David Edgar Announces Retirement

Canadian international David Edgar has announced that he will be retiring from professional soccer at the end of the 2020 season.

The 33-year-old announced the decision this Monday, confirming that he will hang up his boots ahead of the Christmas Holidays. With Forge FC one match away from qualifying for the Champions League, Edgar has the opportunity to go out on a high.

After seventeen years as a professional footballer, I have decided to retire at the end of the 2020 season. It has been one hell of a ride, and I got to live the dream. I am excited for the next chapter. Thank you, football.

David Edgar

The 33-year-old has seen a storied career take him from Newcastle United, Burnley FC, Swansea City, Birmingham City, and Sheffield United over in England before he returned to Canada to ply his trade with the Vancouver Whitecaps.

Unfortunately, a motor vehicle accident severely injured his right knee, with Edgar having short stints at Nashville SC and the Ottawa Fury before eventually signing for low league English side Hartlepool United so that he could return to fitness.

It was after that when Forge FC signed the veteran international, with David Edgar now capping off his career with two back-to-back Canadian Premier League titles and, now, the opportunity to help the Hamilton-based side qualify for the Champions League as his last act.

It’s been very special. When I met with Bobby and signed the deal I remember driving home from Hamilton to Kitchener and thinking, ‘this feels right,’ and it’d been a while since something felt right in football for me. I knew we were on the cusp of something special with Forge and with the CPL. The whole league, I’ve just been so proud of it and so proud to be a part of it.

David Edgar

Reflecting on a career that saw him mark his first Newcastle United home start with a 40-yard-screamer against Manchester United, Edgar appreciates the moments he was able to enjoy for both club and country: he won promotion to the Premier League with Burnley, and earned 42 caps for the national team which he got to don the armband for, too.

My football career has come full circle. I’m going out on my own terms, winning back-to-back [CPL] titles and hopefully creating a bit of history with Forge. It’s been tough since the injury, I can’t lie. I’ve never been the same, and I’m just more proud of myself that I even came back from that, because in all honesty I was told that it was a career-ender. To come back and to be able to play, it hurts every day. It’s not the main reason why I’m retiring, but if I’m playing, I can’t fully commit myself to get into coaching, and that next part of my life really excites me.

Edgar also noted that after long spells away from home, he wanted to be more present in his family life. With the COVID-19 pandemic bringing uncertainty as to whether a bubble tournament may once again be required, Edgar decided to exit the game on his own terms.

After enjoying a period of time with his family over the Christmas Holidays, Edgar plans to shift fully towards his coaching career: he’s been actively running camps in his hometown ever since he returned to play in Canada, and hopes to jump into full-time coaching in the near future. To fully commit to that, he needed to finish his seventeen year playing career.

Edgar isn’t the only Canadian Premier League athlete to retire from the professional game this year: York9 FC defender Luca Gasparotto retired early to pursue another career, while goalkeepers Jason Beaulieu and Colm Vance left to pursue educational opportunities.

Edgar’s talent and leadership qualities will leave big shoes to fill for Forge FC, who will also face Toronto FC in the Voyageurs Cup Final early next year.

We wish David Edgar all the best in his next chapter.

Source: CanPL