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Stuart Holden announces retirement

StuartHoldenInjured (ISIPhotos.com)

After battling with injury after injury throughout the past six years, Stuart Holden has decided to hang up his boots and focus on the next chapter of his life.

The former U.S. Men’s National Team midfielder announced his retirement as a soccer player on Wednesday. In ending his playing career, the 30-year-old retires with 25 caps for the USMNT, having scored three goals and taken part in the 2010 World Cup and 2008 Olympics.

Holden, who recently announced the birth of his first child, spent a week  training with the USMNT during the team’s annual January camp. That stint may have helped him make the final decision that it was time to put his playing days behind him.

“It’s time to stop fighting my body,” Holden said in an open letter via U.S. Soccer. “I’ve known for a while, but I’ve struggled to admit it to myself and to others. The countless sleepless nights, the aches and pains, and the constant mental battles were all signs pointing to a new path. But every time I was about to utter the three big words “I am retired”, all the memories of walking into roaring stadiums, scoring last-minute goals, and being part of amazing teams dragged me back!

” The same never-say-die attitude that drove me to fight like hell my entire career wouldn’t let me say the “R word”.  I met every setback – and there were many – with a positive attitude. I responded to every disappointment with an “OK. What’s next?” Now, again, I must answer that question. What is next is being proud of my accomplishments, giving thanks to those who have supported me, and smiling at whatever the future holds, the first of which is a baby girl.”

After joining Sunderland following his time at Clemson University, Holden began his career in earnest with a 2006 move to the Houston Dynamo. Following 88 games with the MLS club, Holden went abroad to join Bolton Wanderers, which he made 28 Premier League appearances for.

While at Bolton, Holden began to battle through a stint of injury woes that all but ended his career. In 2010, it was a broken leg suffered in a friendly against the Netherlands In March 2011, Holden suffered his second major injury via a slide tackle from Manchester United’s Johnny Evans. The tackle yielded a broken leg and knee injury that required six months to heal.

Shortly after returning that September, Holden faced a setback in the form of cartilage damage that kept him out of the entire 2011-12 season. After finally returning in 2013, Holden suffered a torn ACL while featuring for the USMNT in the team’s victorious Gold Cup campaign and required yet another surgery after making his return in March 2014.

Holden, who was voted Bolton’s Player of the Year in 2011, was also a part of the 2010 World Cup roster as well as the U.S. side that featured in the 2008 Summer Olympics.

What do you think of that announcement? What will you remember most about Holden?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Ah, I’m sad for Stu. I’ve been rooting for him for a long time now. One of my favorite players.

    Cheers to you, Stu–you have a beautiful family and most of your life ahead of you.

    By the way, I think he’s very a very good commentator / analyst.

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  2. Most athletes have short careers even absent injury. I am happy for Stu because he seems so well set up for his post-player life. He’s proven to be an insightful broadcaster and I see a long future in that for him if that’s what he wants. Its an excellent career, and not every former player can do it. We will see a lot of him, I suspect.

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  3. Love you Stu! Had the chance to see you play at Robertson a few times in your early years! Hated seeing you injured, but make the most your next chapter. From one daddy to another, the real game starts now! Dale’ Dynamo!

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  4. Such a shame.. good luck Stew.

    I remember seeing his and Davies tweets in the early days pranking each other living the dream having fun rooming together at USMNT camps. I remember thinking those the luckiest guys alive. The future of the program. Damn those early days of innocence were short lived. Too short.

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  5. Dynam fan here. Stu had an endless work rate and was a team player. In his time with Houston he showed his potential. Once in England he proved his abilities often. But his future was STOLEN by dirty tackles.
    God bless Stu. You and your wife and daughter. You will excel at whatever you do. Id love to see you hook up with the Dynamo in a coaching capacity.
    The future is yours buddy.

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  6. Wish him the best as he enter the next chapter of his life. Would love for him to get his coaching license and return to the US sidelines to mentor future USMNT players. Was a class act on the field, playing with skill, determination, and heart.
    If he decides to continue in Broadcasting that would be OK. Maybe he could kick Twellman and Lalas out of the booths/talking head shows (both bug the crap out of me.

    Regardless classy guy and hope for him to do what makes him happy going forward.

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  7. I never really saw stu play, but I always felt for the guy. He seemed to have such atrocious luck with injuries. That being said, was he just very unlucky, or did he play a bit careless? Again I ask since I never actually saw much of him.

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    • I did watch him play a bit. The De Jong tackle was not so nasty as people imply and did not result in the injury that he could not recover from. The worst part about it was that it was in a friendly match. I would say that Stu played without the caution that might have come with more experience. He could be a little niave in his reckless abandon to go for it. The slide tackle going up against Johnny Evans led to the injury that really destroyed his career which he never really came back from- he should have never gone into that tackle in the first place. Granted, Evans is a dirty bastard who should have had his legs broken by someone by now. But it is important for skill players in the middle of the field to protect themselves…use your upper body to push guys off you, know when to not slide, or if you slide make sure its the other guy who gets injuried and not you. Have a slight nasty streak. Stu is an amazing character and he was unlucky to be put in these situations, so I hate to bring up my critical comments, but thats how I see it.

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  8. 🙁 Sad to see him go woulda been an all time great. Shows their is no such thing as Karma cause there couldn’t have been a nicer guy.

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  9. The most talented field player that the US has ever produced, in my opinion. Strange coincidence that this announcement is made on the same day when De Jong signs with MLS (although Johnny Evans tackle was significantly worse than the one De Jong hit him with).

    Thanks for the memories, Stu. Hope to see you either in the broadcast booth or coaching on the sidelines in the near future

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    • All jokes aside: What an enjoyable player to watch (in MLS, Nats and EPL).

      Seems like a great guy and his play style was very pleasing. While short, Holden more than held his own in the EPL. In fact, he actually stood out quite often even while playing for a lower tier club.

      He seems to have the right attitude to go into coaching, should he ever seek that, and there’s no denying he has the skill set to commentate from the booth or the studio.

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  10. wow.. it happened.

    for a short playing career, it was a great run.

    coaching, tv, family, whatever is next – go get it Stu!

    also f-u DeJong, Jon Evans – Stu might have forgiven you but I have not.

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  11. I’ll never forget the first half of the 2010 Bolton season. He was on fire and on the EPL First team for that first half of the season as voted by players and coaches I think. Bummed about his injuries but his positive attitude is something we all can learn from.

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  12. Can’t imagine how difficult this is for him. I hope he finds the next thing that’ll fill that void of pro soccer and I hope to play some pick up with him in Santa Monica on Sundays

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  13. Sad but Stu definitely made the right call. He has a family now and I’m excited for him. Having a child will put everything into perspective because from here on out it’s all about family. Shifting gears…….I hope his next chapter is in the studio or booth, He’s done quite well in his stints and has proven to be just as professional, just as smooth, just as natural on Air. You rock Stu! One of my all-time favorite US players. Good luck with the next chapter!

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  14. Sad to see him move on, but is the right choice.

    Will remember he was one of those players they eye could instantly tell had skill and class, after about 20 mins of watching him play with Houston.

    Seems like a great guy. i am sure he’ll do well in whatever he focuses on next.

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  15. Truly sad to hear about Holden’s retirement. He was a player I looked forward to watching when he was playing for Bolton. High energy and good on the ball. He was definitely a player I thought would make a long career for himself both in Europe and with the USMNT.

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