REYNA'S REIGN TO END Bulls captain to announce his retirement
Claudio Reyna will announce his retirement from soccer Wednesday. Linda Cuttone/Sports Vue Images
By Michael Lewis
BigAppleSoccer.com Editor
An era in American soccer will end Wednesday when Red Bulls captain and midfielder Claudio Reyna will announce his retirement from soccer.
Sources close to the team confirmed that the former U.S. National Team captain will hang up his competitive soccer boots for good.
Reyna, one of two of the Red Bulls' designated players, will make the announcement at his high school, St. Benedict's Prep, in Newark, N.J. at 2 p.m. Wednesday.
Reyna had a myraid of ailments during his injury-plagued, yet illustrious career. This season he had been hobbled by leg injuries and a herniated disc.
Reyna's retirement will allow the Red Bulls to use his DP slot to bring in a new forward, according to league sources. Forward Juan Pablo Angel is the other DP.
After a scrimmage with the Harrisburg City Islanders Tuesday, Red Bulls coach Juan Carlos Osorio indicated that he was hopeful of bringing in a new forward very soon.
"I think we will wait a couple of days and you guys will find out," he said after a 4-1 scrimmage win over the Harrisburg City Islanders at Giants Stadium. "In the back of my head, I still have an option there and I want to explore that option."
Reyna, who turns 35 on July 20, will be paid the rest of his $1,265,000 contract, although the Red Bulls will pay the remainder of his salary to MLS, sources said.
He has been restricted to six games this season (out of a possible 16). He played 461 minutes, with no goals or assists.
Reyna has never scored an MLS goal in 27 games over two seasons. He had three assists.
While many soccer observers were disappointed that Reyna never came close to the attacking presence of Tab Ramos, another famous St. Benedict's Prep alumnus, his experience, leadership and composure defined his career.
Reyna, who scored eight goals in 112 international appearances, performed at the 1996 Olympics and in three World Cups (1998, 2002 and 2006). He was named to the 1994 U.S. WC side, but never played due to injuries. He played an important role in the Americans' surprising quarterfinal finish at the 2002 competition in Korea.
The Springfield, N.J. native retired from the National Team after the 2006 WC.
His 14-year pro career included stints at Bayer Leverkusen (Germany), Wolfsburg (Germany), Glasgow Rangers (Scotland), Sunderland (England), Manchester City (England) and the Red Bulls (U.S.).
There had been a lot of speculation and rumors bouncing the league, the media and internet around that the Red Bulls would consider buying out Reyna's contract because he has been injured so much.
"I think that . . . at one time [will] be addressed,” Osorio said in an interview with BigAppleSoccer.com last week. “I think that has to come from the player himself and the people in Austria as opposed to my position."
