Hearts of Pine star Ollie Wright will have surgery Tuesday
Ollie Wright, the 27‑year‑old midfielder who has become the Portland Hearts of Pine’s most beloved player, will undergo major knee surgery after a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) sustained in September.
Wright tore the ligament in the 10th minute of the Hearts’ September 19 match against the Chattanooga Red Wolves, a freak accident that left the player “with that pop” as he lost footing while pressing on a defender near the sideline. “I just sort of lost my footing and my foot got stuck underneath me and I heard a pop and instantly knew the ACL was gone,” he told reporters.
The surgery is scheduled for the morning of Tuesday in Scarborough, Maine. In a phone interview on Monday, the English‑born winger said he was “anxious” to have the operation completed and “excited to get the recovery journey started.” He added, “It happened, what, seven, ten days ago and the recovery really hasn’t started. I’m excited to get the surgery over and done with to officially get the recovery journey started.”
Wright is hoping for a recovery timeline closer to nine months, “being a competitor I’m hoping closer to that nine‑month projection,” he remarked. He plans to stay in Maine for post‑operative physical therapy, citing that his girlfriend and her family are local. “They’ll be able to take good care of me if I need it. My teammates and Bobby, they’ve all reached out and I know they’re there if I need them,” he said.
Coaching staff are optimistic yet realistic. “He’ll need our support because it’s going to be a long, lonely climb back,” said head coach Bobby Murphy. “We’ll be right there, but he has to rely a lot on himself. You’re the only person to make sure you come out stronger at the end.”
Wright’s injury comes at a time when the Hearts, who finished 14th in a 17‑team USL League One table, have struggled defensively. The club has allowed 46 goals in 22 games, averaging 2.1 per match, and is now out of playoff contention. Despite the season’s challenges, Wright’s individual performances have been a bright spot. In 2025 he notched team highs with 13 goals and nine assists (11 goals and eight assists in league play) and earned second‑team all‑league honors. He also scored the decisive goal in the club’s upset over No. 2 Chattanooga during last season’s quarterfinals.
The injury has already attracted an outpouring of support from fans. After a 4‑1 defeat to Sarasota on a recent Saturday, Wright was on crutches on the sidelines when supporters rallied behind him. He told reporters, “It makes you feel very appreciative and gives you that extra 10% to recover and gives you something for and people to recover for, not just myself.”
Wright remains committed to returning to the field. “I definitely hope to be,” he said. “It’s difficult, playing in the USL, you never know for sure, but this is a place I really enjoy living in and a club I enjoy playing for, and I guess I would consider myself an adopted Mainer.”
The Hearts’ management and community are rallying behind Wright as he embarks on his rehabilitation journey. The team’s supporters remain hopeful that the player’s fierce competitiveness and the club’s continued backing will help him return in time for the 2027 season.
