Alan Gordon to Retire at Regular Season Finale
The Chicago Fire Soccer Club forward Alan Gordon announced this morning that he will retire from professional soccer following today’s final match of the 2018 regular season. A two-time MLS Cup Champion and a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup winner, Gordon will finish his distinguished playing career after 15 seasons in Major League Soccer and having represented his country at the international level.
The Fire play their final game of the season today (Oct. 28) versus D.C. United at Toyota Park at 3:30 p.m.
“I consider myself very lucky and blessed to have been a part of the continued growth of Major League Soccer,” said Gordon. “I will always be grateful to have shared the field with the incredibly talented players that I have, as well as the lifelong relationships I have developed off the field. The game has given me far more than I could ever give back. I want to thank my family and friends for their continued support over the years and their willingness to allow me to chase my dream. I am proud of the things I have accomplished alongside my teammates and I am excited to begin the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.”
Gordon, 37, has made 293 MLS regular season appearances (142 starts) for six different clubs during an extensive playing career. Beginning his MLS career as a sixth-round selection (53rd overall) by the LA Galaxy in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft, Gordon has tallied 59 goals and 32 assists in MLS regular season play. Additionally, Gordon has made 18 MLS postseason appearances (three starts), contributing two goals and two assists.
“Alan’s career will be remembered for scoring heroic, last-minute goals for his team,” said Chicago Fire President and General Manager Nelson Rodriguez. “He is a player who rose to the occasion and therefore earned a reputation as one of MLS’ all-time best closers. On behalf of the entire Chicago Fire organization, I would like to congratulate Alan on a successful and decorated playing career and we wish the entire Gordon family all the best in the next chapter of their lives.”
Joining the Fire as a free agent on March 16, 2018, Gordon has made 22 regular season appearances (seven starts) this season, tallying four goals. Gordon’s first goal with the Club occurred in a 2-2 away draw against Toronto FC on April 28, with the striker producing the game-tying goal in the 94th minute of play (VIDEO). That tally marked the seventh time Gordon had drawn level or won a match for his team in stoppage time. Click here for a video of every one of Alan Gordon’s stoppage time goals to tie or take the lead during his MLS career.
Gordon added three more goals in three consecutive games (May 26-June 2) for the Fire, including a game-winning, long-distance strike in a 2-1 win over Orlando City SC on May 26.
Following his selection by the Galaxy in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft, Gordon was loaned to the Portland Timbers to compete in the 2004 A-League season, before rejoining the Galaxy in 2005. In his sophomore season, Gordon made five MLS regular-season appearances (three starts) and three postseason appearances, as the Galaxy captured the 2005 MLS Cup and the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Gordon appeared in 99 regular-season matches, scoring 16 goals and adding 12 assists in seven seasons for the Galaxy, before being traded to Chivas USA in 2010, where he scored one goal and tallied three assists in nine league matches (eight starts).
Gordon joined Toronto FC prior to the start of the 2011 season, recording four goals and one assist in eight regular-season matches (seven starts). He was traded to the San Jose Earthquakes in July 2011 and appeared in 62 league matches (37 starts) for the Club, posting 17 goals and 10 assists, before returning to the Galaxy in Aug. 2014. Gordon appeared in five postseason matches for the Galaxy in 2014, winning his second MLS Cup championship. Following a three-year stint (2014-16) with the Galaxy, Gordon joined the Colorado Rapids for the 2017 season, notching three goals and four assists, before signing with the Fire.
At the international level, the Long Beach, Calif., native has earned two caps for the U.S. Men’s National Team, including a 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier on Oct. 12, 2012, and the Concacaf Gold Cup semifinal on July 22, 2015. Additionally, Gordon was a member of the U.S. Men’s National Team that won the 2013 Concacaf Gold Cup.
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