Angel City FC midfielder and US Women's National Team legend Julie Ertz today announced her retirement from soccer via her social media channels. The two-time Olympic medalist and FIFA Women's World Cup winner signed with Angel City in April 2023.
'As a former player that went through my own retirement process, I have an intimate understanding of what Julie is going through,' said ACFC General Manager Angela Hucles Mangano. 'She has given her life to the sport of soccer, and now she has made the difficult decision to leave the game to focus on her family. We fully support her in this choice and recognize how complex these life decisions can be. She will always be a part of this club, in addition to having made an indelible mark on global soccer. We wish her only happiness in the future.'
“Julie has forever left a positive mark on Angel City, and we are truly honored to call her one of our first alums,” said ACFC Co-Founder and President Julie Uhrman. “Time isn’t the only measurement of influence; what matters is one’s commitment to supporting their team and community during their tenure. We thank Julie, and are forever grateful for the time she spent with Angel City. Natalie Portman, Kara Nortman, and I know firsthand how special it is to be a mother, and we can’t wait to watch Julie in the next phase of her journey with Madden and Zach.”
Ertz has 122 international caps, including four during the 2023 Women's World Cup. In addition to being a two-time World Cup winner and an Olympic bronze medalist, she was named the US Soccer Female Player of the Year in 2017 and 2019.
She was drafted third overall in the first round of the 2014 NWSL Draft by the Chicago Red Stars. During her seven seasons in Chicago, Ertz made 95 appearances and played 8,306 minutes. The Red Stars made seven straight playoff appearances during Ertz's time there, including two appearances in the championship game (though she was sidelined with an injury for most of 2021). After signing with Angel City in April, Ertz appeared in seven total regular season matches in 2023, scoring one goal in her club debut against Portland Thorns FC.
Ertz played collegiate soccer for the Santa Clara University Broncos and spent her youth career at the Sereno Soccer Club in Arizona, where the team won nine state titles. Ertz and her husband, Zach Ertz, who plays for the NFL's Arizona Cardinals, oversee the Ertz Family Foundation, a charity that creates opportunities for children in sports and education. In August of 2022, Julie and Zach welcomed their son, Madden Matthew Ertz, to the world.