Manchester City midfielder Claudio Reyna has confirmed his retirement from international football after the United States’ exit from the World Cup.
The 33-year-old Stars and Stripes captain played in Thursday’s 2-1 loss to Ghana but was substituted in the first half with an injury sustained in the build-up to Ghana’s opening goal. The defeat sent the USA home.
“This was my last game,” Reyna said. “I decided that before the World Cup. It was clear that four years was too much time for the next one, so it just makes sense to stop now. It’s a good time to stop playing at a good level.”
Reyna featured in four different World Cup squads for his country, although injury denied him the chance of playing at USA ‘94 when he was the youngest player in the squad.
He went on to be a stalwart for his country, collecting 112 caps and scoring eight goals. Many regard him as the most skilful player yet to play for the USA.
“When we look down the road to the day where we eventually win a World Cup, Claudio is still going to be remembered as one of the greats and one of the pioneers,” said USA coach Bruce Arena, who has known Reyna since coaching him at the University of Virginia as a teenager.
Reyna’s best tournament for the USA was the 2002 World Cup, when he earned a place in FIFA’s World Cup All-Star First Team after helping his team reach the quarter-finals, where they were unlucky to lose 1-0 to Germany.
“Playing in World Cups are definitely milestones,” Reyna added. “I would have been happy to play in one when I made the first one in 1994. To make four is something beyond my dreams.
“I would have never thought that growing up. Those have definitely been highlights, and 2002, getting to the quarter-finals, was an amazing turning point for the programme.”
Poor Claudio. What a way to go out. He has been our midfield general for so long now. I can still remember seeing him get his first cap on the TV. Mr. F. was so excited to see him play and predicted that he would have a major impact on U.S. soccer.
Claudio served as team captain for eight years, and deservedly so. A capitan is a position of authority on the feild, and an example of what a footballer should be for younger players to emulate. He doesnt score a lot of goals or do anything flashy with the ball. He just does his job quietly ,well , and with class. I hope the yong players learned something about character playing with Reyna so it can be passed down to the new generation comming up. Well done Mr Reyna, well done
This wasnt his best tournament by a long shot. Mainly what I was referring to is his character. In a time when obnoxious egocentrics like Jose Mourinho are held up as gods, somebody that holds the game in higher esteem that himself if refreshing and deserves praise
06-23-2006 08:52 PM
He has been our midfield general for so long now. I can still remember seeing him get his first cap on the TV. Mr. F. was so excited to see him play and predicted that he would have a major impact on U.S. soccer.
