Chivas USA Swiss Midfielder Wicky Announces Retirement
Veteran Swiss midfielder Raphael Wicky, who played just five games for Chivas USA last year in an injury-plagued first season with the team, has called time on his playing career, the club announced Monday evening. A succession of injuries contributed to the decision that was made for "personal reasons," according to the club.
That still means the team still has 22 players under contract (they already subtracted him from the roster count they gave me earlier in the day and I simply failed to do the math).
"I would like to express my sincerest gratitude to everyone at Chivas USA for giving me the opportunity to play in Major League Soccer," Wicky said. "I had a wonderful experience with the club, and only wish that I could have contributed more on the field."
Wicky played 75 times for Switzerland and also appeared for such clubs as Werder Bremen and Hamburg SV (Germany), FC Sion (Switzerland) and Athletico Madrid (Spain) in a pro career that began in 1993.
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About 100 Percent Soccer
Sportswriter Nick Green has written the 100 Percent Soccer column since 2005 for the Daily News, Daily Breeze and other Los Angeles area newspapers. The blog of the same name began in 2007. A native of England, he began writing about soccer in the mid-1980s and in 2000 permanently exchanged a seat in the stands for one in the press box. He lives six miles from Carson's Home Depot Center, home of the Los Angeles Galaxy, Chivas USA and the training headquarters for U.S. Soccer and is married to a long-suffering soccer widow. Join Nick on FaceBook and follow him on Twitter.
Too bad he couldn't play more, but injuries hampered him for a long time, even before he joined Chivas in MLS.
I've met him a couple of times over the years and even though he - still is - quite adored by Hamburg (specially female) fans, he always remained a down to earth guy unlike many of his colleagues.
Nick,
I checked the Chivas USA website this morning @8am, but the updated roster is still not there (Wicky is still on it).
Any idea when we will know the official roster? Today being the MLS roster day!
Nick replies: the 22-man Chivas USA roster is listed here.