Toronto FC's Torsten Frings battles for the ball with LA Galaxy's Mike Magee during the first half of their CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal soccer match at the Rogers Centre last season. (REUTERS)
TORONTO - Torsten Frings officially announced his retirement from professional soccer on Tuesday, less than two full seasons into the Designated Player deal he signed with Toronto FC in 2011.
Midway through the 2011 MLS season, the Reds made Frings, 36, one of the highest paid players in MLS, securing the German World Cup veteran for $2.5 million a year.
Despite having a productive first few months after arriving at BMO Field, an injury-plagued 2012 saw Frings miss 14 games due to hamstring, shoulder and hip problems, the last of which ended his season.
After having surgery to repair the hip injury that forced him to miss a chunk of games at the end of 2012, Frings was originally said to be on track in terms of his recovery.
