May 18, 2010
The Major League Soccer career of Toronto FC defender Zachary Herold ended Monday before it truly ever began, as he announced his retirement due to the development of a heart condition called Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which causes the abnormal thickening of part of a heart muscle.
The 17-year-old, a member of the 2010 Generation adidas program and who played 15 times for the US U-17 Men’s National Team, was the 24th overall pick in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft.
His condition was discovered after undergoing an electrocardiogram test during preseason training.
Doctors from both the US and Canada were consulted concerning his decision and it was determined he could worsen his condition be being involved in any sort of strenous activity, such as playing soccer.
Had Herold continued to play, he could have developed an irregulat heart rhythm, or arrhythmia and could have died on the field during a game.
He has not played seen any action for Toronto this season.
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