FC Kansas City midfielder Jen Buczkowski announces retirement

Vlatko Andonovski has completed 74 lineup cards in his coaching tenure with FC Kansas City.

One player has been a fixture on every one of them.

But not for much longer.

Midfielder Jen Buczkowski will retire after a May 13 home match against Chicago, she announced Friday.

Buczkowski plans to pursue a degree in physical therapy at Kansas.

"I've played soccer since I was six, so it will probably hard not to have that part of my life anymore," Buczkowski said. "But I'm excited to start this new journey, because I'm passionate about it."

Her old journey has two NWSL matches remaining. A home game against the Houston Dash at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Swope Soccer Village will precede the May 13 clash with Chicago.

Buczkowski enrolled in classes at KU that begin on June 1, and she says the school schedule will prevent her from playing soccer. The FC Kansas City coaching staff begged her to try both.

"She helped us establish the right environment here. She helped build this club," FC Kansas City coach Vlatko Andonovski said. "Her leadership and her passion for the game is something not all players have."

Buczkowski will leave behind a professional career that includes three league championships, two with FC Kansas City in the National Women's Soccer League. Since becoming a professional in 2009, she has competed in six league championship matches between the WPS, WPSL Elite and NWSL.

In three-plus seasons with FC Kansas City, she has played 6,100 of the 6,210 minutes the team has been on the field.

Buczkowski plans to remain involved in soccer as a coach. She leads a handful of youth girls soccer teams in the KC Legends Soccer Club.

"I love playing and being around the team and just living this whole lifestyle. You play because you love the game, and I love it," Buczkowski said. "But I'm starting to get older, and my body is hurting a little more. I'm just taking that next step in life."

This story was originally published May 6, 2016 at 6:13 PM with the headline "FC Kansas City midfielder Jen Buczkowski announces retirement."