little bit more, communicate a little bit more. And I think I’m taking that on well, and I’ve been improving as the season goes on. I think especially my position or in the midfield, we’re pretty young, so I’m definitely one of the older guys in the midfield and I think I’m just trying to step into that role and being able to have more of a commanding presence and a lot more communication for me. So that that’s what I’m working on individually. But I think I’m improving day in and day out and as the season goes on, hopefully I can keep building that. 

DP: On the international level, you came up in the U.S. youth system. You got a shot on the national team back in 2020. You’ve been a name that’s [still] on the radar, but because of the injuries, you’ve kind of had to focus on that. Have you had any discussions with the [USMNT] about your progress? And is that something that you’re focused on in trying to get back to maybe being on the [USMNT] one day? 

BS: I haven’t really been speaking to the [USMNT] directly too much. Obviously, with injuries and stuff, I’ve mostly just been focusing on me, focusing on my club team, and trying to put us in the best position that I can. And I think all of that stuff will come. If I’m able to do what I need to do here, then other opportunities will come. I know some other countries have been reaching out [to me] because I do have [the ability to play] for some other countries like Curaçao and Puerto Rico. So they’ve been reaching out. I’ve kind of told them that right now I just want to focus on me and DC United because that’s my priority. But yeah, I think those things will come in when it’s the right time, then I’ll feel good about making that decision, whether it’s with the U.S. or switching over. 

DP: Looking ahead to the U.S. Open Cup, because that’s coming up [on Tuesday], it’s obviously a competition that fans here enjoy and really want to try and be a part of every single year. [What’s the] mentality for it being a knockout tournament? What do players think of U.S. Open Cup and the possibility that exists with lifting a trophy? 

BS: It’s exciting, especially when we’re kind of in the place that we’re in right now in the league. It can be a little bit refreshing knowing that it’s a new start, a different tournament, or a different competition and it’s just a few games and we can lift the Cup. So obviously, it’s not going to be easy because everyone’s taking pride in the tournament. The USL teams, the MLS teams, everyone wants to win. So it’s just going to be tough, but it’s exciting just to be able to fight for another trophy. 

DP: And, of course, on Tuesday you’re facing the Charleston Battery. There’s a long history between those two teams in the preseason, but also the U.S. Open Cup. What about the Coffee Pot Cup rivalry has been made aware to you over the last week or what did you know about it entering? And will you guys hold on to the Cup? Will you guys do anything with it should you prevail on Tuesday? 

BS: I don’t know too much about it. I do know that we played them in preseason and they’re a good team. So I know that it’s going to be a fight. I know it’s not going to be easy, but I’m confident in us. And as long as we do what we need to do, then I’m pretty confident we’re going to come out with the win. As far as what we’re going to do with [the Coffee Pot Cup], I have no idea. I don’t know if that’s really up to me. [chuckles]

D.C. United is back in action on Tuesday night when they host the Charleston Battery in the U.S. Open Cup Round of 32 at Audi Field.