U.S. Soccer Star Carli Lloyd Announces Retirement
U.S. soccer star Carli Lloyd announced her retirement on Monday. Her final games for the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (USWNt) will be four friendly matches in the fall—two in September and two in October.
"When I first started out with the National Team in 2005, my two main goals were to be the most complete soccer player I could be and to help the team win championships," the 39-year-old Lloyd said.
"Every single day I stepped out onto the field, I played as if it was my last game," Lloyd continued. "I never wanted to take anything for granted, especially knowing how hard it is to get to the top, but even harder to stay at the top for so long."
Lloyd is a two-time Olympic gold medalist, a two-time FIFA Women's World Cup champion, a two-time FIFA Player of the Year and the scorer of 128 international goals. She is the nation's all-time top scorer in the Olympic Games with 10 goals and she is the only other American, alongside Mia Hamm, to win FIFA women's Player of the Year twice.
Lloyd is set to play the remainder of the National Women's Soccer League season with NJ/NY Gotham FC. During her 12-year professional club career, she has played for six teams.
"I would like to thank U.S. Soccer for helping to provide the opportunities and memories that will last a lifetime. I am forever grateful to have represented the crest and to be able to play for my country for the last 17 years," Lloyd said. "I will continue to support and cheer this team on and continue to find ways to help grow the game and inspire the next generation."
Lloyd also thanked her coaches, teammates and husband, golfer Brian Hollins, who she called her "rock and biggest support system for all these years."
"We are both looking forward to starting this next chapter of our lives without my everyday grind of training and playing, but I will most likely need another outlet for my competitiveness! Perhaps that will be golf?" the soccer star said.
In a Monday statement, USWNT head coach Vlatko Andonovski called Lloyd "a true legend."
"Her career was unique, and her success on the field is something all current and future National Team players should aspire to achieve," Andonovski said. "The way she approached her everyday training and career as a professional is truly impressive and I've been honored to coach her."
Lloyd had played under the leadership of five different USWNT head coaches and with more than 100 different teammates internationally.
"We have been able to share some unbelievable moments together on and off the field, and we've also shared some heartbreaking moments," she said. "I'm just thankful for both the highs and lows because that's what has helped us grow as people, players and as a team. I will always be thankful for the friendships I have formed along the way and the fact that I was able to play and compete with the best players in the world."
She is currently fourth all-time in minutes played for the USWNT, with 21,293 minutes under her belt.
