LOS ANGELES (Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2019) – LA Galaxy midfielder Chris Pontius has retired from professional soccer, the player announced today. Pontius, 32, retires after an 11-year professional career in Major League Soccer while representing D.C. United, Philadelphia Union and the LA Galaxy.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to have played the sport I love during the last 11 years,” said Pontius. “The game has given so much to me and as I look back on my time in Major League Soccer, I am filled with pride in not only what I accomplished during my career, but also for being a part of the growth of this league from when I joined it in 2009.
As I start this next chapter of my career, I want to say thank you all my teammates, coaches and the fans that I have met along the way. Your love, support and dedication have impacted me immeasurably and I will always be thankful. In addition to everything on the field, the friendships I have made in will last a lifetime. I want to also thank my wife, Alex, for being my companion and constantly supporting me in this journey.”
Pontius, a 2012 MLS Best XI member, will retire from soccer after accumulating 51 goals and 38 assists in 259 appearances, including 206 starts. He tallied 16 game-winning goals and six game-winning assists while earning honors as an MLS All-Star (2012), the MLS All-Star MVP (2012), MLS Best XI member (2012) and the MLS Comeback Player of the Year (2016). In 2013, he captured a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup title with D.C. United. Pontius also tallied seven postseason appearances and scored one goal in the MLS Cup Playoffs.
The Yorba Linda, CA product began his professional career in Major League Soccer when he was drafted with the 7th overall pick in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft from the University of California, Santa Barbara. He went on to make over 150 appearances with D.C. United before joining the Philadelphia Union in 2016, where he was named the 2016 MLS Comeback Player of the Year after. That year, Pontius made 33 appearances and recorded 12 goals and six assists.
The former Gaucho’s final professional stint came as a member of the LA Galaxy, joining the club in 2018. With LA, Pontiusscored seven goals and added nine assists in two seasons.
The midfielder also represented his country during his career, being called up to several U.S. Men’s National Team camps before earning his first cap in January 2017 in a friendly contest against Serbia. In all, he has made five appearances for the U.S. Men’s National Team, including three during the USMNT’s 2017 Gold Cup-winning campaign.
