Football
ESPN staff 9y

Portland Timbers' Steve Zakuani retires at 26 after string of injuries

Portland Timbers midfielder Steve Zakuani announced his retirement at age 26 on Wednesday.

Zakuani, the No. 1 pick in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft, said he no longer wished to continue playing following a string of injuries.

"When my career became more about the injections, MRIs, surgeries, doctors visits, painkillers and limited physical capabilities than the playing, enjoyment, love and passion for the game, I knew it was time to call it a day," Zakuani said on his personal website.

Zakuani played the first five of his six MLS seasons with the Seattle Sounders.

He suffered a broken leg in 2011 and struggled to stay healthy in recent seasons, playing just eight games in 2013.

The former Akron player played in 17 games this season for Portland for his former college coach Caleb Porter.

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