Hamilton native Eddie Gaven, seen here in action for the Columbus Crew, retired Oct. 31 from pro soccer. (Photo courtesy of Getty Images.)
Eddie Gaven made local and national waves in 2003 when the Hamilton native was drafted by the New York/New Jersey MetroStars. He finally took the field on June 14, 2003, becoming the then-youngest player in Major League Soccer history at 16 years, 232 days.
He made waves again this Oct. 31, unexpectedly announcing his retirement after 11 years in professional soccer.
“I would like to thank my teammates, the Crew organization and the fans for all their support over the years,” Gaven said in a statement to the Crew. “I will always cherish the memories, especially winning MLS Cup in 2008. I am incredibly blessed to have been a professional soccer player and am extremely grateful to MLS and the Crew for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to fulfill my dream. For personal reasons, I will be retiring from professional soccer. I realize this may come as a surprise, but it is something I have been contemplating for some time, and after discussing it thoroughly with my family, I know in my heart that now is the right time to start the next chapter in my life.”
During his three seasons with the MetroStars, he scored 16 goals, tallied 12 assists and notched 62 starts—all before turning 20. Less than a month after his MLS debut, Gaven scored his first professional goal, becoming the second-youngest player in league history to do so.
Gaven was traded in 2006 to the Columbus Crew where he really made his mark. He is third on the Crew’s leaderboard in three separate departments—appearances (209), starts (198) and minutes (17,252)—and is universally regarded as one of the league’s fairest and most consistent players.
“He is one of the quiet guys,” said Danny O’Rourke, one of Gaven’s Crew teammates, in a team statement. “One of those guys that never really says anything—goes about his business—and I think his body of work speaks for itself. He has always been a guy that has been just so incredibly gifted. He wasn’t really anyone who boasted. He was always the first one into the locker room and the first one out. He handled his business every day and I’d be lying if I said he would be easy to replace. I don’t think you replace a guy like Eddie.”
Tom Fink, who coached Gaven for nine years with the Hibernians, said Gaven has always been exactly the player O’Rourke described.
“He was always eager to learn,” he said. “He lived four doors down from me. After a practice, I’d pull up to my house and he’d already be outside on his front lawn working out with the ball. He just has a great attitude and desire to play.”
Crew teammate Andy Gruenebaum said Gaven, who played for the U.S. National Team at six different levels, was a key part of the team’s 2008 MLS Cup title because of what he brought on the pitch and in the locker room. Gaven’s season-ending knee injury in May was a blow to the entire squad.
“Just what he brings on and off the field—his positive attitude, his [professionalism], and a guy you want around your team,” he said. “You know what you are going to get from him on the field, but there is a different feel in the locker room when he is in there and you could tell when he got hurt this year. The locker room is always going to be positive, but it definitely changed [when Eddie got injured] and it is definitely a better place to be when Ed is in there on a daily basis.”
The announcement came as a surprise to teammates and fans, though Gruenebaum, who roomed with Gaven, said it was something he had joked about and mulled over before. After starting out so young, though, it’s no wonder he wanted to walk away quietly.
“He was a special player from the beginning,” Fink said. “Even at a young age, he just played above and beyond every kid at that level. We all knew he was destined for this.”
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