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Philadelphia Union: Sebastien Le Toux will be missed after announcement of retirement

By Ricky Zellefrow

CHESTER, PA - SEPTEMBER 17: Sebastien Le Toux #9 of the Philadelphia Union waves to the crows after their MLS soccer game against the Columbus Crew, September 17, 2011 at PPL Stadium in Chester, Pennsylvania. The Union won 1-0 on a score by Le Toux. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
CHESTER, PA - SEPTEMBER 17: Sebastien Le Toux #9 of the Philadelphia Union waves to the crows after their MLS soccer game against the Columbus Crew, September 17, 2011 at PPL Stadium in Chester, Pennsylvania. The Union won 1-0 on a score by Le Toux. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images) /
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Sebastien Le Toux recently announced his retirement from professional soccer, and will be the first inductee into Philadelphia Union Ring of Honor.

In honor of Sebastien Le Toux scoring 50 goals to go along with 50 assists throughout his legendary career with the Philadelphia Union, this is his farewell. Le Toux is the legend of the Union, and it takes a lot to earn this kind of honor for a club that has only been around for eight years, yet he manages to do so.

Over six years with the Union, Le Toux managed 175 appearances, and was even the first player to score in club history. In fact, Le Toux managed to do so in that first home match, and is also one of three players to record a hat trick for Philadelphia.

On June 23, Le Toux returns to Philadelphia for a third time to be the first inductee into the Union ring of honor. Clearly, the only player in team history deserving of such honor, Le Toux gets this accolade shortly after announcing his professional retirement. While the club may have traded him twice, Le Toux still refers to this city as his home, and will always be considered a legend by Philadelphia fans.

While French by birth, Le Toux spent most of his career in the United States. With 10 years in Major League Soccer, with almost half spent in Philadelphia, Le Toux made over 300 appearances in the league. However, there’s no question that Le Toux found most of his success during the time spent playing in the City of Brotherly Love.

Perhaps the most notable thing about Le Toux is he was twice traded away by the side that picked him in the 2010 expansion draft, although the first time was clearly a mistake, as they moved only two years later to get the forward back. Meanwhile, the second time was more of a favor to an aging veteran. With youth abounding, and speed more on tap, the Union got rid of their legend one last time.

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His retirement was rather expected with no news of his 2018 plans, though it surely came the expense of a career he could have continued. While it may seem cliché for a professional athlete to sign a one-day contract to retire with a team in a city they called home, this move feels right for both parties. It gives the fans a chance to herald the end of a career, a player to say goodbye to a club he did not have a chance before, and a club a chance to fix a mistake. Merci Le Toux, and may your future be as bright as your past.

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