Longtime Major League Soccer midfielder Chris Pontius is retiring from soccer after 11 seasons, he announced Tuesday. The majority of his career, from 2009 to 2015, was spent with D.C. United, followed by two years with the Philadelphia Union before heading to the LA Galaxy in 2018.
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“I’ve been able to live out a dream for the past 11 years,” read a post on his Instagram account Tuesday. “Today, it’s time for me to step away from the field. To the fans, thank you for your support through wins and losses. To my coaches and team staff, I would never be where I am without your guidance. To my teammates, I enjoyed all the battles with you and will miss the locker room banter. To my family and friends, thank you for being there for me through this wild ride. Mom and dad, I hope I have made you proud. Alex, thank you for being my rock, I love you.
“Soccer has brought me places that I never thought I would go and I’ve met some amazing people along the way. I look forward to inspiring the next generation.”
Pontius, a Yorba Linda, Calif. native, returned home to Southern California to finish his career when the Galaxy signed him as a free agent. During his time with the Galaxy, he had seven goals, nine assists and 21 starts in 44 appearances. Overall in MLS, combining regular season and postseason statistics, Pontius made 266 appearances and scored 53 goals, including one playoff goal. He was with D.C. United when the club won the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in 2013, and he was named MLS Comeback Player of the Year in 2016.