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Nashville SC's Joe Willis announces retirement at end of MLS season
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- Nashville SC's Joe Willis announces retirement at end of MLS season
Longtime Nashville SC goalkeeper Joe Willis will be hanging up the gloves at the end of the MLS season.
Willis, 38, announced his retirement in a post to Instagram on Oct. 29, calling an end to a 16-year professional career in which he spent seven seasons in Nashville.
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"After 16 years of living my dream, I've decided it's time for me to hang up my gloves for good at the end of the season," Willis's statement read. "This game and league have given me more than I could have ever imagined and I am eternally grateful."
Willis is among Nashville SC's longest tenured players, signed by the club in November 2019 from Houston Dynamo FC. He spent the next six seasons as NSC's starter between the posts, reaching 76 career MLS shutouts, 10th most in league history.
More: Why Nashville SC is not 'settling' with Supporters' Shield after tie against Philadelphia
With Nashville he also became the 10th goalkeeper to surpass 300 career MLS starts, recording over 30 appearances in five consecutive campaigns with NSC. This season Willis has made a single start in net with the emergence of young goalkeepers Brian Schwake and Xavier Valdez.
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He led Nashville SC to a shutout in that match, a 2-0 win over Toronto FC on Sept. 27.
"I've been lucky enough to learn the game and this position from some unbelievable minds and share the locker room with so many top players and people," Willis wrote. "Your friendships and mentoring shaped me into the goalkeeper I am while helping me navigate the highs and lows of this career.
"Finally, thank you to the fans. There is no such thing as professional sports without your support. The energy you bring and the atmosphere you create are what make playing this game so special. You've given me so much love throughout my career and I hope I've been able to bring some joy into your lives as well."
Nashville SC will hope to send off Willis with silverware, chasing the MLS Cup after a record-setting regular season in which NSC secured the Supporters' Shield on Oct. 24 . Nashville SC has two remaining regular-season matches before the start of playoffs on Nov. 22.
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Harrison Campbell can be reached at hcampbell@usatodayco.com and follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @hccamp .
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville SC's Joe Willis announces retirement at end of MLS season
