Top Stories

Crew midfielder Urso has died

KirkUrso (Getty)

Major League Soccer arose on Sunday morning to devastating news after the Columbus Crew announced that rookie midfielder Kirk Urso had passed away. He was 22.

The Crew issued a statement saying only that Urso had died, and that the cause of death was still being determined.

A four-year starter for the University of North Carolina, Urso captained the Tar Heels to the 2011 National Championship before being taken in the MLS Supplemental Draft by the Crew back in January.

Urso began the 2012 season as a starter for the Crew, starting the team's first five matches of the season. More recently, Urso was injured and was not with Columbus for its loss to D.C. United on Saturday night.

Urso is the first active MLS player to die during a season, and his passing has sent shockwaves throughout the league. Not only impacting his current teammates, and his many college teammates currently playing in the pros, but also the countless players who he played against and earned the respect of for his determined style of play.

Our condolences go out to the Urso family, the Crew and all the players affected by his passing.

Comments

  1. Deaths like this seem to almost always happen because of heart complications that have gone undetected all of their lives.

    That or drug overdose, are really the only two things that can happen so suddenly.

    But I am no Doctor, just going off of probabilities…

    Reply
  2. I agree the title should say passed away.. but it doesn’t really matter. The point is a young man has been taken away far too soon. RIP Kirk Urso

    Reply
  3. Such a great kid. Why does something like this happen? I got to know Kirk while being an assistant with the u15 national team and just remember the great midfield of he, Danny Wenzel, Jared Jeffrey and David McVane. I feel so bad for his friends and family and wish I could do something to ease their pain. God bless you Kirk.

    Reply
  4. So unforunate to hear about this young man’s passing. May God be with him and I I wish nothing but strengh to the MLS community, his family, and all the lives of people he came across in his short journey.

    RIP Kirk Urso

    Reply
  5. No matter how good he was or wasn’t, it’s terribly saddening when someone young passes away. I hope his family stays strong.

    Reply
  6. This is tragic, tragic news. Only 22 years old, so young. My deepest condolences to the Urso family, his friends, his fans, and to the Crew all of whom are in our thoughts and prayers in this most trying of moments. so sorry to hear this and that it happened.

    RIP, Kirk. RIP.

    Reply
  7. Cheers to Urso and all the Crew fans. I’ve spent time in C-Bus with those awesome fans and I know that those folks are pretty down today. Sad times.

    Reply

Leave a Comment