Forge FC Captain Bekker Announces Retirement Following Cancer Treatment, ACL Rupture
Bekker leaves after four CPL titles and 27 goals, and Forge FC will honor him with an in-stadium tribute at its Oct. 12 match.
- On Thursday, Forge FC captain Kyle Bekker announced his retirement from professional soccer, concluding an eight-year tenure. The 36-year-old midfielder has served as the team's only captain since the club's 2019 launch.
- Over 239 appearances for Forge, Bekker amassed 27 goals and 32 assists while leading the club to four CPL championships. He previously played four seasons in Major League Soccer before joining the CPL in 2018.
- Despite enduring a testicular cancer diagnosis and a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament this year, Bekker remains cancer-free. The midfielder expressed peace with his decision, noting the health challenges provided "much-needed perspective."
- Forge head coach Bobby Smyrniotis praised the captain as the "heart and soul" of the organization. Smyrniotis emphasized the captain's role as a trailblazer and mentor for the next generation of players throughout his tenure.
- Hosting a tribute on October 12, Forge will honor the captain during the match against Inter Toronto. Bekker intends to remain involved in soccer, though his specific future role remains unconfirmed.
19 Articles
19 Articles
Forge FC's only-ever captain, Kyle Bekker, announces retirement from pro soccer
Kyle Bekker, captain of Hamilton's Forge FC, announced Thursday that he's retiring from professional soccer. Bekker has been captain of the squad since the launch of the team and the Canadian Premier League in 2019.
Forge FC captain Bekker announces retirement following cancer treatment, ACL rupture – 105.9 The Region
Kyle Bekker knew this would be his last season playing professional soccer. He didn’t know that he’d spend much of it sidelined — first by a cancer diagnosis and treatment, then by a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament. Still, as the Forge FC captain prepared to announce his retirement on Thursday, he spoke of the campaign as a personal success. “This was not the year that I thought it was going to be, in a sense,” Bekker said. “But I think it a…
Forge FC captain Kyle Bekker announces retirement – Total Soccer News
Forge FC captain Kyle Bekker officially announced his retirement from professional soccer Thursday morning. I’ve known for some time that this would be my final season, and I can close this chapter proud of what we built and the standards we established. Kyle Bekker, Forge FC captain The 36-year-old midfielder was Forge’s first-ever signing ahead of [...]
Forge FC Captain Kyle Bekker Retires After 13-Year Career
Kyle Bekker is calling time on a remarkable 13-year professional career and his final season proved to be one of the most eventful of his life. The Forge FC captain announced his retirement from professional soccer on Thursday morning, bringing the curtain down on a career that saw him become one of the defining figures of the Canadian Premier League and an important part of the growth of the modern Canadian soccer landscape. Bekker’s final seas…
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