Steve Ralston is the Major League Soccer all-time leader in starts, appearances, assists, and minutes played. After beginning his MLS career with the Tampa Bay Mutiny, he moved to the Revolution when the Florida team was contracted. Over the course of the last eight years, Ralston's status as Revs and MLS legend solidified through his tireless midfield work, poise, and leadership.
After such a distinguished career, this was not the way he should have gone out.
Ralston retired yesterday. The Revolution beat Monarcos Morelia 1-0 in SuperLiga play, a match that was supposed to be Ralston's swansong in New England colors. Ralston watched from the sidelines, however, because league paperwork made him ineligible. It was a unfitting send-off for one of the club's greatest players.
The end of Ralston's playing career yesterday caps a tumultuous 2010 that saw the midfielder leave his MLS club of the last eight years after a contract impasse, return to his hometown of St. Louis to help jump start that city's new Division II franchise, return to the Revs when AC St. Louis' finances fell apart, then ultimately decide to retire in part because of injury.
A timeline of Ralston's year:
- January 29 - Coming off a knew injury in 2009, Ralston leaves the Revs, presumably over contract issues.
- February 1 - Ralston joins AC St. Louis as their first ever signing, returning to his hometown to play. Ralston was on the American Soccer Show to talk about his move a week later. Interview starts at the 35:00 mark.
- May 22 - Finally healthy enough to play, Ralston makes his first appearance for AC St. Louis as a sub. He start his first and only match the next weekend.
- June 8 - After parting ways with a struggling AC St. Louis, Ralston returns to the Revolution.
- June 13th - In his first minute of his first game back with the Revs, a friendly against Brazilian club Cruzerio, Ralston dislocates his elbow.
- July 20 - Ralston announces his retirement.
The end may have been disappointing, but Ralston's career speaks for itself. In addition to his MLS achievements, Ralston also appeared 34 times for the United States, scoring four times. Perhaps his best moment in a USA shirt was the goal he scored against Mexico in the 2005 edition of Dos a Cero, a win that put the Americans through to Germany 2006.
Next up for Ralston is an assistant coaching gig with the Houston Dynamo. Ralston had made it clear that coaching would be next for him, and the opportunity to take a player/coach role was factor in his decision to head to St. Louis back in February.
Considering all he's given the club, it was fitting that Ralston's retirement came while he was on the books with the Revs. It's just unfortunate he didn't get one more run out in the jersey.
