At 1:30 PM EST today, the player to score one hundred goals the quickest in MLS history and the face of one of its founding franchises, the New England Revolution, announced his retirement in a press conference in Foxboro. Tears were shed, thanks were given and laughs were had, but anyone who has followed American soccer in the last decade knows that one of the greatest was taken too soon.
Twellman spoke of the post-concussion symptoms that ended his career. He told funny stories, thanked his family, and praised coaches and teammates. One phrase, however, summarizes his legacy:
“Memories last forever. Trophies, awards, all that? They collect dust.”
In that spirit, here are five of the best Taylor Twellman memories.
5.) The Century Club (June 8, 2009)
After missing the majority of the season with complications due to what would eventually be a career-ending concussion suffered in 2008, Twellman made a comeback in the summer of ’09, playing in two matches. He entered play on June 8 at 99 career MLS goals, and in the 57th minute broke free of his marker and headed a Shalrie Joseph cross into the far corner, forever cementing his place in the record books as one of the few MLS players to reach 100 goals.
It was incredible to think that he was just 29 years and 100 days old, at the time the youngest player ever to reach 100, and in 174 matches remains the fastest, but the enduring part of that memory will always be watching all 10 of his teammates mob him on the pitch. Even Matt Reis sprinted all the way from the opposite goal to join the celebration. In the stands or through a television you could feel how much the goal meant not just to him, but to his entire team and organization.
He scored another goal later in that game. Twellman hasn’t played since.
4.) The Bicycle Kick (Nov. 8, 2007)
On the heels of a devastating defeat to Houston on penalties in the 2006 MLS Cup, New England bounced back and made the playoffs again the following season. The hated Chicago Fire stood between them and a third-straight MLS Cup final appearance, with a 1-0 victory all that was necessary to advance.
In the 38th minute, a long cross from the right reached the head of Twellman, who knocked it straight in the air instead of putting it on frame. Bracketed by two Fire defenders, Twellman showed blatant disregard for his own safety and executed a breathtaking overhead bicycle kick that soared beyond the keeper’s reach and into the far corner.
Gillette exploded with joy, and the best part about all of it was that no one thought it all that unbelievable that Twellman could perform such an incredible finish. Never lauded much for technical ability or style and swagger, it was still generally accepted in Foxboro that when it came to putting the ball in the back of the net, nothing was beyond Taylor Twellman.
3.) Twellman Grabs a Viking Hat (Jan. 29, 2006)
Twellman had been on the fringes of the U.S. national team picture during Bruce Arena’s second four years at the helm despite being a regular for the Yanks at the youth level. In the lead-in to the 2006 World Cup, however, his blistering MLS form over the previous few seasons made him impossible to ignore, and he saw his chances in some late qualifiers and winter friendlies.
One such friendly occurred at the Home Depot Center in late January, and it was there that Twellman staked his strongest claim for inclusion in the World Cup squad. Two excellent first half goals put the USA in the driver’s seat, and he put the icing on the cake in the second half with a great header to seal his hat-trick.
Despite becoming just the ninth U.S. player in history to record a hat-trick, Bruce Arena eventually passed on Twellman for his final 23-man roster. It was a move that perplexed many, especially in hindsight after the USA’s abysmal performance and toothless attack in Germany. Twellman was given a few more chances by the next regime, but concussions eventually eliminated him from international contention for good.
2.) Why Not Taylor? (May 6, 2006)
Just days after enduring the disappointment of being left off the 2006 World Cup squad, the Los Angeles Galaxy traveled to Foxboro to face Twellman and the Revolution. The wronged striker wasted no time responding to his exclusion, driving a low shot past the Galaxy keeper and putting the Revs ahead in just the fifth minute.
To celebrate, Twellman leaped over the barriers and exchanged high-fives with front-row fans in the Fort. Then, he turned and crossed his arms over his chest, posing in front of the banner hung from those stands which read, “Why Not Taylor?”
The banner was painted by Prairie Rose Clayton, who is now well-known in the Revs family for her art and support. At the time, however, she was unaware that not only was Twellman hurting from Bruce Arena’s national team snub, but his grandfather, MLB great Jim Delsing, had passed away on the Thursday before the match. The next day the Boston Globe ran the photo and a story about it, and all of New England shared in Twellman’s frustration, pain and appreciation.
1.) The Goal That Should Have Won It All (Nov. 12 2006)
The 2006 MLS Cup final was Twellman’s second straight appearance in a final and the third of his yet-short career. In the previous two, Twellman had failed to score as the Revs lost heartbreakers. When this match went to extra time knotted at zero, it looked as though his championship woes would continue.
Then in the 116th minute, Twellman seemed to change the course of Revolution history with one well-placed shot across the keeper and into the bottom corner. More memorable than the goal, though, was Twellman’s celebration: he took off at a dead sprint the length of the pitch to the section reserved for the Revolution’s traveling support (the match was at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas). For many of the fans who made the trip, this remains their most enduring Revs memory.
That late in the extra time it looked as though the match was locked up, but Brian Ching put a dagger in New England hearts just three minutes later, and Houston went on to defeat the Revolution on penalties. Twellman scored the opening goal in the following season’s Cup final (again versus the Dynamo) but the Revs were once again bested.
But that occasion couldn’t match the energy and emotion of a man who had played 116 minutes of soccer, pouring his heart and soul onto the pitch, who finally scored on the biggest stage of his career at the third time of asking and seemed to win it all for his team. A man who had so much appreciation for the fans who cheered him every week that he needed to share that incredible moment with them. Nothing says “Taylor Twellman” like that goal and that run.
Next season, the Revolution will need to figure out how to address a host of problems in their roster, not the least of which is a toothless attack. The goals haven’t come without Twellman on the pitch. How do you replace a player who scores more than a goal every other game? How do you replicate such an integral part of the team, the organization and the fans at large?
You don’t.
There will never be another Taylor Twellman.
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