Vancouver Whitecaps FC defender Geordie Lyall announced today his retirement from professional soccer.
"It has been a privilege to be a part of the Whitecaps organization for the past 11 years," said Lyall. "I've been very fortunate to have played my career in such an amazing city. The players I played with, the championships we won, and the fans that supported us, will never be forgotten."
Lyall leaves the professional game after 11 straight seasons with the club, having first seen action with the Blue and White during the 1999 campaign. The speedy fullback is ranked 15th on the Whitecaps all-time appearance list with 193 matches played and 12th all-time in minutes played for the club with 14,969. Born in Toronto, Ontario, the native of Victoria, BC, also scored five goals and added five assists during his Whitecaps career.
The defender won both the 2006 and 2008 United Soccer Leagues First Division (USL-1) championship titles as a member of the Whitecaps, with 2006 proving to be his best season with the club. Lyall's efforts that year earned him a spot in the USL-1 All-League First Team and a nomination for the league's Defender of the Year award.
"Geordie was a dedicated member of our club," said Whitecaps president Bob Lenarduzzi. "As his one big asset was speed, Geordie demonstrated over the years that he had attacking qualities, while also proving to be one of the most difficult defenders for opposition players to beat. On top of that, Geordie is a solid individual that was always a good team player. We're fortunate that he was with us for 11 seasons and wish him well in his future endeavours."
Before joining the Whitecaps, Lyall was a standout in Canadian Interuniversity Sport men's soccer with the University of Victoria Vikes. He also spent part of the 2006-07 English Football League Two season with Walsall FC and had a short spell in professional indoor soccer with former National Professional Soccer League club Edmonton Drillers in 2000-01. In December 2003, Lyall was a member of the Canadian Futsal national team that claimed a bronze medal in a four-nation tournament in Anaheim, California.
Whitecaps 2010 season tickets are now on sale. Season tickets include all men’s and women's team regular season and playoff home matches at Swangard Stadium, Nutrilite Canadian Championship home matches against Toronto FC and Montreal Impact, as well as priority listing for Vancouver MLS 2011 in BC Place. For more information on our 2010 season ticket packages, call 604.669.WAVE (9283) or click here.
