Former Columbus Crew captain Frankie Hejduk announced today that he would officially be retiring from professional soccer. Hejduk had a 16-year career that included leading the Columbus Crew to the MLS championship in 2008 and playing in two World Cup games and two Olympic games.
The 37-year-old won’t be taking much downtime though, as the Crew jointly announced today that Hejduk will become the new brand ambassador for the team. This new position will serve to promote the Crew through a variety of aspects, and assist with business development initiatives.
“I want to thank my family and all of my teammates, trainers, equipment managers, front office staffers, coaches and fans for making my life that much more special, both on and off the field,” said Hejduk. “We all share a special bond that’s tough to explain to anyone outside that circle, but the memories we share and the good times we had will never be forgotten or matched. Now I look forward to continuing my association with the Crew and helping to grow the sport of soccer.”
Hejduk originally joined the Crew in 2003 and played on the team for seven years, winning four major trophies and appearing in 147 games.
“Frankie Hejduk personified the Crew and was a tremendous ambassador for the club during his storied playing career, so creating the position of Brand Ambassador for him is a natural extension,” said Crew President & General Manager Mark McCullers. “Frankie will continue to be a recognizable and visible personality championing the club within our media broadcasts, digital media content, community relations, corporate partnerships and, of course, fan relations.”
More information can be found online at TheCrew.com.