Reyna Retirement Press Conference

Good afternoon folks. I'm at the Claudio Reyna retirement press conference.

I'll post any developments here:

Reyna will stay on with the Red Bulls as an ambassador and will work with the club's youth teams (doesn't really sound like he was forced out).

On the decision to retire: "I couldn't remember the exact date. It was a few weeks back. The first person I spoke to was the coach. It was a decision that was made between him and I and in the end it was my decision and I was ready for it."

"I was ready. There's a lot of great things happening in my life. I'm really looking forward to the next chapter in my life."

On the possibility of changing his mind: "There'll be no Brett Favre situation here."

With regard to coaching, Reyna isn't going to jump right into coaching, but will begin the process of attaining his coaching licenses. It sounds like he will take his time before beginning that part of his career, but Reyna definitely plans on coaching.

On his career: "People say they live the dream, I didn't even dream about the things I did."

Comments

[Unoriginal Aaron]

"There'll be no Brett Favre situation here."

Oh you just wait! Months from now, speculation will run rampant Renya is looking to return, questions to RBNY will go unanswered, and fans will rally demanding Renya be brought back. Finally, the unthinkable will happen: Renya will wear the jersey of...nah!..play real minutes for a team other than New York! You just wait!

[Dave Martinez]

No chance Aaron. I think the fact that he has fallen so flat in less than a year after just coming over from the best leagues in the world must have opened his eyes some. That, and the fact that no one has ever said one bad word about Reyna (besides the injury prone thing) till he donned a Bulls jersey. Wake up calls.

[Slugger]

"Reyna will stay on with the Red Bulls as an ambassador and will work with the club's youth teams (doesn't really sound like he was forced out)."

Doesn't really sound like "Neither party wants anything to do with each other" either, per Goff's source...

[Sandro]

Nice line from Claudio about dreaming and goals. Let's not forget this guy was classy and great for the US Mens National team. I wish him the best!

[smorebs]

It's good to hear all of this. It would be great for him to stay with the team and eventually replace JCO. Again, he is showing that he still is a classy guy, and he probably has been avoiding the the media due to embarrassment over the fact that he is a shell of the player he was. He should be honored at the next RBNY game (v D.B.) and shown off with proper respect.

[Unoriginal Aaron]

Definitely joking back there. ;)

[TCompton]

I think that in 20 years or so, this whole MLS "experiment" may start to pay off. With players like Claudio Reyna, John Harkes, and Cobi Jones entering the coaching arena, we'll start to see a new generation of American soccer players.

Regardless of Reyna's Red Bull experience, his resume is impressive.

[HomeyBoehme]

@smorebs "He should be honored at the next RBNY game (v D.B.) and shown off with proper respect" -

Yeah, they can present Reyna with the huge oversized check for the rest of his guaranteed salary! ;-)

Seriously though, the blame for this debacle should fall directly on the people who drew up that horrible guaranteed contract. Reyna deserve a send off for his contributions to the USMNT more than anything else.

[Marc]

I think he would be a great coach for youth teams. His technical ability is second to none in his generation. And yes, he may have played a lot of square balls, but his ability to pass out of pressure was better than most on the US. I always thought that his game was much better when surrounded by better players, much like Clint Mathis.

[Marc]

I think he would be a great coach for youth teams. His technical ability is second to none in his generation. And yes, he may have played a lot of square balls, but his ability to pass out of pressure was better than most on the US. I always thought that his game was much better when surrounded by better players, much like Clint Mathis.

[TK]

Goff has been getting a lot of things way wrong lately....and clearly not researching.

Are people getting lazy, our is outscooping more important than anything?

[Betinho]

Glad to hear things didn't go as sour as earlier reported. I hope to see Reyna involved with soccer in the US for many years to come. He was one of a few who brought me to the sport I now follow obsessively...thanks a lot Claudio (look what you've done! LOL)

[Matt]

I'm glad Reyna will stay on with the club as a coach. He's been a great asset to the club and the sport in New Jersey and I wish him all the best.

[TigerShark]

@matt - which injury was his greatest asset to the club do you think? are you drunk, son?

[Paul]

A retirement/send-off/thank-you ceremony for Reyna would more appropriately be held at a national team game -- perhaps one of the upcoming WC qualifiers?

[kpugs]

I'm glad he's sticking around. Regardless of what the uninformed bandwagon-jumping haters think he's a New Jersey and American legend.

[Haig]

I don't give a damn what kind of legend he is, as long as he's not sponging off my soccer club.

[Haig]

I concur with Haig.

[ag nigrin]

Well said kpugs!

[Nic D "The Texas 2 Stepper"]

Did Haig just concur with Haig?

Strange things indeed!

[ambihl]

Then let me concur with Haig!

[Eugene]

Its great that he's staying on with the team to participate in training the kids in the youth academy.

That's a true win/win for the team

[Tim]

You have to get Reyna props. He lead our team in the 02 world cup. This was shown when he was picked in the first 11 for the World Cup.