Transfer Tracker

Sal Zizzo retires from professional soccer, goes out as MLS Cup champion

Sal Zizzo – retires – New York Red Bulls

TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS: Retirement


Winning an MLS Cup sure isn’t a bad way to go out.


Sal Zizzo officially announced his retirement from professional soccer on Tuesday, with his last spell coming as Atlanta United raised the Philip F. Anschutz Trophy at Mercedes Benz Stadium this past December. Zizzo also won the MLS Supporters' Shield in 2015 while playing for the New York Red Bulls.


Altogether, Zizzo made 174 regular season and playoff appearances across nine MLS seasons. A winger and outside back, he had two goals and 17 assists.

Zizzo, 32, saw his professional career begin in 2007 with German club Hannover. But with Bundesliga appearances hard to come by, he returned stateside in 2010 and began a MLS career that included stops with Chivas USA, the Portland Timbers, Sporting Kansas City and, more recently, RBNY and Atlanta. The San Diego, Calif., native also starred collegiately at UCLA and has one US men's national team appearance, which came during a 2007 friendly against Sweden.


The midfielder has been without a team since being released by Atlanta after the 2018 season, though a lasting memory for some fans might extend beyond the pitch. 


Zizzo, during his lone season with SKC, co-hosted “The Benny Feilhaber Show” alongside Benny Feilhaber. The video series, with Zizzo on the keyboard and rocking some sunglasses, is worth watching from start to finish. All eight episodes – outtakes included – are archived on YouTube.