| | KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Alexi Lalas, the red-haired, goateed defender who became one of the United States' best-known soccer players as well as an off-field celebrity, is retiring at the end of the current MLS season.
|  | | Alexi Lalas' skill made him a national team fixture; his appearance made him the face of U.S. soccer. |
Lalas, 29, has spent this season with the Kansas City Wizards of Major League Soccer. His plans were announced by the team Saturday night after a season-ending 1-0 loss to the Los Angeles Galaxy.
"I have decided to leave the game and I am looking forward to
starting a new chapter in my life off the field," Lalas said. "I
want to make it clear that my decision has absolutely nothing to do
with wins, losses, trades or being in Kansas City."
"On the contrary, the people in K.C. have gone out of their way to express their support and to make me feel at home.
"This is simply a question of following my heart and thus makes
it difficult to explain to people how or why I came to this
decision," he said. "At 29, I feel I could definitely continue to
play for some time, but this is not about age or ability. It is a personal choice and something that I feel is right at this moment in my life."
Lalas, a four-time MLS all-star, was traded to the Wizards in
January by the New York/New Jersey Metro Stars. He had four goals
and one assist this season.
Lalas played at Rutgers, where in 1991 he won the Hermann Trophy
and Missouri Athletic Club Award as the nation's top college
player. He played on the U.S. teams in the 1994 and 1998 World
Cups, as well as in the Olympics in 1992 and 1996.
Lalas was named U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year in 1995, and he is the only American to have played in Italy's Serie A, widely considered the world's top professional league.
"This game has given me so many things that have nothing to do with kicking the ball," Lalas said. "It has enabled me to travel, learn languages, meet interesting people and explore new cultures,
all from the unique perspective of an American soccer player."
Wizards coach Bob Gansler said Lalas' decision to retire was a "total surprise."
"Obviously, Alexi had made his decision and there was no way to talk him out of it," Gansler said.
Lalas is a musician with a band, Nectar Drop, which has produced a CD,. He also hosted a weekly radio show in Kansas City.
"Alexi is what this league is all about -- being young, hip
and in the now," MLS commissioner Don Garber said. "His
presence was vital in the establishment of the league on the
American sports landscape and his vibrant passion for the game
on and off the field brought numerous fans to the sport."
Lalas started his MLS career with the New England Revolution
and was traded to the MetroStars after two seasons. Before the
start of this season, he was traded with fellow 1994 World Cup
starter and goalkeeper Tony Meola to the Wizards.
"I was shocked," Meola said after the game. "His timing wasn't the greatest, he is a big loss to the team. At least we can tell our kids that we were part of the biggest trade in MLS history."
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