All the best in the world to Zac. Terrible news Hopefully he go to college and stay involved with the game in some way outside of playing.
Very sad news but at least they caught it early. I wish him the best of luck in whatever he does. A football player (graduated) who went to my high school has the same condition. He obviously couldn't play in college but he went into sports management and helped as an assistant coach for the team.
Terrible for Zach, but the alternative is much worse. This is the same heart condition that took the lives of basketball players Hank Gathers and Reggie Lewis. Definitely not something to mess with.
Really sad news, 17 years old, All the best to you Zach! Thanks for reppin' the Stars & Stripes at the past U-17 WC!
very sad to hear. It's on the front page of yahoo.com http://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/blog...rold-forced-to-retire-before-f?urn=sow,241590 I hate to say this, and I really wish the best for Zak and his family, but I did think it was another stupid mistake from Mo Johnston when he said "our hearts go out to him." Really? That's a poor choice of words. Don't want to make this seem like a joke, but I did want to point that out. Zak seems to have huge passion for the game, so I just hope he can find a job (in soccer) that he can enjoy.
Re: Zach Herold forced to retire All the best to Zack Herold as he continues with his life. It is good that his condition was discovered early but now it can be monitored safely. He is young and has the world before him. I wish him success in school & his future career, whatever that may be. This story was one of the 4 primary stories on the front page Yahoo! this morning. I don't see many soccer stories on the front page of yahoo. Much less USA or MLS stories. You're joking, right? It is a standard turn of phrase used by many including me. I think you're being more than a wee bit critical.
Re: Zach Herold forced to retire I've seen a lot of soccer stories lately they all come from dirty tackle. There was one about Kei Kamara's miss, Gooch wanting to play for free, various videos about cool goals.
Re: Zach Herold forced to retire Yeah, I've seen soccer stories on yahoo. I just haven't seen them as one of the four primary stories on the front Yahoo! page. Maybe I'm not checking my email at the right times.
Re: Zach Herold forced to retire yes I was, I just didn't want to make it seem like his condition is a joke
Re: Zach Herold forced to retire zach is lucky to find out about this illness early in his career and now that he is young to heal quickly by the grace of God. We wish him well. I think he will come back to soccer. There is a player I think from Nigeria by the name Kanu that had the same or similar condition. Kanu was treated at the Cleveland clinic about 10 years ago. He recovered fully and went back to play for Arsenal; actually he is now playing for Portsmouth. Zach should take comfort in this story while we pray for his recovery.
Re: Zach Herold forced to retire That would be great if he were able to return. If not, hopefully he can stay involved in soccer on the coaching or business side. Bradenton ought to hire him as an assistant and let him work alongside the other coaches.
Re: Zach Herold forced to retire Kanu needed to have his aortic valve replaced. This is not the same condition as Herolds. I doubt he will ever be able to play again. I know two people who have this condition and they can't participate in any sports or any rigiorus physical activity, it is that dangerous. Exercise also brings on some key symptons of HCM including dizziness, inability to recover quickly, severe shortness of breath, etc. Marc-Vivien Foé died of this conditon during a Confederations Cup match back in 2003 and a Hungarian footballer also died during a game.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/george_dohrmann/05/22/herold.retirement/index.html Correct me if I'm wrong, but that's not Zach Herold right? That might be Corea if they're playing Honduras at CONCACAF qualifying.
I'm pretty sure thats not him. Glad to see he's looking forward though. I really hope he goes into coaching, he has the opportunity to learn from very many good coaches.