SALT LAKE CITY/CHICAGO - U.S. National Team and Real Salt Lake DF Eddie Pope has retired from international competition, U.S. Soccer announced today. Pope's decision concludes an 11-year international career that included nine World Cup matches played since 1998 and 82 appearances overall.
Pope will discuss his career and his decision to hang up the U.S. National Team boots during Saturday's ESPN broadcast of the MLS Sierra Mist All-Star Game, broadcast live at 4:30 p.m. MT, when the MLS All-Stars face two-time defending English Premier League champion Chelsea FC at Toyota Park, the new home of the Chicago Fire.
Pope was selected to the midseason affair for the 10th time in his 11-year MLS career, but has missed each of the last two RSL games due to injury concerns. Pope is unable to participate Saturday due to a contusion on his right foot, suffered in the July 22 game vs. FC Dallas, that has kept him out of Real Salt Lake's past two regular season games and Wednesday's U.S. Open Cup game. He is expected to return 100% healthy for next Wednesday's game at Colorado, as well as the historic August 12 "XanGo Cup," in which RSL hosts European superpower Real Madrid at 7:30 p.m. MT at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City.
"After having the opportunity to play in my third World Cup and taking some time to reflect with my family, I felt like it was the right moment to say goodbye to the national team," said Pope. "I'll miss all my teammates, and I will always appreciate the successes we had together. I really never imagined that my international career would last this long, and I am very grateful for the opportunities over the last 11 years. I want to thank everyone in the U.S. Soccer family, and particularly the fans, for all the support over the years. It has made my national team career very, very special."
A perennial anchor of the U.S. defense for nearly a decade, he is the first three-time World Cup veteran to play his entire professional career in Major League Soccer. Pope ends his international career tied with Kasey Keller and Claudio Reyna for the most ever World Cup qualifying appearances in U.S. history, playing in 31 matches during three qualifying campaigns. He turned in one of the standout performances for the U.S. defense at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, starting all five matches.
"Eddie should be extremely proud of his role as a pioneer in the resurgence of the U.S. Men's National Team program, as well as his trail-blazing history for Major League Soccer," said Real Salt Lake Head Coach John Ellinger, formerly the architect of the U.S. U-17 residency program in Bradenton, Fla., the winningest program in USMNT history. "He is simply a different class of athlete and gentleman, and his influence on young players will be felt far and wide throughout MLS and future U.S. National Team programs."
Pope recorded eight goals for the United States, none bigger than his strike in the USA's 2-2 World Cup qualifying draw with Mexico on April 20, 1997. Also scoring the game-winner against Mexico on April 28, 2004, in Dallas, he added two goals to his account in 2006, netting in back-to-back games against Norway and Japan. The 32-year old collected a Gold Cup championship medal in 2005.
"Eddie has been the measuring stick for defenders in this country for nearly a decade," said U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati. "As a member of three World Cup teams and the 1996 Olympic team, he has provided many memorable moments to spotlight the class he brings to an often underappreciated position. Eddie is an inspiration to young soccer players across the United States, and will continue to inspire throughout the rest of his professional career."
Pope has spent his entire 11-year professional career in Major League Soccer, beginning with D.C. United in 1996. A three-time MLS champion, his greatest professional moment came when he scored the game-winning goal in overtime to give D.C. United the inaugural MLS Cup title in 1996. Selected for the All-Star game in 10 of his 11 seasons, the Real Salt Lake defender was named to the league's All-Time Best XI last year.
"Eddie Pope is arguably the finest defender this country has ever produced," said former U.S. National Team Manager Bruce Arena. "I've worked with Eddie since our days with D.C. United and the Olympic team in 1996, and it has been a pleasure to watch him develop into such a class act both on and off the field. Eddie has always let his play do the talking, serving as a role model for a generation of defenders. I'd like to thank Eddie for his contributions to the program, and wish him and his family the best for the future."
