Red Bull New York defender Tim Parker has announced his retirement from professional soccer following New York’s final match of the 2026 MLS season against Atlanta United FC on Saturday, November 7 at Sports Illustrated Stadium. Parker played 12 seasons in MLS, five of them with the Red Bulls.
“Tim has been an outstanding professional throughout his career, and someone who has earned the respect of everyone he has played with and worked alongside. His leadership, professionalism, commitment, and passion for the game have made him an important figure at every club he has represented,” said Head of Sport Julian de Guzman. “He has always led by example, and his impact extends well beyond what he has accomplished on the field. We congratulate him on an excellent career and thank him for everything he has given to the game. We wish Tim and his family nothing but the best in this next chapter.”
Parker, 33, played five seasons for New York, where he made 128 appearances for the club across all competitions, the most for any club he has played for throughout his career. He first joined the club during the 2018 season after being acquired via trade from the Vancouver Whitecaps. In 2018, Parker made 29 MLS appearances and helped the club win the Supporters Shield and set at-the-time an MLS single-season points record. The defender helped anchor New York’s backline that gave up a league-low 33 goals and kept a league-high 15 clean sheets.
The Hicksville, N.Y. native entered MLS after being selected 13th overall in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft by Vancouver. In his time with Vancouver, Parker made 100 appearances, where he scored four goals and tallied three assists. He also won the Canadian Championship with the Whitecaps in 2015.
After the 2020 MLS season, Parker played for Houston Dynamo FC for two seasons, where he made 63 appearances for the club, and was a co-captain for both 2021 and 2022 MLS seasons. He would then join St. Louis CITY SC and play their for two seasons. Parker made 56 appearances and scored six goals, including the first goal in club history. In the 2023 MLS season, Parker helped lead St. Louis to first place in the Western Conference and was named an MLS All-Star and MLS Best XI selection in that season.
“I've decided that the time has come to retire from professional soccer. This game has given me more than I ever could have imagined, and I'm incredibly grateful for every opportunity, every challenge, and every person who has been part of this journey,” Parker said. “I've been fortunate to represent some incredible clubs, play alongside amazing teammates, and build relationships that will last a lifetime. I'm especially thankful to the coaches, staff, supporters, and everyone behind the scenes who helped me along the way. To my family, thank you for the sacrifices, support, and belief in me through every high and low. None of this would have been possible without you. I'm proud of what I've accomplished throughout my career, but even more proud of the people I've met and the experiences I've shared along the way. Thank you to everyone who has been part of this journey.”
Parker represented the United States Men’s National Team, where he made two appearances. He made his debut for the USMNT on June 2, 2018, in a friendly match against Ireland and also started and played 90 minutes in a 1-1 draw against France on June 9, 2018.
The defender was a four-year starter at Saint John’s University, where he made 79 career appearances. He led the Red Storm to three straight NCAA Tournament appearances and also a Big East Tournament title in 2011. Parker was a two-time All-Big East First Team selection and was also named to the NSCAA All-Region First Team in 2012 and 2013.
