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SANDY — D.C. United announced Wednesday that defender Robbie Russell is retiring from the game of soccer to attend Georgetown University and pursue a medical career.
Russell's final match with D.C. will be Sunday when the club faces Sporting Kansas City at home.
Russell tweeted Wednesday after the announcement.
So amazed by all the support!! Hope everyone comes to the match Sunday for my last official game as a professional footballer!— Robert I. O. Russell (@RobbieRussell03) May 15, 2013
Russell's soccer career, which started at Duke University, also took him overseas to play in Iceland and Denmark before embarking on a career in MLS in 2008.The 33-year-old defender has been in MLS for the last six seasons, starting when he joined Real Salt Lake in 2008. Russell wore the Claret and Cobalt colors through the 2011 season, finishing with 90 appearances, 78 of which were starts.
In 2009, Russell helped the Salt Lake club win MLS Cup, as he made the penalty kick that clinched RSL's victory over the Los Angeles Galaxy in the championship game.
After leaving Salt Lake following the 2011 season, Russell was picked up by D.C., where he has remained the last season and a half. Last year he notched 19 appearances and scored one goal.
“Salt Lake was a great time for me,” Russell told D.C United. "It is a club that is very close to my heart. Any club that you have a lot of success with, you feel an extra bond to. But it was also a really special group of guys.”
So far this season, Russell has had one appearance in the D.C. United black and red uniform for a total of six minutes.
RSL players who shared the pitch with Russell during his time with the Salt Lake club took to Twitter to express their congratulations and best wishes to their former teammate.
@robbierussell03 It was a pleasure to play with you! All the best in the future. Come visit us sometime. #RSLfam — Kyle Beckerman (@KyleBeckerman) May 15, 2013
Veteran RSL defender Chris Wingert, who shared the back line with Russell also wished him well via social media:
Congrats to my man @robbierussell03 on an incredible career!BIG things to come — Chris Wingert (@wingert17) May 15, 2013
Kira Terry is a sports writer covering Real Salt Lake for KSL.com. Follow her on Twitter, @kiraterry.
