Revolution’s Reis retires, takes job with Galaxy
New England Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis retired Wednesday
after a 16-year career to become the goalie coach for the Los
Angeles Galaxy.
Reis, who spent the past 11 seasons with the Revolution, is a
four-time MLS all-star. He starred at UCLA before playing for the
Galaxy from 1998 to 2002 and helping the club win its first MLS Cup
in 2002.
He’s coming off a strong season with a 7-0-4 record for New
England, the first MLS goalkeeper to go undefeated while playing at
least 10 games. But he played in just 12 games because of physical
problems and the Boston Marathon bombing in which his
father-in-law, John Odom, was severely injured.
Reis, 38, returned in August and helped the Revolution to the
playoffs. But in their last game of the season when they were
eliminated by Sporting Kansas City he tore a tendon in his left
thigh. He underwent surgery on Nov. 11, five days after the game,
and faced several months of rehabilitation.
He’s fourth in MLS history among goalkeepers in games, fifth in
wins and saves and sixth in shutouts.
Reis called himself ”an MLS lifer” and said he’s ”proud of
where the league has gone.”
But, he said, ”everything that happened in April and not
playing for a while” contributed to his decision to retire. Until
then, he said, ”I just kept going out every day trying to get a
little bit better.”
Jay Heaps played against and with Reis before coaching him the
past two years with the Revolution.
”He made the guys in front of him better,” said Heaps, a
former defender. ”Matt always was there to make the save.”