FRISCO, Texas - FC Dallas defender Alex Yi today announce that he has retired from professional soccer, effective immediately. Yi, 26, intends on returning to college to continue his education.
Born in Virginia and raised in Maryland, Yi was a member of the inaugural U.S. Residency Academy in Bradenton, Florida in 1998. He started five games in the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championships (U-17) where the U.S. finished fourth in New Zealand. He also played in all three games during the 2001 FIFA World Youth Championships (U-20) held in Argentina.
Yi began his professional career in 2002 with Belgium club Royal Antwerp, a feeder club to England's Manchester United. The opportunity arose when Yi, then a sophomore at UCLA, was offered a contract by a United scout following a game between Yi's U.S. U-23 side and the Manchester United Reserves. Yi flew to Belgium the next day and signed with Antwerp.
Over the next two seasons, he appeared in 17 games for Royal Antwerp's first team before joining Dallas in January 2005. In three seasons with Dallas, Yi appeared in 27 first team games, including a career high 15 starts in 2007. Various hamstring injuries hampered Yi's professional career, with a recent injury to his left hamstring prior to the start of the 2008 season helping the decision to retire and return to school.
COMMENTS FROM ALEX YI:
I feel it was time to stop playing soccer for a couple different reasons. The main reasons for me were my constant hamstring injuries, obviously, and my strong desire to finish school. Before I had the chance to really think about retirement seriously, I was always excited at the prospect of continuing my education after my career. That time has arrived sooner than later, and I'm grateful to have the opportunity.
Soccer will always be a passion, an obsession really. I've had an amazing life playing with some of the best players in the country and even the world. I have old teammates all around the league and different leagues around the world; many, many memories and friendships to last a lifetime.
I know soccer will always be in my life - if it's coaching and training kids, kicking a ball around on weekends - I will always love this sport, not just for the amazing spectacle that it is but for everything it has given and taught me.
I want to thank everyone for their support: the FC Dallas coaching staff, past and present; Marcus Owens, Josh Watts, Daniel Granados and Robbie Cox.
I want to thank the fans and supporters of FC Dallas.
Finally and most importantly I want to thank my teammates. I have had the best teammates any player in this league can ask for, through the most difficult times I have always been given unbelievable support and I thank you guys for that.
I know how hard we've all worked for the season and I truly believe there is something special in this locker room.
See you at PHP!
Thanks,
Alex
