Throughout his career, you could always count on defender Danny Califf for an honest assessment, not an easy task given some of the teams the former U.S. international played for after his return to Major League Soccer. Even at the end of his 14-year career, Califf was transparent, saying changing priorities combined with a lack of playing team led him to announce his retirement.
The former Toronto FC defender, now TFC scout, is walking away with immediate effect, the announcement made Friday on the club?s website:
The reason for my retirement is because when yo are 33 years old and have played 14 years at a professional level, you start to have priorities that reach beyond yourself. Do I really want to train every day knowing that I am not in the coach?s plan to play, as well as knowing you are taking your kids and family way from their friends and family? The answer is no.
Califf?s diminished role in head coach Ryan Nelsen?s team was also cited by president/general manager Kevin Payne while commenting on Califf?s decision:
?I?m sorry Danny is unable to carry on playing at the level he would like, and totally respect his decision to retire.? He?s been a very good player and should be proud of what he?s accomplished,? said Toronto FC President and General Manager Kevin Payne. ?I?m very pleased that he will continue to be a part of our organization and assist us in building our team for the future.?
Califf had only played 27 games in the last year-and-a-half, and as he said in his retirement letter, he was not part a significant part of TFC?s plans for the rest of the season. After a career that started with the Galaxy and featured stops in San Jose, Denmark, Philadelphia, Chivas USA, and Toronto, Califf had reached the end of a road that featured 211 MLS appearances, an MLS Cup, a U.S. Open Cup, two Supporters? Shield and a Danish Superliga championship.
For the U.S., Califf made 23 appearances between 2002 and 2009, scoring once while taking part in two CONCACAF Gold Cup winners.
Despite those accomplishments, my most-vivid memory of Danny Califf came last year, the veteran having recently been traded to Chivas USA. In what may have been the lowest point of the Robin Fraser era, the Goats were routed by the Galaxy, 4-0, in mid-August. Amid a squad of players bolting the locker room early or otherwise avoiding questions about their performance, Dan Kennedy and Califf stepped up and, constraining a level of frustration that was about to erupt, answered every question the media had, even though you couldn?t help but think everybody would?rather get out of there as soon as possible.
Kennedy was a long-serving member of Chivas USA and an established leader. Standing in the middle of the room, answering all those questions had become part of his role. Califf, however, was new to the team. He could have skipped out without anybody thinking worse of him. But he stayed. He didn?t deflect any questions or downplay the obvious.
It can be a little bit annoying when members of the press use interviews or media appearances as an example of a player?s personal qualities, but hearing from others who covered Califf regularly, that?s exactly the kind of player he was. Even as his teams got worse and his career faded, he was always forthcoming about it.
On Friday, he made a last, honest assessment about his career. And now, he can move on. His words:
For the first time in my life I will get to eat what I want, have a beer on a Friday night, and take a vacation in the summer. Those are the things I am looking forward to.
David Boudia David Rakoff Bourne Legacy London 2012 Soccer Olympics closing ceremony
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