Abby Wambach’s illustrious playing career is coming to an end.
Wambach, 35, officially announced her retirement from soccer Tuesday, although she will still compete with the U.S. Women’s National Team as it completes its Victory Tour. Wambach has enjoyed a 15-year international career, and she will be ending it as a World Cup champion, following the USWNT’s victory.
“After much deliberation and talking with my friends, family, teammates and our coaching staff, I’ve decided to finally bring my soccer career to an end,” Wambach said Tuesday. “While we still have more work to do for women’s soccer, after bringing the World Cup back to the United States this summer, I’m feeling extremely optimistic about the future of our sport. It’s been an amazing, wonderful ride and I can’t wait to see what the next chapter of my life brings.”
Wambach has scored 184 times in 252 international appearances. She will be with the USWNT during all four December games, with her final match coming on Dec. 16 against China PR in New Orleans.
Aside from her World Cup win, Wambach will retire with two gold medals after the USWNT finished first in the 2004 and 2012 Olympic Games. She was also honored as 2012 FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year, an honor only awarded to one other U.S. player, Mia Hamm.
What do you think about Wambach’s retirement? Is she the best soccer player to ever suit up for the USWNT?
Share your thoughts below.
On behalf of my daughter, who you inspired, and me too, thanks Abby.
Abby was one of the greatest players in the Women’s game and her contributions to the USWNT will be remembered decades from now
Great player and role model
Thanks for the wonderful memories
She was a great player, she will be missed. ?⚽⚽⚽
I think this is the right move for her. She looked out of it during the WWC and I thought she was done then. I have to think she was encouraged to retire now, rather than hang on and forcing Ellis to Landon her.
Happy Trails Abby! You’re a complete and total BADASS!
Congrats Abby!
One of the best things she could have done, by gracefully retiring from the game and opening up a slot for another budding superstar. She was a dominating power player, captain and tremendous goal scorer and US Soccer owes her legacy a lot of respect!
Thanks for the long successful ride Abby.. Good luck in your future!
Abby had a great career, it’s true. She’ll be a great source of inspiration to young players for a long time.
that being a said, though Abby was a great goal scorer, she was far from being a complete player. A good case could be made that her long dominant career actually hindered the development and deployment of more refined tactics and the development of players with more technical skills. For years the USWNT played as though their primary objective was to chase long balls from the backline to the corners and then “hit Abby in the head” with a cross. It was tedious to watch even though the strategy led to many victories.
Amazing job finding something negative to say. Wow, impressive!
yup, slowleft, happy talk has never been my thing.
Good for you Abby. Congratulations on a sensational career. I am now more excited to see the new era in USWNT.