Former LA Galaxy defender Jelle Van Damme announced his retirement from professional soccer today. Van Damme, 37, retires after a 20-year professional career representing Germinal Beerschot, AFC Ajax, Southhampton FC, SV Werder Bremen, RSC Anderlecht, Wolverhampton Wanderers FC, Standard de Liege, LA Galaxy, Royal Antwerp FC, and Sporting Lokeren.
The former Galaxy captain wrote an emotional note announcing his retirement.
"It's a wrap!!! I'm officially retiring from professional football/soccer," he wrote. "It was a hard call to make as well as an easy one as my kids were always priority in my choices... as I promised them not to go too far away anymore, there was nothing close enough or interesting enough that came up and that's okay.