D.C. United defender and captain Steve Birnbaum is retiring from professional soccer after 11 seasons.
In a statement to WTOP, the 33-year-old said he will play his final game on July 20 during United’s friendly match against Scottish champions Celtic FC when he will be honored at halftime.
While no official reason was given for announcing his retirement in the middle of the MLS season, in a video released by United, Birnbaum said he continued playing “until I physically couldn’t.”
“It’s now time for me to hang up my boots and end my career as a professional soccer player,” Birnbaum said.
Thank you, Captain ❤️ pic.twitter.com/MS2ySkb3be
— D.C. United (@dcunited) July 16, 2024
The center back has been dealing with injuries all year long.
Birnbaum underwent surgery on his left knee during the offseason and missed the first four matches. He re-aggravated the injury in United’s match against Toronto FC on June 1, his last regular season appearance. He appeared in six games this year, started in four and has one assist.
Birnbaum will remain at the club and become a part of the technical staff, according to a club spokesperson.
“He has been a pillar in our backline and more importantly he has been an exceptional leader and human being in our community,” D.C. United co-chairman and CEO Jason Levien said in a statement. “I want to congratulate Steven on a stellar playing career and thank him for his years of dedication to D.C. United on the field.”
In his weekly press conference Tuesday, head coach Troy Lesesne said in the six months working with Birnbaum, his work ethic and desire to represent United is “something I admire.”
“He’s the exact prototype of what a coach wants to work with,” Lesesne said. “And certainly, his quality as a player has shown every single year that he has been at this club and at the (U.S.) national team.”
The defender was in the first year of a two-year contract extension, which was signed early last season. According to the MLS Players Association’s salary guide, Birnbaum was making $815,000 a season, making him D.C.’s fifth highest-paid player.
Birnbaum was drafted second overall by United in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft. In 11 seasons in D.C., he’s appeared in 262 MLS matches, scored 13 goals with seven assists, 488 interceptions and 1,216 clearances. He became team captain in 2017.
He ends his career with 275 total appearances for United, third-most in club history. In his rookie season, Birnbaum was a finalist for the 2014 MLS Rookie of the Year award. He played in the 2016 MLS All-Star Game and led United to the playoffs five times.
He had a short stint on the U.S. men’s national team from 2015 to 2017. He made 11 appearances, including playing in two World Cup qualifiers, and was named on the 2016 Copa América roster.
“I’m really proud to be a part of his career, and I’m really excited for what the next steps are for him,” Lesesne said. “I think he is going to continue helping this club grow in a different capacity in the future. I wish him the best.”
Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.
© 2024 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.
