David Villa Retires – To Lead Queensboro FC

Former Spain soccer legend, and one of the most influential and inspiring MLS figures announced his retirement from the game of soccer at the age of 37.  The good news being, his will now partially own, and lead Queensboro FC – a soccer club set to join the USL in 2021.

David Villa, former Barcelona striker and Spain International has announced in Japan on Wednesday his decision to retire from playing soccer and end his 19-year career as a player.

“I wanted to retire from football [soccer], not be forced retire.” said Villa, who has beein playing for Japanese club Vissel Kobe alongside another FC Barcelona teammate and legend on his own right – Andres Iniesta.  He said that he is still committed to his current team and will help it fight in the competition for the Emperors Cup, for which Vissel already reached the semi-finals.  Villa hopes to lift the trophy with his teammates in June 2^nd before hanging his soccer boots for good.

Throughout his career David Villa scored for Spain 59 goals in 98 appearances, and played in 3 World Cups, lifting the trophy for his country in 2010.  He also scored 4 goals for Spain in helping it win the 2008 European Championships.

After an epic career in Valencia, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, Villa moved to the MLS in 2015 and was the first international signing of then newly-formed NYCFC.  He played an instrumental part in leading the new MLS side, prior to being joined by more international stars such as Frank Lamprad and Andrea Pirlo.

Villa spend four seasons with NYCFC at the MLS, and scored 82 goals in 130 appearances.

David Villa is now intending to become an investor and main-leading figure in the establishment of a new club that will also be based in the New York Area: Queensboro FC.  The club is set to join second-tier American soccer USL in 2021.

“Queens always showed love to me and my family while in New York” Villa Tweeted, adding that building a new professional soccer team was a dream of his.