Former St. Louis CITY SC defender Tim Parker announces retirement

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (Matrix Midwest) - Former St. Louis CITY SC defender and vice-captain Tim Parker will retire from professional soccer after the 2026 Major League Soccer season, bringing his 12-year MLS career to a close.

Parker, 33, played for St. Louis CITY SC during the club’s inaugural 2023 season and part of the 2024 season.

He scored the club’s first-ever regular season goal on February 25, 2023, during the club’s inaugural MLS match against Austin FC. He also scored CITY’s first-ever playoff goal on October 29, 2023, during Game 1 of the MLS Cup Playoffs against Sporting Kansas City.

Parker earned MLS All-Star and Best XI honors during CITY’s historic expansion campaign.

“I’ve decided that the time has come to retire from professional soccer,” Parker said in a statement. “This game has given me more than I ever could have imagined, and I’m incredibly grateful for every opportunity, every challenge, and every person who has been part of this journey.”

Parker played for five MLS clubs during his career: Vancouver Whitecaps FC, the New York Red Bulls, Houston Dynamo FC, St. Louis CITY SC and the New England Revolution. He returned to New York for a second stint in 2025.

With the Red Bulls, Parker helped the club win the 2018 Supporters’ Shield. He also won the Canadian Championship with Vancouver in 2015.

Selected 13th overall by Vancouver in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft, Parker has recorded seven goals and four assists in 303 regular-season MLS appearances. Four of those goals came in 2023 with CITY SC, where he totaled over 50 appearances across all competitions.

He also made two appearances for the U.S. men’s national team, playing in 2018 friendlies against Ireland and France.

Parker is set to play his final match with the New York Red Bulls against Atlanta United on Saturday, Nov. 7.