Mar 15 Impact Defender Adam Braz Retires

The Montreal Impact lost a warrior, but gained an ambassador as tenacious defender, Adam Braz announced his retirement yesterday during the Impact’s practise session in Brossard.

Braz, a nine year professional soccer player, seven as a member of the Montreal Impact, will now become the team manager acting as a liaison between team players and management.

“I took a lot of time to make this decision,” said Adam Braz. “I am retiring today because it has always been my long term goal to transition into sport management and the opportunity presented itself. I am extremely excited to remain with the Montreal Impact, the organization that I grew up with and which is a big part of my life. I envision my new role as managing the team in the most efficient and productive way on all aspects outside the field in order to ensure that the players and coaches can focus solely on their performance on the field."

“I would like to thank the entire organization, but especially the club president Joey Saputo, who gave me the opportunity to play for one of the best clubs in North America, along with Sporting Director Nick De Santis, who always believed in my abilities and who was honest with me throughout my career. I would also like to recognize Marc Dos Santos, Mauro Biello, Gil Orriols Jansana and Youssef Dahha of the coaching staff, my teammates and of course, my family.”

Teammates and management alike were rather surprised by the news as they felt the young Braz (29) still had some good soccer left in him, however a nagging injury had forced Braz to take this final decision.

“Adam took us all by surprise when he told us of his intentions. He could have easily continued playing,” said sporting director Nick De Santis. “I salute the great career he carved out for himself at the highest levels of North American soccer, with the Impact, in MLS and with the national team. He will now have other important responsibilities with the team as the principal liaison between the players, the coaches and the technical staff, but Adam has always been dedicated to the club and we know that he was made for this new role.”

Braz, leaves the Impact after having played in 145 games, (121 as a starter) helping the Impact win two regular season titles in 2005 and 2006 in the process. This places the young defender  in the top 10 all-time with the Impact for games played, games started and minutes played.

One of the many reasons why I enjoyed Adam Braz’s play was that he always played with passion and never surrendered on the field, whether defensively, offensively, in getting the upper hand on an opponent or more importantly, never letting the opponent intimidate or take advantage of he or any of his teammates. A badge of honour that Braz should wear proudly is his stat of 37 yellow cards (the club's 4th highest) that demonstrates the grit with which he played every night. The team thought as much in 2009 when they nominated him the team’s Unsung Hero.

Braz Impact highlights, besides the championships included the Nutrilite Canadian Championship winning side in 2008, helping the Impact become the first ever Canadian team to qualify for the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Champions League. In international friendlies, Braz played against some of the biggest international clubs, including AC Milan, Fiorentina, Bordeaux and River Plate.

I, for one, will miss Adam Braz on the pitch but wish him well in his new duties and appreciate the fact that in his new role as team manager, his influence will still be felt by future players in the years going forward.

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