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SANDY — After 15 years of the beautiful game, including 10 with Real Salt Lake, veteran defender Chris Wingert has decided to call it a career.
The 35-year-old outside back announced his retirement Monday morning, putting to an end a back-and-forth decision-making process on the finalization of his soccer career.
“Part of me felt like it was selfish to make a statement, that I would be doing it only for promotional reasons,” Wingert said in a statement on Twitter. “Whereas the humble, more genuine, thing to do would be to just walk away, that everyone would find out eventually.
“After some more thought, though, I realize that there are people who care, who are wondering what I’m up to. Of course, not millions of fans like the superstar legends of the game. But people who have followed my career and supported me in numerous different ways.”
— Chris Wingert (@wingert17) February 19, 2018
A native of Long Island, New York, Wingert came to Real Salt Lake in a trade with the Colorado Rapids in 2007. He went from a reserve role in Colorado to a starting left back spot with RSL immediately, and helped anchor the defense that won the 2009 MLS Cup as one of two players to play in all 30 contests for the title-winning club.
Wingert’s role on the team was never flashy, but the fiery competitor finishes his MLS career with two goals and 16 assists in 339 appearances, including 300 starts. He eventually returned home to New York City FC in the 2014 MLS expansion draft after making a career-high three assists in 2014.
RSL immediately claimed Wingert off waivers after NYCFC released him following the 2015 season, and the defenseman made 18 starts during a 2016 season that saw him shift from left back to center back to an occasional right back start. His return to RSL seemed to foreshadow the coming of another New Yorker to the Salt Lake Valley in head coach Mike Petke.
“I could write a whole book on the great memories and friends I’ve made in Salt Lake, and it still wouldn’t be enough,” Wingert said. “I don’t believe another small-market team will have a five-year run like we did for a very long time, maybe ever. Utah is, and always will be, a second home for me. Thank you for that.”
Wingert’s father Norm played for the Philadelphia Atoms in the North American Soccer League. The younger Wingert also made one appearance for the U.S. men’s national team, facing Sweden in 2009.
