One of Canadian soccer’s most distinguished stars is calling it a career.
Paul Stalteri, the Canadian national team’s all-time leading appearance leader, will announce his retirement, sportsnet.ca has learned.
Stalteri is expected to make an official announcement on Wednesday afternoon during a conference call with reporters arranged by the Canadian Soccer Association.
The CSA declined to comment when contacted by sportsnet.ca.
Stalteri has been without a pro club since 2011, as he’s dealt with a series of nagging injuries and operations.
A 35-year-old native of Toronto, Stalteri made his national team debut on Aug. 17, 1997 in a friendly against Iran and went on to win 84 caps for Canada. His last appearance for the Reds was in October 2010 in a friendly versus Ukraine. He scored seven goals for Canada.
Former Canadian goalkeeper and current Sportsnet broadcaster Craig Forrest was a teammate of Stalteri’s, and remembered him as a versatile player who had a “great engine on him” and could run up and down the park.
“He was great athlete. He was a great pro, good work rate, and a good guy to be around. He fit in well with the group. He had great leadership skills; someone who didn’t say a lot but certainly led by example,” Forrest told sportsnet.ca.
A stalwart defender and midfielder for the national team since earning his first cap, Stalteri was twice named the Canadian player of the year twice (2001 and 2004), and helped his country win the 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup, still the only major tournament that Canada has won at senior men’s level.
Stalteri was also someone who wore his heart on his sleeve, especially when it came to representing his country. He took great pride in playing for Canada, even when he received pressure from his pro club not to do so.
“He never found excuses not to play (for Canada). If he was healthy, he went. He always accepted the call,” Forrest stated.
Stalteri began his pro career with the Toronto Lynx, before moving to Europe where he enjoyed stints with German clubs Werder Bremen and Borussia Mönchengladbach, and Tottenham and Fulham in the English Premiership.
It was with Bremen that he enjoyed the most success, helping the club win a Bundesliga title and the German Cup during the 2003-04 season. After seven years in Germany, he moved to Spurs in 2005 where he regularly featured for the London club before falling out of favour.
He went on loan to Fulham and eventually went back to Tottenham where his contract was eventually terminated in 2008. His last port of call was back in Germany with Borussia Mönchengladbach but he parted ways.
“It was an amazing achievement what he did in Bundesliga with Bremen. Not many Canadians played abroad and had the kind of success he had,” Forrest said.