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December 26, 2009
THE YEAR’S TOP STORIES - NO. 6
Jay Heaps retires
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Jay Heaps has retired after 11 MLS seasons, nine of them with the Revolution
Linda Cuttone/Sports Vue Images |
Few local players ever get the chance to make an impact with their hometown teams. Jay Heaps did that for nine seasons with the New England Revolution, making his retirement No6. On the New England Soccer News countdown of the top ten stories of 2009.
Heaps, born in Nashua, N.H., and raised in Longmeadow, Mass., played 11 seasons in Major League Soccer, beginning with the Miami Fusion (1999-2001) where he was the 1999 MLS rookie of the year, and closing his career with his hometown New England Revolution (2001-09) with whom he earned his first-ever appearances with the U.S. Men’s National Team during the summer of 2009.
Heaps is one of three players to start all four of the Revolution’s MLS Cup appearances (2002, 2005, 2006 and 2007). He also won the 2007 U.S. Open Cup and the 2008 SuperLiga trophies with the Revolution. The 33-year-old is the Revs’ all-time leader in games played (243), starts (238) and minutes played (21,619) and ranks fifth on the Revs’ career assist chart (26). He also scored nine goals with the Revs. Heaps is the only member of the Revolution to play more than 20,000 minutes for the club and, not surprisingly, is the longest-tenured player in team history.
Heaps finishes his career ranked eighth all-time in MLS in games played (314), fourth in starts (299) and third in minutes played (27,363). He scored 17 career goals and recorded 34 assists.
“I can’t imagine writing out a team sheet next year without Jay’s name on it,” Revolution head coach Steve Nicol said. “As a coach, you can’t ask for a better all-around person than Jay. He leaves everything he has on the field every game and every training session, and then goes back in the locker room and is a stand-out leader. You want younger players to see the example Jay has set and follow it. He’s had an outstanding career for us, and we’ll miss his presence around the team.”
Heaps, a Herrmann Award winner at Duke University, was drafted second overall in the 1999 MLS College Draft, and began his MLS career in 1999 as a midfielder with the Miami Fusion. He earned 1999 MLS rookie of the year honors after leading all first-year players in minutes, scoring three goals and adding one assist. Heaps scored a career-high five goals and added six assists as a second-year player in 2000, earning MLS All-Star honors.
Heaps was traded to his hometown Revolution on June 20, 2001, where he transformed from an attack-minded outside midfielder to a defender, where he played the final eight years of his career. His athleticism and versatility allowed him to play every position across the back, including right and left back in a 3-5-2 formation, and left back, right back and center back in a 4-4-2 alignment.
Heaps started every match for which he was available in the last five years of his career, anchoring one of the most consistent defenses in MLS.
Defined throughout his career by rugged determination and a team-first mentality, Heaps made at least 27 regular-season appearances in each of his 11 professional seasons, missing just three games because of injury during eight-and-a-half seasons with the Revolution.
Heaps had perhaps the best season of his career as a defender in his professional season. Honored as the Revolution’s defender of the year for the first time in 2009, Heaps also debuted with the U.S. National Team for the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
After earning his first-ever cap on July 11 in a 2-2 draw with Haiti in front of his hometown fans at Gillette Stadium, he proceeded to play every minute of the quarterfinal win over Panama and the semifinal victory over Honduras, before starting the final against Mexico. They were the only four international appearances of Heaps’ career.
“Jay Heaps has been the heart and soul of the Revolution during his time with us,” Revolution Investor/Operator Robert K. Kraft said. “Not only has he been an outstanding and consistent performer on the field, he’s been a true champion off the field in the community, as well. We will miss him running out on the field each weekend, but wish him the best in his future endeavors.”
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