Amid all of the hotstove hubbub, a long-standing MLS veteran and former United player
Ezra Hendrickson retired from professional soccer
last week. Signed on June 23, 2004, Ezra was a big part of our club's championship run that season. He provided great versatility and veteran leadership the remainder of the year, seeing time in 12 games (8 starts).
United supporters will no-doubtedly, though, best remember Ezra for his outstanding work in place of Ryan Nelsen in the 2004 Eastern Conference Final. With Nelsen sidelined through cautions in both of United's first round games, Ezra stepped into the line-up for the captain in a memorable shootout win for the Black-and-Red that propelled the team into the MLS Cup Final a week later. The defender was selected by Chivas USA in the expansion draft after the season.
On behalf of D.C. United and supporters, congratulations to Ezra on a terrific playing career and best wishes for his future endeavors.
