Another veteran of MLS and international soccer play from the Inland Empire is hanging ’em up. Defender Carlos Bocanegra, 35, a former Alta Loma High and UCLA star who played in two World Cups for the U.S. and is winding down his 15-year professional career with Chivas USA, has announced his plans to retire at the end of the current season.
Bocanegra follows the Galaxy’s Landon Donovan, the pride of Redlands East Valley High, by about a month in announcing his retirement.
“I’m still hungry for the game and I want to play, but unfortunately you can’t play forever. I was thinking about this in the offseason, and it took me about six months to come to a final decision,” Bocanegra said in a statement released by the team. “The timing is right for me. I’ve known for a little while now in my mind and in my heart. I’m happy with it, and I’m looking forward to the new challenges.”
Bocanegra played four seasons with the MLS Chicago Fire at the start of his career before jumping to Europe, where he played for Fulham in the English Premier League, Stade Rennes and AS Saint Etienne in the French Ligue 1, Rangers FC in Scotland and Real Racing Club de Santander in Spain’s La Liga.
He became a member of the U.S. Men’s National Team in 203 and had 110 appearances, the 12th U.S. player to top the 100 mark. He played in two World Cups (2006 and ’10) and a Confederations Cup and was on U.S. teams that reached four Gold Cup finals, winning two (2002 and ’07). He was the U.S. leader all-time in goals by a defender with 14.
“In many ways, Carlos was the quintessential American player of his generation,” Chivas USA President Nelson Rodriguez said in the club’s statement. “Effective, resilient, uncompromising, loyal, leader – all the attributes you would always associate with a winner and all the essential ingredients of a great captain.”
Bocanegra still lives in Rancho Cucamonga and runs a soccer facility there, the CB3 Sports Performance Center.
PHOTO CREDIT: Chivas USA
