Red Bulls defender Petke to retire

The New York Red Bulls say veteran defender Mike Petke will

retire at the end of the season.

Petke, a 13-year Major League Soccer veteran, has appeared in

more than 300 MLS matches and is a three-time all-star. He has had

two stints with the Red Bulls, totaling seven years. He’s their

all-time leader in games played with 167.

The 34-year-old from Bohemia, N.Y., thanked his family and

teammates for their support throughout his career.

Petke was a first-round pick of the Red Bulls in the league’s

1998 draft, when he was the eighth overall pick. He played five

seasons with the team, then played for D.C. United and the Colorado

Rapids before rejoining the Red Bulls in 2008.