The oldest player from the inaugural Northern Colorado FC roster announced his early retirement Friday morning.
Shane McFaul, 36, shared a statement on Instagram, which notified fans of the end of his playing career. He plans to pursue coaching and has one license. During the season, he was working on earning his second.
"Northern Colorado would like to thank Shane for being a part of the inaugural season in club history and wish him all the best in retirement and his coaching endeavors going forward," the club said in a statement.
McFaul expected to be available through the final game Saturday, but he wrote that his doctor recommended last week that he stop playing immediately. He sustained a serious injury in May, which caused hip damage, among other health issues.
The midfielder said he experiences constant pain and is "on a very steep decline to a full hip replacement in the next few years," which he notes is not common or ideal for his age.
He signed with the Hailstorm in January and was one of the first players to join the brand new franchise. With Northern Colorado, McFaul made six appearances and two starts. He added a few tackles and successful duels.
"I wish that I could (have) contributed more to the team this season with more appearances," McFaul said. "But, I'd like to think I've still been a positive influence around the team, especially with the younger lads, giving them advice here and there whenever they needed it."
Owen Damm, the youngest on the team, spoke highly of McFaul in July. Damm said McFaul – lovingly known as Shane-o and Uncle Shane – provided younger players with tactics and encouragement.
At the time, McFaul said one of his biggest pieces of advice to younger players was to "enjoy every moment," and recognized his career was likely coming to an end.
"I'm so grateful to have been able to see so many different countries, cultures and ways of life on my journey," McFaul wrote. "I've met so many amazing people and lifelong friends along the way."
McFaul is originally from Dublin, Ireland, and spent the last 20 years playing professionally. His career included stops in England, Finland, India, Ireland and the United States – plus travel across the world.
In his statement, McFaul thanked everyone who helped him in his journey. He specifically named his family, close friends and coaches, but he also addressed the support staff, bus drivers, health care workers and anyone involved with the game.
He played in nearly 400 professional matches and a handful in the Irish U14 to U21 level.
The comment section on McFaul's post includes well wishes and gratitude from friends, family, coaches, and current and former teammates.
"Absolute legend on and off the pitch," wrote Hailstorm defender Leo Folla. "You can retire with your head held high."
The Hailstorm will make one last push for the final playoff spot on Saturday. It will face FC Tucson at 7 p.m. in Severance. The team is currently in seventh place with a record of 10-10-9 and 39 points. It must win, and it needs Omaha and North Carolina to win their matches.
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