Jay DeMerit officially retires from Whitecaps
The Whitecaps’ only captain in franchise history is retiring.
Jay DeMerit officially announced he will be hanging up his cleats on Thursday at a press conference in Vancouver and will be joining the club as an ambassador.
DeMerit, who took in the Pemberton Music Festival over the weekend, began speaking to the MLS team about his impending retirement last week.
Injuries may have played a key role in the decision for the 34-year-old. DeMerit suffered a torn tendon in his left ankle in a 3-3 draw with the Philadelphia Union on June 12. He was expected to miss six-to-eight weeks.
"The first few seasons since I have been in Vancouver have not always been easy, but being the first signing of an expansion franchise, I’ve always known what I signed up for," he wrote in an open letter to fans. "I knew this city was something special the moment I laid eyes on it and I am proud to now call this my home.
"The foundation we have now built together with the club, its staff, and most importantly with its supporters is something that still excites me for the future. I look forward to continuing what we have started, but now just with a different role."
He and also tore his Achilles tendon in 2013.
With DeMerit retiring, the Whitecaps would save $100,000 toward their salary cap.
DeMerit spent four years with the Whitecaps and started 11 games this season.
DeMerit was the first player the Whitecaps signed in 2010 when Vancouver was preparing to enter Major League Soccer.
He had played for Watford of the English Premier League for six seasons before joining the Whitecaps.
The Green Bay, Wisc., native played 25 games with the United States, including starting four games for the Americans in the 2010 World Cup.
