Late July, in the middle of the Major League Soccer season, was not when Jay DeMerit planned to hang up his boots. But as it is with many professional athletes, injuries have a way of bringing careers to a premature end.
On July 24, the Whitecaps Captain brought his 10-year-long professional soccer career to an end with a revealling open letter to fans followed by a press conference at the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame.
“This isn't a career-ender, it's a life-starter. I truly believe that,” DeMerit said. “When it makes sense and when it’s right, it's not sad or something I'm going to regret — it's something I'm very proud of. It's something that I thank every day I was able to do. I thank my coaches, my teammates, and the fans. I'm looking forward to the future.”
The 2014 season was widely expected to be the 34-year-old's last one in professional soccer since the central defender recovered from an Achilles’ tendon rupture in 2013. However, in the Whitecaps' final match before the World Cup break on July 7, DeMerit tore another tendon in his ankle.
"A week ago, I went into training as normal and was on the field with our club physio," DeMerit said last Thursday. "I'm watching these younger guys play, and it just dawned on me that I think these [playing] days might be over. I looked down at my ankle with only one real tendon in there and I think to myself that I don't have it in me anymore to get back."
DeMerit's retirement ends a remarkable journey to the world of professional soccer for the American. Inspiring, if not improbable, his story was chronicled in a 2011 documentary called Rise & Shine: The Jay DeMerit Story.
After a four-year college career at the University of Illinois at Chicago, the native of Green Bay, WI, travelled to Europe with a backpack, his soccer boots, and $1,200 cash. His travelled to the United Kingdom where he toiled in the lowest levels of the game before getting his break in a pre-season friendly 10 years ago this month. Playing as a trialist for a semi-professional team, DeMerit impressed his opponents in English League Championship side Watford FC, who were then coached by current England assistant manager and former Whitecaps midfielder Ray Lewington.
It led to a six-year career with Watford that included two English domestic cup semi-final appearances and promotion to the English Premier League. It also led DeMerit to wearing the Stars and Stripes for the U.S. at the 2010 World Cup, where he played in every minute of his country's memorable campaign in South Africa.
He was the Whitecaps first MLS signing on November 18, 2010. DeMerit embraced being the face of the franchise through its early years in the league, despite making just 71 appearances in three and a half seasons for the ’Caps.
"Jay gets that in North America, we're selling the sport," said Whitecaps president Bob Lenarduzzi. "His willingness to participate in virtually any request we put in front of him has helped to strengthen our brand in the marketplace. He actually has been involved in over 120 appearances since the time he has been here."
A resident of Gastown and married to Canadian Olympic gold medalist freestyle skier Ashleigh McIvor, DeMerit will continue to serve as a Whitecaps ambassador.
Simon Fudge has covered the beautiful game in Canada and the United Kingdom for print, web and radio. A gift of family inheritance, he supports Bristol City FC. Reach him at [email protected].
