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Another longtime MLS standout is hanging up his cleats.
Real Salt Lake's Andy Williams announced his retirement Monday night, ending a productive 14-year playing career. The skillful Jamaican midfielder won't be straying far from the game at all, though, as he will join the Real Salt Lake techinical staff as a scout.
The 34-year-old Williams was the last remaining RSL original and retires as the club's all-time leader in games played with 189. He tallied 14 goals and 29 assists with RSL and helped the team to its MLS Cup title in 2009. He also won a Supporters' Shield and U.S. Open Cup title as a member of the Chicago Fire in 2003.
Williams, who was RSL's first pick in the 2004 Expansion Draft, was out of contract with RSL at the end of the 2011 season. He was initially available for selection in the Re-Entry Draft, but that is no longer the case after his latest announcement.
Here are a few more notes from around MLS:
FIRE PURCHASE BAROUCH'S RIGHTS
The Chicago Fire secured the full rights to one of their top young assets on Monday, announcing the purchase of forward Orr Barouch from Tigres UANL.
Barouch, 20, played on loan for the Fire last season after starring for the club in the preseason. An Israeli youth international, Barouch has drummed up interest overseas with his play in 2011, which included two league goals, five reserve league goals and three U.S. Open Cup goals for the Fire.
RED BULLS INK LADE TO HOMEGROWN DEAL
The New York Red Bulls added another academy player to the senior roster on Monday, inking St. John's standout defender Connor Lade to a Homegrown Player deal.
Lade, 22, played centerback at a high level for St. John's despite being undersized at 5-foot-5. He joins Giorgi Chirgadze, Juan Agudelo, Matt Kassel and Sacir Hot as players to make it from the Red Bulls academy to the senior squad.
IMPACT SIGN WESTLAKE
The Montreal Impact added another one of its NASL players to the MLS roster on Monday, agreeing to terms with English midfielder Ian Westlake.
The 28-year-old Westlake joined Montreal in July and started all 13 games in which he played, scoring twice. A veteran of England's lower divisions prior to signing with the Impact in 2011, Westlake joins Hassoun Camara, Evan Bush and Sinisa Ubiparipovic as NASL Impact players to make the leap to MLS with the club.
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What are some of your top Williams memories? Sad to see him retire? Like the signing for the Fire? Think Lade will turn into a solid pro? Happy to see Westlake make the jump from NASL to MLS with Montreal?
Share your thoughts below.