Jan. 27, 2005 – Joe-Max Moore announces retirement
Post by frankdellapa@gmail.com
The Revolution built their original team around defenders Mike Burns and Alexi Lalas for their first MLS season in 1996. But the Revolution did not have a proven scorer on the roster until Joe-Max came along midway through the first season, contributing 11 goals in 14 games. Moore struggled with injuries, but clearly believed the Revolution were building an MLS title-contending team when he returned for 2005 preseason. The site of the minicamp workout is not stated in my story (below) in 1/28/2005 editions of the Boston Globe, but I believe it was on the turf at the Gillette Bubble/Field House, which proved to be a risky surface for veteran players.
MOORE MAKES CALL: NO MORE
Revolution forward Joe-Max Moore, the team’s last remaining member from the inaugural 1996 MLS season, announced his retirement yesterday, less than two weeks after reinjuring the medial collateral ligament in his right knee during a minicamp scrimmage.
Moore, 33, played in the Revolution’s first three games last season, spraining the ligament in the final minutes of a 1-1 tie with the MetroStars at Giants Stadium April 25. Moore returned to practice late in the season and seemed fit through two days of minicamp. But Moore was injured while contesting a ball with goalkeeper Matt Reis and missed the rest of the week, then underwent reconstructive surgery last Friday.
“When I came back up for the minicamp, I found out the strengthening and rehab I had been doing wasn’t enough,” Moore said. “I felt fine the first day, but I felt (the knee) three or four times the second day, and after I went into a ball with Matt Reis and twisted the knee, it showed the ligament was weak. I was going to have to undergo reconstructive surgery. I am thinking of my future and the amount of time I would need to get it healthy and strong. My main goal is to be able to kick a ball with my son and enjoy things later in life without any pain.
“It is sad; soccer has been the biggest part of my life for a long time, and I am definitely going to miss it. But I have accomplished everything I wanted to in the game and I feel good about moving on. I have tried to be smart in my career and I have prepared myself for this day.”
Moore performed for FC Nurnberg in Germany before joining the Revolution, then was loaned to Emelec in Ecuador for part of the 1997 season. He played for Everton (1999-2002) in England, scoring eight goals in his first season in Premier League and FA Cup matches; then returning to the Revolution for the last two seasons. Moore scored 42 goals in 98 regular-season and playoff games for the Revolution, second on the team’s all-time list to Taylor Twellman (52), and is third on the U.S. national team all-time scoring list with 24 goals in 100 matches. Moore was a member of the U.S. national team in three World Cup finals, and converted the deciding goal as the U.S. defeated Jamaica, 2-1, Oct. 7, 2001, to clinch a place in the 2002 World Cup finals. Moore’s 81st-minute penalty kick broke a 1-1 tie and was his 27th goal at Foxboro Stadium, a record for the stadium and the last goal scored there.
The last goal Moore scored for the Revolution was a 78th-minute free kick as the team rallied for a 3-2 overtime win over Columbus during a late-season run to the 2003 playoffs. Moore totaled four goals in 19 games since returning to the Revolution from England.
“The sad part is that the Revolution are so close to winning a championship and that is one thing I never accomplished in my career,” Moore said. “When I first came back here from Germany to play for the Revolution in the MLS, I was healthy for the most part and able to score a few goals and do my part for the team. We didn’t do all that well in terms of winning games, but just to be part of a team and organization and interact with everyone here was enjoyable for me. But since I came back from England, it’s been one injury after another. Now, I expect big things from the Revolution. With the players they have, they are not that far off. I hope they keep the core group together.
“I was real fortunate to play in three World Cups and the Olympics and feel very proud of having played 100 games – not a lot of people can say they achieved that. I learned a lot, a few languages (German and Spanish). Scoring the two goals against Jamaica to qualify for the World Cup was a great day and I will never forget it.”
TODAY IN NE SOCCER HISTORY