Michael Harrington, an 11-year veteran of Major League Soccer, announced his retirement on Jan. 24. Harrington, 33, spent last season playing with North Carolina FC in the USL Championship.
The former third overall MLS SuperDraft pick announced the news on his Twitter account, while also revealing the next move in his career. Harrington will be returning to his alma mater, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, to finish a degree and work as an assistant coach with the school’s men’s soccer team.
@MLS @SportingKC @TimbersFC @NorthCarolinaFC @UNCmenssoccer thanks for the ride…. pic.twitter.com/kJD8BixNzU
— Michael Harrington (@mikeymomoney2) January 24, 2019
A native of Greenville, N.C., Harrington represented the U.S. national team at the youth level, playing for the Stars and Stripes at the 2003 U-17 Championships and at the 2005 U-20 World Cup. He was an alternate for the 2008 Olympic team.
Harrington spent the majority of his career playing left back, and he credited the late coach Sigi Schmid for moving him there.
Saddened to hear the news about Sigi. Not sure where soccer would have taken me without him, as he was responsible for my move to outside back almost 14 years ago. What a man and what a career.
— Michael Harrington (@mikeymomoney2) December 28, 2018
Sporting Kansas City — then the Kansas City Wizards — selected Harrington in the 2007 MLS SuperDraft. Over six seasons, Harrington played in 162 games with Kansas City, scoring five times and adding 14 assists. In 2012, he helped SKC win the U.S. Open Cup.
He later played with the Portland Timbers, where he racked up five assists in 68 appearances, and with the Colorado Rapids and Chicago Fire.
Harrington ended his career in his home state, appearing in 25 matches for North Carolina FC in 2018.
North Carolina native, MLS veteran and 2018 NCFC player @mikeymomoney2 announced his retirement from professional soccer this week.
We wish Michael the best in his new journey!#NoFinishLine | #NCFCFam pic.twitter.com/OUkgTkp7bj
— North Carolina FC (@NorthCarolinaFC) January 26, 2019