Longtime MLS goalkeeper Tally Hall announces retirement

Tally Hall - close-up

Longtime MLS goalkeeper Tally Hall has announced his retirement as a professional soccer player.


The news came on Friday, courtesy of his final club, D.C. United. Hall signed with D.C. in April, but didn't make any competitive appearances for the team.


The 31-year-old featured for Orlando City last year, starting 23 games in the club's first season in MLS, although his time in Orlando was bookended by knee injuries.


Hall will likely be most associated in MLS for his time with the Houston Dynamo, from 2009-14. Becoming the full-time starter in 2011, Hall helped the Dynamo to back-to-back MLS Cup final appearances in 2011 and 2012, and made the MLS All-Star team in 2011 and 2013. He is Houston's all-time leader in goals against average, and holds the club's single-season records for shutouts, wins and saves.


Although the San Diego State product was originally drafted by the LA Galaxy in the 2007 MLS SuperDraft, he got his first professional experience in Denmark with Esbjerg, from 2007-09.


“Tally has been a tremendous presence in the locker room this year,” Dave Kasper, United general manager and vice president of soccer operations, said in a team statement. “His leadership, especially with the younger goalkeepers, has been immensely valuable and we wish him all the best in his future endeavors.”