Conor Casey announces retirement after 10-year MLS career

Columbus Crew forward Conor Casey announced Thursday he has retired from professional soccer, ending a career that included 10 years in Major League Soccer and started with a few seasons in the Bundesliga.

"I feel very fortunate today," Casey said in a statement posted by the Crew. "I've been able to make a life from doing what I love. This beautiful game has brought me all over the world, shown me places and people I would have never seen. From empty training fields to packed stadiums with screaming fans, it has given me back everything I've poured into many times over.

"Thank you to my family for giving me every opportunity to follow my dreams, to my friends for their support, to my wife and baby for their love, to my teammates for inspiration and to the fans for that feeling that can't be matched. Until next time."

The 35-year-old spent time with Borussia Dortmund, Hannover 96, and Mainz 05 before joining MLS with Toronto FC. After making a pair of appearances, Casey switched over to the Colorado Rapids where he played for six seasons.

With the Rapids, Casey established himself as a feared striker in MLS, scoring 50 goals in 119 appearances for the club, helping Colorado win the 2010 MLS Cup. He was traded to the Philadelphia Union in 2013, where he spent three seasons, scoring 22 goals in 77 total appearances.

Casey finally joined the Crew for the 2016 season where he made just four appearances and did not find the back of the net.

He retires with an MLS Cup MVP and MLS Best XI nod in 2010, and was twice named an MLS All-Star.