California men's soccer alumnus and D.C. United defender Steven Birnbaum – a standout center back throughout his college and professional careers – announced his retirement from the pro game Tuesday after playing 11 seasons in Major League Soccer. He played for Cal from 2009-13 and was selected No. 2 in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft by D.C. United.
 
The club will honor Birnbaum at halftime of his final match in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, when United hosts Scottish champion Celtic FC in a friendly at Audi Field. 

 
Birnbaum appeared in 262 MLS games – recording 13 goals and seven assists – and played in 275 games overall for United. A finalist for MLS Rookie of the Year in 2014, Birnbaum became an MLS All-Star in 2016, the same year he made his international debut for the U.S. Men's National Team and earned a spot on the U.S. roster for Copa America Centenario and World Cup qualifiers. In all, he made 11 appearances for the USMNT, collecting one goal and one assist.
 
The Irvine product led Cal to the 2010 Pac-12 championship and to the NCAA Championship quarterfinals in 2010 and 2013, with Birnbaum named an NSCAA First-Team All-American after his final college season. A two-time All-Pac-12 First-Team selection, he played in 72 games for the Blue & Gold, notching 12 goals and six assists.
 
Birnbaum is one of 18 former Bears playing professionally, including David Bingham (Charlotte FC, MLS), Drake Callender (Inter Miami CF, MLS), Jose Carrera Garcia (Central Valley Fuego, USL League One), Seth Casiple (Orange County SC, USL), Evan Davila (Louisville City FC, USL Championship), Taylor Davila (Louisville City FC, USL Championship), Jonathan Estrada (Irvine Zeta FC, NISA), JJ Foe Nuphaus (Thisted FC, Denmark Second Division), Stefan Frei (Seattle Sounders FC, MLS), Shoei Honda (FC Duren, Regionalliga West, Germany), Hector Jimenez (Austin FC, MLS), Sam Junqua (FC Dallas, MLS), Shinya Kadono (Irvine Zeta FC, NISA), Jonathan Klinsmann (Cesena FC, Italy Serie C), Nick Lima (New England Revolution, MLS), Togo Nakamura (SD Huesca, Spain Segunda Division) and Tommy Williamson (Loudon United FC, USL Championship).
 
Additionally, Nashville FC selected current Cal defenders Wyatt Meyer and Kevin Carmichael in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft in December. Both will compete for the Bears in one more season this fall before turning pro.
 
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