Former Union center back Austin Berry retires

In a somewhat surprising move, Austin Berry has announced that he’ll hang up his cleats and move onto a coaching role with FC Cincinnati. The 2012 MLS Rookie of the Year with the Chicago Fire, Berry didn’t have a massive impact for the Philadelphia Union, who acquired him via trade from Chicago in 2014. He was plagued by a series of injuries, the biggest being a hamstring that kept him out for the majority of his tenure with the Blue and Gold. The Cincy native then took the chance to play for his hometown club, being announced pretty much at the same time as fellow ex-Union player Jimmy McLaughlin for the team’s first season in 2016. Cincy became somewhat of a powerhouse, finishing third in the East in 2016 in large part due to the center back pairing of Berry and Australian Harrison Delbridge. 2017 was more or less the same, as Cincinnati pivoted to focusing on a massive US Open Cup run that saw Cincy beat both state rival Columbus Crew SC as well as Berry’s first pro club, the Chicago Fire.

Austin will call it a day as far as playing goes at 29, and he’ll move into a strength and conditioning coaching role with FC Cincinnati effective as soon as he finishes getting his license. We wish Austin the best in his coaching career and thank him for his time here in Philly.