Chicago Fire veteran midfielder Pavel Pardo has announced his retirement from the game.
The 36-year old, who represented Mexico on 148 occasions, has called time on a career which began with Atlas back in 1993 and saw him play with such clubs as Tecos, America and VfB Stuttgart.
"This was a very difficult decision, but after speaking with my family, I've decided that it is the right time to retire from professional soccer," Pardo said in a team statement.
"I've had the opportunity to play for world-class clubs and represent my country at the highest level. The journey has been an exciting one, and I'm proud of the things I've accomplished along the way. Thank you to all of my teammates, coaches, clubs, family and, most importantly, my fans for supporting me for the last 19 years. I'm excited about the next phase of my career and look forward to being involved in soccer for many more years to come."
Pardo arrived at Toyota Park in July 2011 and made 41 appearances for the club, starting 27 times last season as Chicago made it to the playoffs for the first time since 2009.
