Former USA International Sasha Victorine today (source MLSnet.com) retired from professional soccer at age 32, listing recurring injury as the reason for his retirement. A veteran of almost 250 MLS games with the LA Galaxy, Kansas City, and Chivas USA between 2000-2010, Sasha is best known for helping LA to US Open Cup and MLS Cup titles in 2001 and 2002. Victorine played for the USA 4 times, scoring a goal against El Salvador in 2002. (source wiki). Not, probably, hall of fame numbers for an American player, though a very good career by any measure. But Sasha Victorine was one of OUR guys, a collegiate player who played in MLS and who never set foot in another league or country as a player unless he was wearing the shirt of the USA or a US club team. A true product of the system in this country. But the most important part of his career in the game may be what is to come.
Victorine has accepted a job in the Kansas City front office, and will call color for Wizards broadcasts. Sasha is not the first or last player to make this sort of move by any means. But one more to add to the ever growing list. What we need in this country are a new generation of soccer guys, at every level, coaching, in higher management or ownership, in broadcasting or journalism, in the league office or with US Soccer. Former players involved with the development of the game in this country. Sasha represents that new generation, and joins former players in the management ranks like his boss at KC Peter Vermes, Seattle GM Chris Henderson, Toronto manager Preki, and so on.
As our soccer culture grows, the quality of the league will have to grow as well, and it will be up to guys like Victorine to help ensure we continue getting better each year, that the product on the field in MLS continues to justify the faith supporters of USA soccer have shown. Guys like Sasha Victorine have given their entire careers to soccer in this country, from youth through college into the pros. None better than they to be the ones to decide the path into the future.
Tags: Chivas USA, Kansas City, LA Galaxy, Major League Soccer
