HERMOSA BEACH, Calif. – James Riley is preparing for the end of his playing career and understands that the LA Galaxy's decision to decline the option on his contract might have been his final step.
The veteran defender, who missed most of this season after tearing his meniscus in March and sat out the final weeks with related hamstring and calf problems, says he's likely finished playing if the Galaxy don’t bring him back next year.
“I don't want to chase it anymore,” Riley, who spent time with New England, San Jose, Seattle, Chivas USA and D.C. United before catching on with the Galaxy during preseason last year, said following LA's championship rally earlier this week. “I'm 32; if I have to pack up and move all the way across country and continue to chase it and try to almost replicate what we have here, I don't want to do that.
“Bruce [Arena, Galaxy head coach] was fantastic in my exit interview, said, 'Yeah, we value you, but we have to see what happens,' and I said no problem. Obviously, they know what I contribute on the field and off the field, so it's one of those things where if it's not here then it's going to be tough for me to go to a different place.”
Riley is among four players whose options were declined by the MLS Cup champions – goalkeeper Brian Perk, midfielder Rafael Garcia and forward Chandler Hoffman were the others – and LA can negotiate a new contract once he gets through Stage One of Friday's Re-Entry Draft. Players not selected in the Stage Two next Thursday become free agents.
Riley, in that scenario, could be invited into the Galaxy's preseason camp next year. He said that “we'll see” what opportunities with LA might remain.
“We're deep in the outside-back position, to be honest with you,” he said. “Todd [Dunivant] and Robbie [Rogers] on the left, and Gargs [Dan Gargan] and A.J. [DeLaGarza], who can play on the right. And [Oscar] Sorto's a great young player, great young man, great kid.
“I've always wanted to leave on my terms and not force anything and not kind of just be pushed to the side. It's time to reflect [on] the game and all the relationships I've formed, what it's provided me.”
Riley, who had never previously endured a serious injury, said his time away from the field this year “awakened” his passion for the game, but that passion has been most keenly expressed while coaching children. He said he'd welcome the opportunity to discuss a position with Galaxy Academy director Peter Vagenas, his former teammate.
He'd also consider playing elsewhere if the situation was right.
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“It will have to be something that's special,” said Riley, who won his first MLS Cup championship Sunday after making it to the 2005-07 finals with the Revolution. “… If it's not here, it's going to take something very special, something very long-term and secure for me to consider.
“And [if that's not what's there], then you go out on top. Honestly, you can't replicate [what we have with the Galaxy]. This has been storybook. I was saying there should be a movie written about this. There's so many underlying stories, so many things, it's unbelievable. Honestly, it's unbelievable.”
If this is the end, Riley has made his peace with retirement. He went to LA's games in Seattle at the end of the regular season and in the Western Conference Championship's second leg, walked onto the field and spent a moment gathering his thoughts, saying a quick prayer and thank you.
“I did the same thing at StubHub,” he said. “Turned around, looked at the field, soaked it in, took a deep breath and said thank you. The game of soccer has treated me very, very well.”
