Garcia not considering retirement just yet
33-year-old embracing his leadership role, isn’t thinking ‘too far ahead’
The Dynamo have gone through all kinds of ups and downs over the last six seasons.
They played in the 2012 MLS Cup final and reached the conference finals the following year. Then, they missed the playoffs three years in a row before finally returning in 2017.
The roster and coaching staff have changed dramatically over the years, but there has been one constant: midfielder Boniek Garcia.
The 33-year-old Honduran, who is second in club history with 31 assists, signed a new contract in the offseason. Despite playing the fewest minutes of his Dynamo career in 2017, he filled a pivotal leadership role.
That role should increase in 2018, after the departures of veterans Ricardo Clark and Vicente Sanchez. Garcia said he understands the situation and that, among other things, he always tries to be one of the first players at training so the younger players can see that the more experienced players are always pushing for more.
That’s not all he is focused on, however. He still hopes to contribute on the field, too.
“I feel pretty good,” he said through a translator. “I am working to be in even better shape. Obviously, age catches up to you, but always keep that in mind and work to be good physically so we can last all year.” No end in sight
That Garcia feels good is a big reason why he still feels like he can contribute to the Honduran national team. Garcia has made more than 120 appearances and ranks fourth on the country’s alltime list.
Los Catrachos advanced to an intercontinental playoff last year against Australia but lost. That means Garcia’s next chance to make a World Cup roster will not come until 2022, when he will be 37.
He admitted that it seems unlikely but also said he is not ready to retire from national team duty.
“I am not considering that right now, but I don’t think I am at a place to think too far ahead,” he said. “It all depends on my physical health — if I am getting minutes with the team, and if I am feeling good.
“It also depends on if my family would like for me to go, and the coach. If they need me, and I am in good shape, then I would think about it.”
Of bigger importance to Garcia right now is how he is going to contribute to the Dynamo. With Sanchez and Alex Lima gone after last season, Garcia looks to be the likely backup to central attacking midfielder Tomas Martinez.
With Martinez suspended for the season opener because of a red card in the postseason finale last year, Garcia could be the key playmaker when powerful Atlanta United FC visits BBVA Compass Stadium on March 3. Championship expectations
The Dynamo hope the season opener will be the first step in their return to the payoffs and, ultimately, the MLS Cup final — the same stage on which they played in Garcia’s first season in 2012.
Garcia said getting so close last year and having a lot of the same players back this year is a big reason why they believe they can get there.
“The capacity of the players we have here today, they are very young and with a lot of potential,” he said. “They are players that want to push the team forward. They are young players as well as the experienced ones.
“The dynamic that the coaching staff is implementing to the team, they want the team more solid, more aggressive and more consistent during the 90 minutes.”