Roger Espinoza, part of Wigan’s famous FA Cup winning team, resigns
Another member of Wigan’s FA Cup winning team has decided to end his football career: Roger Espinoza has confirmed his retirement at the age of 37.
Espinoza’s last club was Sporting Kansas City, for whom he played almost 400 times in two different spells. Between these two appearances, he was part of the famous Wigan team that managed to win a then-resurgent Manchester City in the 2013 FA Cup final.
Today, eleven years later, the former Honduran international has announced that he will end his illustrious career after the end of the 2023 US season.
As confirmed in an official club statementThe number 11 will be honored with a special ceremony at the home stadium of Children’s Mercy Park before the game against Austin FC, and there will be a fireworks display immediately after the game.
Second most appearances in #SportingKC History. 3x @OpenCup Master. 2 trips to @FIFA World Cup. 1x @EmiratesFACup Master. 1 trip to @Olympia.
A fabulous career and an important personality for our club and our city – Roger Espinoza. pic.twitter.com/QfNjjI9ymc
— Sporting Kansas City (@SportingKC) 26 June 2024
Widely regarded as not only a soccer veteran but also a legend of the league, he goes down in Sporting KC’s history as the second most capped player, winning three US Open Cup titles and helping the team to ten Audi MLS Cup playoff appearances.
His time in Greater Manchesterwas relatively fleeting, however; the midfielder developed into an all-round talent over the course of his career after joining the Latics mid-season, but was quickly thrown into the first team out of necessity.
Following the injuries of Maynor Figueroa and Jean Beausejour, Espinoza was deployed as a left-back under Roberto Martínez. The FA Cup final over a decade ago, which proved to be a huge shock and still Wiganis the only major trophy. He played 42 games before leaving in December 2014.
In total, he has made 455 appearances (not including his 52 appearances for Honduras, which participated in two World Cups and even the Olympic Games), scoring 17 goals and providing 49 assists. His playing career has spanned two decades and he has already begun the transition to coaching.
👏 We wish Roger Espinoza all the best in his retirement!
As FA Cup winners with Latics in 2013, we thank you for your efforts during your time with us and wish you the best of luck for the future! 🙌 #wafc 🔵⚪️ pic.twitter.com/IkZepyadP
— Wigan Athletic (@LaticsOfficial) 27 June 2024
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Graham Zusi, also a Kansas City legend, paid tribute to his longtime teammate and buddy nicknamed “Lucky Lefty” and was one of countless others who paid tribute to Espinoza on social media, writing, “What a human being. A great teammate, leader, competitor and friend. Congratulations, hermano!”
Roger Espinoza’s retirement also means that only four players remain from the 2013 FA Cup-winning team: James McCarthy, Callum McManaman, Jordi Gómez and goalkeeper Joel Robles.
Meanwhile, the former coach Martínez is responsible for the Portuguese national team, which is taking part in the Euro 2024 as we speak, and former Wigan talisman Shaun Maloney is now only at the club as head coach himself, having held the post since January 2023.
Any excuse is there for the tics to watch it again, right?
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Featured images — Andy Witchger (via Flickr)/Wigan Athletic (via X)
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