‘A Stage of a Lifetime’: USWNT and NWSL legend, Pittsburgh area native Meghan Klingenberg announces retirement

One of the most decorated soccer players to ever come out of the Pittsburgh region, Meghan Klingenberg, announced her retirement on Wednesday.

“This isn’t a surprise. But it still feels big to say. It’s time – I’m retiring from football.”

“It’s taken me a lot of time and reflection to arrive a this place, but I’ve come to realize something important: For so long I thought that soccer gave me purpose, joy, and light. But, it was never soccer. It comes from within. Because joy, purpose, and fulfillment aren’t found in what you do – they’re rooted in who you are. Soccer simply gave me the space to live it.”

“This sport has been the stage of a lifetime. It gave me the chance to test myself, expand my world, and discover who the f*** I could become. I’ve grown in ways that are so unexpected.”

 

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A post shared by Meghan Klingenberg (@meghankling)

After eight seasons with the Portland Thorns, a club where she spent eight seasons in her 10-year professional soccer career, Klingenberg announced her departure in the Winter.

Klingenberg was known for her versatility on the field — where she could play in the midfield but gravitated through most of her professional and international career as a left back.

In Portland, Klingenberg won two NWSL championships, after she spent her first two seasons of her NSWL career in Houston. In her first seven seasons in Portland, the Thorns finished top three in the league every season, with two NWSL titles along the way.  Klingenberg started 135 of 149 appearances with the Thorns, logging 11,619 minutes, primarily at left back and in midfield.   She also had early career stops, prior to the formation of NWSL, with Swedish club Tyresö, Western NY Flash (WPSL), magicJack and Boston Breakers (WSL).

Early in her pro career, she was an integral piece of the US Women’s National Team, culminating with the 2015 World Cup victory.  Following earning World Cup gold,

Klingenberg had a chance to play in her hometown, at Acrisure Stadium (then Heinz Field), in the USWNT’s first post-World Cup friendly match against Costa Rica.

In that match, Klingenberg scored early in the second half, setting off a celebration that included waving the Terrible Towel as the Stars and Stripes rolled to a lopsided victory.

Klingenberg has special ‘Pittsburgh’ moment as USWNT overpower Costa Rica

Throughout her playing career, Klingenberg continued to come back to Pittsburgh regularly, including hosting her Annual Soccer Camp at Southpointe Fieldhouse.

In 2019, PSN’s John Krysinsky met with ‘Kling’ for this one-on-one interview.

One-on-One with Meghan Klingenberg

Meghan Klingenberg: An Illustrious Career

• FIFA World Cup Champion (2015)

• Two Time NWSL Champion (Portland Thorns)

• Two Time NWSL Shield Winner

• Two Time NCAA Champion – North Carolina (2008, 2009) – 18 career goals with 24 assists in four-year career playing numerous positions.

• High School: Pine-Richland High School (2003 to 2007) – Team Captain, PIAA Champions (2005), NSCAA All-America selection (2006) and Parade All-American (2006).