"The first game at home was one of the most special experiences in my soccer career, for sure," he said of the 2-0 win over the New England Revolution. "There was still so many cool things that came along with being part of the first team in New York City."
After eight seasons at Real Salt Lake, the defender was plucked by former coach Jason Kreis in the 2014 MLS Expansion Draft. Kreis was building his team and wanted a familiar face to help the back line transition. The 33-year-old went on to start 26 matches in NYCFC's inaugural year, but despite lofty expectations, the splashy new club did not buck the trend of expansion franchises missing out on the MLS Cup postseason.