Robbie Rogers announced his retirement from professional soccer at the age of 30. He played for 11 seasons in three different countries. He most recently played four years with the LA Galaxy, winning the MLS Cup in 2014. He came out as gay shortly before signing with LA, making him the first openly gay player in one of the major American sports.
Also of note for the LA Galaxy, Kevin Baxter of the LA Times reports they have released several players. Jack McBean, Nathan Smith, Jaime Villarreal, Jose Villarreal, and Raul Mendiola were all released from the team today.
David Ousted not returning to Vancouver
David Ousted announced he will not be returning to the Vancouver Whitecaps in 2018.
He has apparently known this would happen since June, when the club asked him to take a pay cut. The next step in The Great Dane’s career is not yet known.
Columbus City government to meet with Precourt, MLS brass
According to 10TV in Columbus, Andrew Ginther, the city’s mayor, will meet with Columbus Crew owner Anthony Precourt and Don Garber on November 15 to discuss the future of the club in the Ohio capital. Precourt is threatening to move the team to Austin, Texas if the city can’t commit to building a new downtown stadium to replace the 18-year-old MAPFRE Stadium.
I may be reading between the lines, but I wonder if Rogers was also going to be released, realized that he wouldn’t qualify as a free agent and just decided to retire. I know he picked the Galaxy to return to be close to his family and because he was comfortable enough to “come out” there. Either way, he’s had a good career.
The Galaxy have to clean house. Their youth movement has sputtered and the team is a mishmash of players now. Hopefully they are able to get more out of their academies and right the ship. It’d be fun to have two good teams in LA when LAFC get started.
He had nerve damage in one of his feet last year, and never got healthy enough this year to get on the field consistently.
what? Rogers is too young to retire!
Injuries caught up with him. It’s too bad, you’re right he should have been around for a few more years.