Darlington Nagbe, Crew captain and MLS legend, to retire
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Darlington Nagbe will retire as one of MLS's all-time greats after winning two MLS Cups with the Columbus Crew. Photo: Jeff Dean/Getty Images
One of Ohio's greatest athletes is calling it a career.
Why it matters: Crew captain Darlington Nagbe announced his upcoming retirement Tuesday, putting an end to one of the greatest MLS careers of all time.
Flashback: Nagbe was born in Liberia and arrived in Northeast Ohio at 11 years old.
- His birth was a harrowing tale amid a brutal civil war.
- He spent his childhood in Europe before attending Lakewood High School and the University of Akron.
Between the lines: After helping Akron win its first national championship in soccer, he signed with the Portland Timbers.
- He went on to win four MLS Cups — one each with Portland and Atlanta and two in Columbus — playing over 400 matches across 15 seasons.
Off the field, Nagbe is notoriously uncomfortable in the spotlight and is instead known for investing in his family and community.
- He won MLS's 2024 award for community service thanks to his work with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Ohio and Nationwide Children's Hospital.
- He stopped playing for the U.S. Men's National Team in 2018 because he hated being away from his family.
What they're saying: Those around Nagbe are the first to call him "one the best midfielders in MLS history" and are even quicker to praise him as a person.
- It's hard to put into words what Darlington means to this club," former Crew president and GM Tim Bezbatchenko said.
- "If I ever have grandchildren and they ask about soccer in the United States, I will tell them that I played with him," former teammate Diego Valeri posted.
📆 What's next: The Crew will honor Nagbe at their final home game of the regular season Oct. 18, likely his last appearance in Columbus.
📖 Worthy of your time: "Living Proof," Nagbe's story in his own words for The Players' Tribune.
