Brandon Prideaux to retire at season's end

June 9, 3:39 PMChicago Fire ExaminerRoman Kashuba

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Prideaux battles Rohan Ricketts for the last time?
(CHRIS YOUNG, AP Photo)

Brandon Prideaux announced today that he will retire at the end of the current season, ending his 12-year professional career.

Prideaux, who will be 33 by the end of the season, started his career with his local A-League side, Seattle Sounders, in 1998.  In his rookie season, the defender led the Sounders in minutes played, while posting two goals and 10 assists.

The stand-out performance attracted attention in MLS circles and Prideaux signed with Kansas City Wizards the following year.  In his second season with the Wizards, Prideaux started every match, helping lead Kansas City to an MLS Cup trophy.  

In 2002 Prideaux was traded to D.C. United for Stephen Armstrong.  Over the next two seasons Prideaux started consistently for United and picked up his second MLS Cup trophy in 2004.  The next season, Brandon fought for a starting role with the emerging Josh Gros, but returned to the first XI in 2005.  

United traded Prideaux in December of 2006 to Colorado for two draft picks, after the defender spent most of the campaign on the trainers table recovering from a knee injury.  Prideaux requested the trade so that he could be closer to his Seattle, Washington home after it was clear that starting time would be hard to come by in D.C.  

Brandon made 21 appearances with the Rapids before being waived at season's end.  The Fire picked up Prideaux in the Waiver Draft and slotted him in as the starting right back for the 2008 season.  WIth the arrival of Tim Ward and an early season injury that held Prideaux out of preseason training, the defender has seen his starting opportunities fade, which may have contributed to the decision to retire.  

"The decision was difficult, but I have decided to retire from my professional playing career at the end of the current Fire season. I would like to thank all of my coaches and teammates from around the league that have made the last 11 years so memorable," Prideaux told the Fire website. "I am completely committed to helping the Chicago Fire win championships this year."

In addition to two MLS Cup titles, Prideaux holds the ignoble honor of having gone his entire MLS career without scoring a goal, topping the MLS history books in the category as of July 2006.  

Denis, Can we get Brandon a PK before season's end?