TULSA – One of the most veteran USL Championship players of all time is coming back to FC Tulsa. Defender Cyprian Hedrick will return to the club for the 2020 season, pending league and federation approval.

“I’m excited to be a small part of the big changes happening with soccer here in Tulsa,” said Hedrick. “I can’t wait to get to work with my teammates to give this city a team they want to get behind and support.”

The center back from Cameroon is entering his eighth season in the league and is in the record books for his durability, sitting at 15th all time with 166 regular season USL Championship matches played. His 13,854 league minutes come in at 10th all time since league records started being kept in 2013, Hedrick’s rookie season.

Last year, Hedrick proved that durability in his first season in Tulsa, playing every minute of his 33 appearances and missing just single match due to yellow card suspension. His 2,970 minutes led the team last season as Cyprian wore the captains armband in all 33 of his matches.

“With any team, it is important that you have players that understand your principles, said FC Tulsa head coach Michael Nsien. “Cyprian not only understands my expectations of the team and the players, he is approaching 170 games in this league, and he knows how to compete at this level successfully. We expect Cyprian to help shape a winning culture for this team, while he continues to perform at a high level. On day one, he will be a major part of setting the tone for this season.”

Hedrick, 30, was among the league’s best defenders last year, ranking second in the league with 176 clearances. He also scored his second career professional goal in a 4-0 win over Tacoma Defiance in 2019, while adding an assist in a late-season 2-1 victory over New Mexico United.

After being drafted in the 2012 MLS SuperDraft by Sporting Kansas City, Hedrick broke his leg in training, leading to a full season of recovery. That season, SKC won the U.S. Open Cup, earning Hedrick a championship medal as an MLS rookie.

In 2013, Hedrick played his first season in the USL Championship with the now defunct Phoenix FC. Following one season in Phoenix, Hedrick played for OKC Energy FC from 2014-2016, making the playoffs twice including the Conference Finals in 2015. After three season in Oklahoma City, Hedrick went to San Antonio for the 2017 and 2018 seasons, making the playoffs again in 2017.

Hedrick joins forward Marlon and midfielder Cristhian Altamirano as players announced to FC Tulsa’s 2020 roster.