Concussions Force New England Revolution’s Taylor Twellman Into Retirement

The player who reached 100 career goals faster than any other MLS player, posted the best career strike rate and was undeniably one of the greatest players to ever play in the league officially announced his retirement on Wednesday. The reason the 30-year-old was hanging it up: concussions.

“When you’re told if you want to live your life and be healthy, then soccer needs to stop, then the decision is made for you,” Twellman said during his farewell press conference.

Twellman played his last professional game at 28 years old and had just six mostly injury-free seasons, but still managed to score 101 goals and register 28 assists in just over 15,000 career minutes. That’s a career Points Per 90 of 1.38. As a point of comparison, consider only three fulltime players posted better PP90’s this season and Sebastian Le Toux registered a 1.39 with 14 goals and 11 assists.

Over the course of eight seasons, Twellman won an MVP (2005), made five All-Star teams and led the Revolution to four MLS Cup finals. He cited an inability to win any of those finals as one of his few regrets.

For whatever reason, he never became a regular on the U.S. National Team. He only made 29 appearances and never made a World Cup roster despite being the top domestic scorer during most of his career.

During the press conference, he seemed to be even more frustrated with the circumstances around his retirement.

“The hardest thing about this injury is that I can do zero about it and that is the most humbling thing that has ever happened to me in my life,” he said.

“For two years I’ve done everything from accupucture for 12 hours to waking up at 6:30 a.m. to sitting in a dark room for six months. I can honestly sit here and say I’ve done it all, I’ve tried it all and I’m sick and I’m injured.”