The on-again, off-again retirement of 41-year-old Claudio Suarez seems to be on … this time for good.
TV Azteca on Friday reported that the former Chivas USA defender has publicly announced his retirement from professional soccer. He made the statement via telephone on a popular Mexican sports program, Los Protagonistas, and added that he will be looking to entering the coaching ranks in Mexico.
Chivas USA confirmed on Friday that Suarez was not on the team’s roster. He was in and out of preseason training camp this year. He departed to Mexico shortly after the start of preseason following the passing of his mother.
Suarez then returned to Chivas USA training for a little over two weeks, only to leave for good at the beginning of this month. "El Emperador" had a public falling out with the club before the start of the 2009 season, only for him to return to the roster. During the 2009 season he played in just five matches.
Suarez joined Chivas USA in 2006 after a storied career in the Mexican league, including stints with UNAM Pumas, Chivas Guadalajara and Tigres. To this day is the all-time appearance leader in Mexican National Team history (178 caps).
He said that he plans on remaining in Los Angeles, California conducting academies and clinics along with former Chivas USA players Ramón RamÃrez and MartÃn Zúñiga.
