Former Gamecock men's soccer standout and 11-year MLS veteran Clint Mathis announced his retirement from the sport of soccer on Tuesday. He will join his LA Galaxy teammates for a final contest on Saturday in a friendly against Real Madrid at the Rose Bowl. Mathis enjoyed a celebrated career that spanned five MLS teams, several years with the U.S. Men's National Team, including an appearance in the 2002 World Cup and a brief international appearance in Germany. He concludes his MLS career with 61 goals and 52 assists.
Mathis still ranks among South Carolina's greats several years after the conclusion of his college career. He ranks third all-time in total points (121), third in career coals (53) and is the single-season leader in points (53) and goals (25). Mathis, a 2007 inductee into the University of South Carolina Athletics Hall of Fame, was a consensus first-team All-American in 1995 and a third-team selection in 1997, while he was a three-time finalist for the prestigious Hermann Trophy. Mathis helped lead the Gamecocks to the NCAA Tournament in 1994, 1995 and 1997.
South Carolina head men's soccer coach Mark Berson spoke with Spurs Up blog editor on Tuesday evening following the announcement of Mathis' retirement. Below are Berson's thoughts on Mathis and his legacy.
Do you remember the first time that you saw Clint play during the recruiting process? Was he that same type of player then? - Exciting, dynamic, great playmaker?
The first time I saw Clint Mathis play was at the Rockdale County Soccer Complex in Conyers, Ga., as a youth player. He was a skinny little kid at the time, but he was completely engrossed in the game. Anytime there was an opportunity to play, Clint would be there. His mom, Pat, was a real saint. She carried him around to every opportunity to watch or play the game. By the way, when Clint came to South Carolina he was still a skinny kid - and Pat didn't miss too many games here either! He was always a player who wasn't afraid to hold the ball, dribble by people, take chances in the attack, and, of course, shoot.
What is your favorite memory of Clint Mathis during his time at South Carolina?
Many memories. ... Clint Mathis has been known to have a bit of a temper on the field. One great memory was in preseason his freshman year when he rocketed a shot over the fence at the Stone Stadium. The upperclassmen were immediately on him to go out of the field and fetch the ball. Clint was resisting. When reminded by the coaching staff that he did need to get on his horse and go get the ball, he muttered something like " I didn't come to South Carolina to shag balls," to which the upperclassmen responded, "Then don't hit them over!"
As a player he brought so many great moments to our fans here at South Carolina. One of the best was when we played Furman in the match that dedicated their new stadium in Greenville. Pele was in the stands and the entire state was electric about the game. Our team met Pele at our pre-game meal and it was truly a great moment. Clint Mathis and Josh Wolff, however, provided the best moment of the day with only seconds remaining in the match. The game was tied with about fifteen seconds left on the clock and Furman had a corner kick. The ball was served in and disappeared down around everyone's knees. Then, Josh Wolff breaks out of the crowd and streaks up the field over a hundred yards to the Furman defensive box with two seconds remaining and is brought down in the box. The referee should have given a penalty, but didn't. Instead, he spots the ball for a free kick right on the edge of the 18-yard box. Now there is only time for one kick (if the referee didn't call a penalty the clock should have run out). Furman pulled everyone back into its defensive line and set up a huge wall. Clint Mathis stepped up with little to no time on the clock and bent a ball over the wall and dipped it under the bar for the winning goal. It is still one of the best free kicks I have ever seen. Gamecocks win, and the Clint Mathis legend adds another page to it. Clint is a member of the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame, and is one of only two Gamecock players to make the cover of Sports Illustrated.
Clint had a very successful run professionally, what do you think he brought to the game of soccer in the United States?
I think Clint came on the scene and showed everyone that it is okay to dare to be different. Clint's brash style and the ability to back up his swagger with great goals is something that he brought to the game at a critical time in our (the United States' pro league (MLS) development and the U.S. National Team's development. In a way, Clint embodied the American spirit. He was bold and brash and he made things difficult for himself sometimes with coaches, referees and probably some teammates. But he always had a way of pulling out some great goals that no one else in his time was able to pull off. His goal in the 2002 World Cup was taken in stride with two successive touches on the biggest stage in the world. It was a great goal and an important one for our country at the time. He also probably has the record for most dialogue with officials in the MLS. It is a record that might not be broken.
Now that he has retired, we can only hope that some more young personality players are coming up through the ranks.
Mathis still ranks among South Carolina's greats several years after the conclusion of his college career. He ranks third all-time in total points (121), third in career coals (53) and is the single-season leader in points (53) and goals (25). Mathis, a 2007 inductee into the University of South Carolina Athletics Hall of Fame, was a consensus first-team All-American in 1995 and a third-team selection in 1997, while he was a three-time finalist for the prestigious Hermann Trophy. Mathis helped lead the Gamecocks to the NCAA Tournament in 1994, 1995 and 1997.
South Carolina head men's soccer coach Mark Berson spoke with Spurs Up blog editor on Tuesday evening following the announcement of Mathis' retirement. Below are Berson's thoughts on Mathis and his legacy.
Do you remember the first time that you saw Clint play during the recruiting process? Was he that same type of player then? - Exciting, dynamic, great playmaker?
The first time I saw Clint Mathis play was at the Rockdale County Soccer Complex in Conyers, Ga., as a youth player. He was a skinny little kid at the time, but he was completely engrossed in the game. Anytime there was an opportunity to play, Clint would be there. His mom, Pat, was a real saint. She carried him around to every opportunity to watch or play the game. By the way, when Clint came to South Carolina he was still a skinny kid - and Pat didn't miss too many games here either! He was always a player who wasn't afraid to hold the ball, dribble by people, take chances in the attack, and, of course, shoot.
What is your favorite memory of Clint Mathis during his time at South Carolina?
Many memories. ... Clint Mathis has been known to have a bit of a temper on the field. One great memory was in preseason his freshman year when he rocketed a shot over the fence at the Stone Stadium. The upperclassmen were immediately on him to go out of the field and fetch the ball. Clint was resisting. When reminded by the coaching staff that he did need to get on his horse and go get the ball, he muttered something like " I didn't come to South Carolina to shag balls," to which the upperclassmen responded, "Then don't hit them over!"
As a player he brought so many great moments to our fans here at South Carolina. One of the best was when we played Furman in the match that dedicated their new stadium in Greenville. Pele was in the stands and the entire state was electric about the game. Our team met Pele at our pre-game meal and it was truly a great moment. Clint Mathis and Josh Wolff, however, provided the best moment of the day with only seconds remaining in the match. The game was tied with about fifteen seconds left on the clock and Furman had a corner kick. The ball was served in and disappeared down around everyone's knees. Then, Josh Wolff breaks out of the crowd and streaks up the field over a hundred yards to the Furman defensive box with two seconds remaining and is brought down in the box. The referee should have given a penalty, but didn't. Instead, he spots the ball for a free kick right on the edge of the 18-yard box. Now there is only time for one kick (if the referee didn't call a penalty the clock should have run out). Furman pulled everyone back into its defensive line and set up a huge wall. Clint Mathis stepped up with little to no time on the clock and bent a ball over the wall and dipped it under the bar for the winning goal. It is still one of the best free kicks I have ever seen. Gamecocks win, and the Clint Mathis legend adds another page to it. Clint is a member of the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame, and is one of only two Gamecock players to make the cover of Sports Illustrated.
Clint had a very successful run professionally, what do you think he brought to the game of soccer in the United States?
I think Clint came on the scene and showed everyone that it is okay to dare to be different. Clint's brash style and the ability to back up his swagger with great goals is something that he brought to the game at a critical time in our (the United States' pro league (MLS) development and the U.S. National Team's development. In a way, Clint embodied the American spirit. He was bold and brash and he made things difficult for himself sometimes with coaches, referees and probably some teammates. But he always had a way of pulling out some great goals that no one else in his time was able to pull off. His goal in the 2002 World Cup was taken in stride with two successive touches on the biggest stage in the world. It was a great goal and an important one for our country at the time. He also probably has the record for most dialogue with officials in the MLS. It is a record that might not be broken.
Now that he has retired, we can only hope that some more young personality players are coming up through the ranks.
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