MLS veteran, former Goal of the Year winner Patrick Ianni retires after nine seasons

Former GOTY winner, Sounders defender Ianni retires

Seattle's Patrick Ianni celebrates after scoring a spectacular goal against Sporting KC.

Longtime Major League Soccer defender Patrick Ianni is retiring after nine seasons in the league, it was announced on Monday.


Ianni, 29, played for three different clubs in MLS, most recently with the Chicago Fire. He appeared in 12 games for the club in 2014 before his option was declined after last season.


Ianni also played for the Houston Dynamo from 2006-08 but is likely best known in MLS circles for his time with the Seattle Sounders, where he enjoyed the best seasons of his career. Ianni played for the Rave Green from 2009-13 and scored the MLS Goal of the Year with the club in 2012 on a stunning scissor volley against Sporting Kansas City (above).


Ianni finished with four goals and three assists in 130 career regular-season games. He represented the United States as the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship and the 2008 Summer Olympics.