Roger Levesque signed with Sounders FC on March 16, 2009 after spending nearly six seasons with the USL-1 Sounders.
RENTON, WASH. - Sounders FC forward Roger Levesque will retire following Wednesday's match against Chelsea FC, the club announced today.
"Roger has been an important part of our organization for the past decade," said Owner and General Manager Adrian Hanauer. "His attitude, professionalism, and versatility have made him incredibly valuable to our team. Most of all, his unique and tremendous personality will be sorely missed in the locker room. Roger will always be part of the Sounders family and will be appreciated for his long standing commitment to his team and his community. I am certain that he will attack his next career with the same endeavor as his pursuit of his soccer dream."
"Roger exemplifies what it means to be a Sounder," said Sounders FC head coach Sigi Schmid. "He has character, determination, work ethic, skill and a never-say-die attitude for the club on the field. He has represented the Sounders organization well through his charitable work in the Seattle community."
Levesque, 31, signed with Sounders FC on March 16, 2009 after spending nearly six seasons (2003-08) with the USL-1 Sounders. Levesque made 53 appearances (18 starts) for Seattle and scored six goals with two assists in his three and a half MLS seasons with the club. He added another three goals and eight assists in U.S. Open Cup and CONCACAF Champions League play, including the game-winning goal in the 2009 Open Cup final.
"I would like to thank the Sounders organization for giving me the opportunity to play professionally for the past nine years," said Levesque. "I am fortunate to see the sport grow in such a great city, and to be a part of it for so long. I'm proud of my community work and I look forward to continuing my involvement with the Seattle community."
Prior to joining Sounders FC, the seven-year MLS veteran spent three seasons with San Jose after being selected by the Earthquakes 23rd overall in the 2003 MLS SuperDraft. He made four appearances in his three seasons with San Jose, spending much of his time playing on loan for the USL-1 Sounders before signing with the club in 2006. In his six seasons with the USL side, Levesque scored 27 goals in 130 regular season matches, helping the team to the league championship in 2005 and 2007 and the Open Cup semifinals in 2007 and 2008. A graduate of Stanford University, Levesque was also named MLS Humanitarian of the Month in May of 2012.
Sounders FC to honor Roger Levesque at the Portland Timbers game on October 7, 2012.
