Seattle Sounders FC goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann has announced his retirement from professional soccer, the club announced today. Hahnemann began and finished his illustrious 21-year professional career in his hometown of Seattle, spending three seasons with the A-League Sounders from 1994-96 and a little more than two seasons with Sounders FC from 2012-14.
“We want to thank Marcus for his commitment, coming back at a time when he could have retired a couple of years ago,” said Sounders FC Owner and General Manager Adrian Hanauer. “He’s been a tremendous pro and a great guy in the locker room — a Seattle legend. We’re so happy to have had him here.”
Hahnemann, 42, appeared in 11 matches across all competitions for Sounders FC since returning to MLS on September 12, 2012. His Sounders FC debut came in a 3-1 CONCACAF Champions League Group Stage win over C.D. Marathon on October 24, 2012. Hahnemann went on to make four appearances in the 2013 MLS regular season — accumulating a 2-2-0 record, 1.00 goals against average and one clean sheet — before appearing in two more matches in the 2013 MLS Cup Playoffs. He helped Sounders FC advance twice in the 2014 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, first recording a clean sheet in a 5-0 win over PSA Elite, then denying the San Jose Earthquakes in penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw.
“Marcus was a pleasure to coach during the past two-and-a-half seasons,” said Sounders FC Head Coach Sigi Schmid. “He is a Sounder through and through and we were lucky to have him here to end his career.”
After a prolific collegiate career at Seattle Pacific University, where he was a three-time All-American and led SPU to the 1993 Division II National Championship, Hahnemann joined the Seattle Sounders of the A-League in 1994. The six-foot-three goalkeeper was an All-Star in his rookie year and led the Sounders to the A-League title in 1996.
“I’m excited for the next part of what’s to come. There’s all sorts of different opportunities ahead of me,” said Hahnemann. “The cool part is that I got to start off my career as a Sounder and I got to end it as a Sounder.”
“Back then, we had four or five thousand in the stands, then for the playoffs we’d get 10,000 at Memorial Stadium,” added Hahnemann. “It’s incredible now to have 30,000-40,000 for every game. It’s unbelievable how it’s taken off and all of the right moves the ownership has made.”
Hahnemann came back to Seattle after 13 years and over 300 appearances in England football for Fulham, Reading, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Everton. He also earned nine caps for the U.S. Men’s National Team and was a member of the 2006 and 2010 FIFA World Cup teams.
Hahnemann began his MLS career in 1997 with the Colorado Rapids. He played three seasons with Colorado, posting a 39-25 record in 66 appearances, before joining Fulham in 1999. Hahnemann then moved to Reading, where he became a mainstay for the Royals, making over 250 appearances from 2002-09 and helping the club gain promotion to the Premiership in 2005-06.
