Posted on March 14, 2013 by Michael Lewis
Heather Mitts, one of three women’s soccer players to win three Olympic gold medals, has announced her retirement from club and country.
Mitts will join the Philadelphia Union’s broadcast team as a pre-game and sideline reporter.
The 34-year-old Mitts retires after having played 137 times for the United States, good for 18th place on the caps list and sixth-best for a defender. She made her debut for the Americans back in February 1999, wearing the U.S. jersey for the first time against Finland in Orlando, Fla.
“The time has come for me to move onto a new stage of my career,” Mitts said in a statement. “I truly appreciate the women who paved the way, to my friends and dear teammates that I will never forget. I will miss the little things, the travel by plane, train and mini-van, the locker room moments, keeping my teammates on their toes and nothing will ever compare to putting on that U.S. jersey. It’s been an amazing journey with some obstacles, but in the very end I feel so fortunate that we were able to close on a golden note.”
Mitts was a member of the USA’s 2004, 2008 and 2012 Olympic gold medal teams as well as the 2011 Women’s World Cup team. She played in nine career Olympic matches, including a memorable performance in the a 1-0 victory over Brazil in the 2008 final. She scored two goals in her career, both game-winners.
She started 104 of her 137 international games and played in her last match on Dec. 15 against China in Boca Raton, Fla., coming on in the final 15 minutes for Christie Rampone in the state where she had a successful college career.
Mitts, who played in both former professional leagues, for the Philadelphia Charge in the Women’s United Soccer Association and the Boston Breakers, Philadelphia Independence and the Atlanta Beat in Women’s Professional Soccer, was allocated to the Boston Breakers in the new National Women’s Soccer League before deciding to retire.
<strong>Photo: Heather Mitts will be a pre-game and sideline reporter for the Philadelphia Union. Scott Bales/YCJ</strong>
Categories: North America, U.S.A., Women
Tags: Atlanta Beat, Boston Breakers, Heather Mitts, National Women's Soccer League, Philadelphia Charge, Philadelphia Independence, Philadelphia Union, Women's Professional Soccer
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