Once a Metro editor emeritus Austin Fido once observed that joining the Red Bulls forces many to experience an existential crisis and reexamine their life trajectory, a notion supported by a noticeable amount of players ending their sporting careers shortly after their tenure at the club.
In 2014, Toronto FC traded Richard Eckersley to New York in exchange for a 2017 fourth-round SuperDraft selection. The English fullback made 17 appearances across all competitions. At the end of the season, the club opted to not exercise his contract option. His time stateside away from the glitz and glamor of the Premier League and Championship led to a crisis of confidence, causing the death of his passion for the sport.