Defender Richard Hastings, a stalwart of the men's national team for over a decade, has announced his retirement as a player. The announcement isn't overly surprising, as the 33-year-old has been without a club since the end of the 2009-10 season. He had 59 appearances for Canada -- tied with Carlo Corazzin for ninth on the all-time caps list -- the last of which was last spring's friendly against Venezuela.
In more than 10 years representing the national team, he scored just one goal. But it was one of the most memorable, and important, goals in the history of the men's national team.
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That extra-time strike sent Les Rouges past Mexico (and their inconsolably glum goalkeeper) into the semi-finals of the 2000 Gold Cup, a tournament that Canada would eventually win.
"Richard has served Canada well over his international career and his leadership will be missed by all involved," national head coach Stephen Hart said in a press release.
"Richard still has some valuable experience to pass on as a professional, especially at the club level, but he has made a decision on what is best for him and his family. On behalf of the Canadian program, I would like to say thank you for his service to the country and wish him every success in the future."
The B.C. native will immediately move into a role as an instructor with The Other Foot Soccer School in Nanaimo, an offshoot of the original Other Foot Soccer School based in Inverness, Scotland (which, wouldn't you know it, is where Hastings played for the majority of his club career). The academy is based on a pretty neat concept -- teaching kids to improve with their weaker foot.
While Hastings' time as a player is done, this move is part of a very encouraging trend of former national team members taking up coaching and leadership roles to help young Canadian players blossom -- besides Hastings, Jason de Vos, Nick Dasovic and Jason Bent immediately come to mind, though I'm sure I'm missing plenty.
Though I'm in no way authorized to do so, I'm going to do it anyway -- On behalf of the Voyageurs, thank you Richard, for your past and ongoing service to Canadian soccer. Here's hoping that some day, one of your trainees will score a massive goal for Canada... perhaps with their "other" foot.