Milos Kocic retires from professional soccer

At just 28-years-old Milos Kocic has retired from professional soccer.  He made the announcement on the website for his new goalkeeping academy which will bring him back to the city of Toronto which he called home for three years while playing for Toronto FC.

Retiring early in his career due to the family reason, Milos decided to pass his goalkeeping knowledge to the younger generations and to teach them how to become successful goalkeepers.

The personal reasons behind Kocic making the choice to retire are most likely his triplets who were born before he was traded to Portland last winter.  His wife is also from Toronto so Kocic setting up his academy here would allow her to come back home.  He also never managed to make his big breakthrough in MLS despite seemingly proving to have the quality to start in the league while in Toronto FC.

Kocic moved to Portland in the hopes of getting the raise that he deserved and having a chance to fight for the starting job.  TFC traded him to the Timbers in a deal that brought back Joe Bendik because at the time they were ready to give Stefan Frei the number one job and that did not sit well with Kocic who had done well in his absences.

In Portland, Kocic wound up stuck behind Donovan Ricketts on the depth chart as the Jamaican international put in one of the best seasons by any keeper in the league.  Kocic also never got that raise he was looking for as his reported salary in 2013 was still below $50k.

Kocic retires from MLS with 43 league appearances between D.C. United, Toronto FC, and the Portland Timbers.  His 2012 season where he made 27 starts for Toronto FC was his lone campaign where he got the chance to be a starter in the league.  Kocic also managed to win three Voyageurs Cups in his career while with TFC.

With the Timbers bringing in Andrew Weber this offseason things were looking crowded in goal for them and even the number two job would not have been a given for Kocic had he returned for the 2014 season.  The Timbers did extend a bonafide offer to Kocic but he had not re-signed for the club for the new season before making his decision to retire.

Those interested in potentially joining his new academy in Toronto can find more information on their website.