MLS Major League Soccer

Harkes Closes Legendary American Soccer Career

Published on April 5, 2003 under Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release


COLUMBUS, OH - April 5, 2003 - Midfielder John Harkes, one of the most recognizable and popular players in U.S. soccer history, announced his retirement during the first half of today's nationally televised broadcast of the 2003 MLS season opener between the Columbus Crew and Los Angeles Galaxy on ABC Sports.

Harkes, 36, was one of the first-ever players signed by Major League Soccer, and assigned to D.C. United, where he captained that club to the first two MLS Cup championships in 1996 and 1997. Active in the League's first seven seasons, Harkes played for United (1996-98), New England Revolution (1999-2001), and Columbus Crew (2001-02), while also making 90 appearances for the U.S. national team.

"Today, I am announcing my retirement from MLS," said Harkes. "Although this is something every player has to face at some stage, it is very difficult. Yet, instead of crying because my career is over, I'm smiling because my career happened."

Harkes first made his mark in England, where he became the first U.S. player to ever play in the F.A. Cup final and the first to score in a League Cup final, performing both feats in 1993 while playing for Sheffield Wednesday FC. He signed with Wednesday in 1990, where he played three seasons, first helping the club win promotion to the F.A. Premier League in 1990-91, then playing in both the F.A. Cup and League Cup finals in 1993, when Wednesday lost both to Arsenal FC. From there, Harkes moved to Derby County FC for two seasons, then finished his Premiership action with West Ham United FC before signing with MLS prior to the League's inaugural season.

A product of the University of Virginia, where he played from 1985-87, Harkes won the Missouri Athletic Player of the Year award as the nation's top collegiate player in 1987. He received his first full international cap on May 23, 1987, playing against Canada. A member of the U.S. squad in the 1990 and 1994 FIFA World Cup finals, he was national team captain for two years from March 1996 to March 1998.

Upon returning to America and Major League Soccer, he immediately established himself as a mainstay in Bruce Arena's teams at D.C. United. In the club's inaugural season, they performed the League and Cup double, winning both the MLS Cup and U.S. Open Cup trophies. After another MLS Cup title in 1997, Harkes was part of the side that achieved Major League Soccer's first success on the international stage, as United won both the CONCACAF Champions Cup and Interamerican Cup in 1998.

Prior the League's 1999 season, Harkes was traded to New England Revolution, where in 2000 he captained the club to its best-ever regular season. In May of 2001 he was acquired by Columbus, where he played the last two seasons of his career. During his MLS career, he scored 16 goals with 42 assists in 167 career appearances (155 as a starter), with an additional 22 playoff appearances as a starter (six assists). Harkes also played in four MLS All-Star Games (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000).

In conjunction with today's announcement, D.C. United also announced that Harkes will re-join the Black-and-Red, for his farewell match, when the club hosts Tottenham Hotspur in the Capital Cup on May 14th.. Kick-off is slated for 7:30 p.m. Tickets for the game range from $16-$36 and are available through TicketMaster Phone Charge (202-4332-SEAT), at any TicketMaster outlet, through D.C. United (703-478-6600) or at www.dcunited.com. United season ticket holders will be admitted to the game by presenting special event "A" from their season ticket plans at the gate on game day.

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