D.C. United captain Steven Birnbaum announced his retirement and will be celebrated at halftime Saturday during halftime of a friendly against Celtic FC. Birnbaum, 33, played 11 seasons with D.C. United after the defender was selected with the second overall pick in the 2014 draft out of Cal. Birnbaum's last MLS match came on June 1 when he played 45 minutes during a 2-2 tie against Toronto FC after he aggravated a left knee injury. He had knee surgery in the offseason and missed the first 11 matches. He has also struggled with a left hip injury in recent seasons. "I didn't want to be in pain every day," Birnbaum said, according to the Washington Post. "Just doing normal stuff around the house, I couldn't really do. There would be days after a game I didn't really want to get out of bed because I was in too much pain. And so it came to that time where it made the most sense for my family. Yeah, now we're here." After 254 career matches (245 starts), Birnbaum scored 13 goals with six assists. He is third on the club's list of regular-season appearances behind Bill Hamid (279) and Jaime Moreno (340). "Steven is a true professional and is a captain who exemplifies the values of this city and club," D.C. United general manager Ally Mackay said. "... We are truly going to miss a leader of his caliber in the locker room." He also played 11 matches for the United States men's national team from 2015-17 and scored one goal. "Steve is the prototype for the person and player coaches want to lead their team," head coach Troy Lesesne said. "... His work ethic, competitive spirit, intelligence, and empathy for others made him a truly special leader in our club. " --Field Level Media
Jun 1, 2024; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; D.C. United defender Steven Birnbaum (15) controls the ball against Toronto FC in the first half at Audi Field. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-USA TODAY Sports