Having spent five years waiting in the wings, the 26-year-old goalkeeper has been a standout performer for the MLS Cup champions since taking on the starting job.
Jake Gleeson saw the crossroads coming from a mile away.
As the goalkeeper entered this past offseason, he understood the challenge at hand. The Portland Timbers' incumbent in goal, Adam Kwarasey, was a 28-year-old World Cup veteran fresh off backstopping the club to an MLS Cup title. Gleeson, on the other hand, had made just five MLS appearances over five seasons in Portland.
Yet the idea of leaving the Timbers never crossed his mind.