The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Former United captain calls it a career
Former Atlanta United captain Jeff Larentowicz announced his retirement from professional soccer Monday. The announcement was posted on Twitter by a third party as a big “Thank you” to everyone who has helped him during his career. In a digital age, Larentowicz still doesn’t do social media and didn’t know until told that he was being congratulated by many former teammates.
Larentowicz said Monday he had been thinking about retiring since Atlanta United declined to re-sign him after the 2020 season. Admitting he is a “die-hard,” he said he wasn’t necessarily waiting on another chance to play. Then he came to a conclusion.
“It’s time to take the next steps,” he said.
Larentowicz, 37, spent his entire career in MLS, starting with New England, followed by Colorado, Los Angeles Galaxy, Chicago and then the Five Stripes. He finished with two MLS Cups (Atlanta United, 2018; Rapids, 2010), two U.S. Open Cups (Atlanta United, 2019; New England, 2007) and a Campeones Cup as part of 437 appearances, including 397 starts.
Among field players, only Kyle Beckerman finished with more appearances (497), and Beckerman (461) and Chadd Marshall (404) in starts. Larentowicz logged 39,206 min- utes of playing time in league and playoff games. Larentowicz said he has no negative feelings about not surpass- ing Beckerman, describing him as “uncatchable.”
Larentowicz said reaching 300 appearances was always his goal. He was inspired to do that by watching the cel- ebrations for former teammates Steve Ralston in New England and Pablo Mastro- eni in Colorado when they hit that milestone. “I know that if you are on the field for that many games you are doing something right,” he said. “Then I got it.”
Then came something that has driven Larentowicz for a long time. After that game, a Chicago journalist asked him what was next. “400,” he said.
The journalist laughed. “I said, OK, that’s all I need.”
Larentowicz spent his final four seasons with the Five Stripes. He reached 400.
Turning to favorites, he said his two favorite goals were scored with New England. His favorite came when he “pummeled” a free kick against Real Salt Lake. He did it while wearing squash goggles because they were recommended by a non-sports ophthalmologist who treated an eye injury.
The second came on a free kick for New England against Chicago from outside the penalty box.
Among his favorite team- mates were the ones he roomed with dur ing his career, because they would commiserate after losses and celebrate after wins: Matt Reis in New England, Jamie Smith in Colorado and Chris Mccann in Atlanta. The seven seasons he played with Michael Parkhurst in New England and Atlanta put him on the list, too.
As nice as the numbers are, Larentowicz was more about competing and winning: He constantly fought to prove to each manager that he should be included in the lineup. It happened at Atlanta United under Gerardo Martino, who quickly realized that Larentowicz was the perfectly disciplined anchor for his formation.
In his retirement note, Larentowicz thanked Martino for “stoking the flames in the dying embers of my time in the league.”
Larentowicz said he was on the precipice of retiring when Atlanta United signed him. He guessed they thought they would have him for a season. Larentowicz started 30 of 34 games that season.
Atlanta United kept signing players for Larentowicz’s position: First Car- los Carmona, then Darling- ton Nagbe, then Eric Remedi and then Mo Adams. Larentowicz is friends with them all. And he kept winning a starting spot.
“It’s kind of like you recognize who are you and who they are,” he said. “I always knew I gave something different.”
He finished with 121 appearances for the club in league or playoff games, including 98 starts with four goals. He related it to the episode of the TV series “Sein- feld” in which George Costanza keeps leaving items at a girlfriend’s apartment to force her to keep seeing him.
“I was never that guy that coach wanted in the first five minutes,” he said. “I realized that early on. I didn’t get deterred. When they brought in someone else, I didn’t get deterred. I know what I can give. I know it might take a little bit of time.”
Larentowicz isn’t sure what’s next. He said coaching is a possibility but it’s a hard life. He loves living in Atlanta and may stay here if it is what’s best for his family.
He still has a suit in his closet bought in 2004 to wear for job interviews, in case soccer didn’t work out. He said it looks like something Talking Heads singer David Byrne would wear because it has big shoulders.
“It’ll probably stay in the closet,” he said.