TORONTO—Steven Caldwell is calling it quits, and despite speculation to the contrary, he’s doing it on his terms.
The former Toronto FC captain, who has missed the majority of the 2015 Major League Soccer season due to a number of injuries, officially announced his retirement on Tuesday, bringing an end to a 17-year professional career. Caldwell will remain in Toronto, as he’s been give a role as a director of corporate development with Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, the company that owns TFC.
Caldwell, 34, scored one goal in 49 combined appearances since joining the Reds in 2013, but played in just two matches this year—the former TFC captain has been sidelined since the second game of the season as he’s tried to recover from a series of niggling injuries. Caldwell missed 13 games (11 through injury) in 2014.
The Scottish defender’s injury problems and big salary cap hit (he earned $364,166 in 2014) meant, to put it bluntly, he had become a liability—an aging defender who wasn’t playing and still eating up significant salary cap space.
Caldwell isn’t the first TFC player to announce his retirement after being given a job somewhere else within the organization. On the surface, it looks as though TFC management dangled a pretty big carrot in front of Caldwell to force him out—a corporate job would be enticing to anybody in his position. But Caldwell insists that while the job offer played a part in his decision to retire, it wasn’t the only factor, nor was he pressured into retiring.
“I wasn’t pushed out. I’m a part of this organization. … I feel like it was the right thing to do at this time. I was not pushed out. It’s a decision I made. I felt the responsibility to be on the (pitch) or to allow someone to take my salary, to take my spot and to strengthen the squad,” Caldwell said.
Caldwell injured his right calf during a March 14 road game against the Columbus Crew. He also suffered an Achilles injury. Caldwell had been rehabbing and working out, and started training with the team again. But a recent injury setback—he pulled his other calf—meant his return was now in question. That’s when he began talks with team management about his future and his options.
“I was starting to get close to coming back and I was training a little bit. I pulled my left calf and it was serious enough to come off training. … Pretty much in mind that’s when I thought that this was dragging on a bit,” Caldwell said.
General manager Tim Bezbatchenko described the talks between himself and Caldwell about his options as “fluid” and that up until the recent calf injury the club was working with Caldwell to help him return to the starting lineup.
“I felt like in the last six months I was picking up too many injuries. It was a disappointing time in my career. Some of (the injuries) were more serious than others, and I just felt that this was the time to retire and move on,” Caldwell admitted.
“If I can’t go out there consistently (on the field) then it’s my duty to allow the team to bring in somebody who can.”
Several teammates offered glowing words about Caldwell, who was named captain in July of 2013 before the club took the armband away from him and gave it to Michael Bradley at the start of the current MLS campaign.
“What a great guy. As a soccer player, I loved him. He was the first guy I looked up to when I came here in my rookie year,” defender Nick Hagglund offered.
Goalkeeper Joe Bendik called Caldwell “an excellent teammate and an excellent friend.”
“Individually he made a big impact on my life as a person and as a player. He’s so professional in everything he does on and off the field,” Bendick stated.
The word “professionalism” often came up when players and coaches were asked to describe Caldwell, a testament to the respect he commanded and the quality of his character.
“Stevie is a true professional. A true leader,” coach Greg Vanney offered.
Bezbatchenko said “everyone on the team has look to Steven for leadership and counsel” at one time or another.
“When I first came to the club, when I first met with all the players, you sit down with Steven and immediately you’re struck by his professionalism and his character. He looks you in the eye and he’s proper man. He played like that as well,” Bezbatchenko said.
During pre-season, Caldwell admitted he was disappointed not only with TFC’s decision to take the captaincy away from him, but how it was handled. To his credit, though, he never lashed out, and publically lent his support to Bradley.
Caldwell joined Toronto FC on loan from English side Birmingham City in May of 2013, and signed a permanent deal with the club in the summer of 2013 when he was also named captain. Prior to coming to MLS, he spent time with Newcastle United, Sunderland, Burnley and Wigan Athletic, as well as a number of other English teams.
Caldwell cited several career highlights, including earning 12 caps for Scotland, playing with his younger brother Gary for both club and country, and earning two Premier League promotions.
“I’m very happy and proud of what I achieved. I made the most of (my ability) and feel like I brought out the best in other players. And I’m very proud of that,” Caldwell stated.
Bezbatchenko confirmed that Caldwell’s retirement has freed up an international roster spot and that it also gives TFC salary cap relief, although he declined to say exactly how much.
The salary cap room created by Caldwell’s retirement and the new Targeted Allocation Money rule recently introduced by MLS means TFC is now in a position to sign defensive reinforcements.
“There is nothing that is done as of today, but there is definitely some discussions that are going on in terms of how we can improve,” Vanney said.
Bezbatchenko admitted they are looking to add defensive pieces, but that he won’t be rushed into a making a move just to fill the roster hole left by Caldwell’s retirement.
“We want to be smart about it, and think long-term,” TFC’s GM said.
