Red Bull New York announced today that midfielder Seth Stammler will retire after the 2010 MLS season.
“Seth approached us a few weeks ago about pursuing an advanced degree after being accepted into a prestigious program at the University of Chicago. He is committed to playing for us for the rest of the season while fulfilling his requirements in his first year in school,” said Red Bull New York General Manager and Sporting Director Erik Soler. “Seth is a wonderfully hard working and talented player who has given the club several years of service and we respect and fully support his decision.”
“After contemplation, I think this is the best decision for me and my future. I want to emphasize that I am fully committed to helping the Red Bulls to firstly, qualify for the playoffs, and secondly, win the MLS Cup,” Stammler said. “I want to thank Erik Soler, Hans Backe and my teammates for their complete understanding of my situation and I look forward to competing the rest of the season.”
Stammler, the club’s longest continuously tenured player, has featured in 142 regular season matches for New York, starting 126 and logging 11,157 minutes. He ranks tied for second in franchise history in matches started and third in match appearances. The Gahanna, OH native has tallied six goals and 13 assists for his career and was a nominee for the franchise’s all-time Best XI.
Drafted out of the University of Maryland in the second round (18th overall) of the 2004 MLS SuperDraft, Stammler has been a versatile player for the club, covering multiple positions while providing steady play. Know for his defensive tenacity, he has scored two goals and one assist to this point in the 2010 season, including the game-winning goal in the Red Bulls’ 1-0 win over Chivas USA at Red Bull Arena on June 5.
Off the field, Stammler has worked to raise funds for his charitable organization, Sporting Chance Foundation, which builds wells for potable drinking water and provides educational scholarships to under advantaged youths in Haiti. He is a three-time recipient of the team’s Humanitarian of the Year award.
