Former Houston Dynamo, Bolton Wanderers and U.S. Men's National Team midfielder Stuart Holden announced his retirement from professional soccer today in a letter posted to ussoccer.com.
The Aberdeen, Scotland native grew up in Sugar Land and graduated from Awty International School in Houston. Holden signed with English side Sunderland in 2005 after playing two years at Clemson University, but returned to the U.S. to sign with the Dynamo in 2006.
Holden became a fan favorite in his four seasons in Houston, winning two MLS Cups in 2006 and 2007 (and scoring his penalty kick in the 2006 final). In all competitions, Holden finished his Dynamo career with 22 goals and 19 assists, both putting him in the franchise's all-time top 10 lists.
The midfielder joined current Dynamo head coach Owen Coyle at Bolton Wanderers after the 2009 MLS season. Holden was a breakout star for Bolton during the 2010-11 campaign, making 30 appearances in all competitions and being named 2011 Bolton Wanderers Player of the Year despite missing the final two months due to a femur fracture. Holden was sidelined again after a short return to the field revealed cartilage damage in the knee.
For the U.S., Holden earned 25 caps with the senior team. He made his first appearance at the 2009 Gold Cup and was a member of the 2010 World Cup squad. After a two-and-a-half year hiatus from the national team due to the injuries sustained with Bolton, Holden returned to the USMNT set-up for the 2013 Gold Cup. However, a torn ACL in the final cut short his international return and complications in his recovery pushed back his return to competitive play.
Holden, 30, became a father on Tuesday as he and his wife, Karalyn, welcomed their first child, Kennady Rose. In his letter, Holden said he does not know what will come next, but that he does expect to stay in soccer with opportunities ahead of him "as a broadcaster, a coach, and maybe even as an owner one day." Holden currently serves as an analyst for FOX and is a co-founder of HELM Soccer along with Brian Ching and Landon Donovan.
