Former D.C. United and United States international forward Eddie Johnson has officially announced his retirement today. He is going to be recognized at halftime of the D.C. United-New York Red Bulls playoff game this afternoon, which will cap a career that ended far too soon.
Johnson had only one season with United and had been expected to make a bigger difference this year; his first season started slowly, but down the stretch he became one of United's key players. His stretch here comes after a long career with Seattle Sounders, Fulham, FC Dallas, the Kansas City Wizards, and others.
This move has been long-expected, and likely means that Johnson and the league have finally come to a resolution on his contract dispute. Johnson is retiring due to a heart ailment, and the timing of when that ailment was known is at the center of the contract dispute.
Best wishes for Eddie and what comes next for him.