Jeff Larentowicz retires second on all-time list for field player appearances in MLS
Former FC Delco and Chestnut Hill Academy star hangs up his boots after a 16-year career
West Chester, Pa. native Jeff Larentowicz announced his retirement from professional soccer on Monday, ending a 16-year career highlighted by two MLS Cup wins and another pair of U.S. Open Cup titles.
Only Kyle Beckerman (533) has more appearances than the 464 the former FC Delco and Chestnut Hill Academy star made in his career playing for five different teams in MLS. Goalkeeper Nick Rimando is the all-time appearance leader with 553 and goalkeeper Kevin Hartman played in 464 games, according to data on Transfermarkt.
“Possibly the hardest thing about retiring - other than just saying those words - is the loss of the mutual bond a family can feel during the career of an athlete,” Larentowicz wrote in a letter that was posted online by a third party. “The player performs and feels enormous pride by giving their family a gift like no other. While the family, beaming from the stands experiences immense joy in watching their child or sibling live out their dream for all to see. I am going to miss having that opportunity week in and week out; however, I consider myself so lucky to have done it at all.”
Larentowicz won MLS Cup trophies with the Colorado Rapids in 2010 and Atlanta United in 2018. He won the U.S. Open Cup with the New England Revolution in 2007 and Atlanta United in 2019. His trophy case also includes a North American SuperLiga trophy with New England in 2008 and a Campeones Cup with Atlanta in 2019.
The California-born Larentowicz won back-to-back U.S. Youth Soccer national championships with FC Delco and back-to-back Interacademic League titles with Chestnut Hill Academy prior to attending college at Brown University.
He was drafted 45th overall in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft by the New England Revolution and paid the minimum salary at the time of $12,000 in his first season.
“16 years. Started out making $12k/yr to chase a dream,” former New England teammate and TV commentator Taylor Twellman tweeted on Monday. “My utmost respect for Jeff and the career he had. Couldn’t be more proud to have seen it unfold and even more proud of the way he carried himself.”