Matt Cardone, the San Antonio FC goalkeeper who holds many club records and is the last remaining member of the club’s inaugural squad, will retire after Saturday’s match, the club announced Wednesday.
Cardone joined SAFC ahead of the club’s inaugural 2016 season and has made appearances in each of his six full seasons with the club. Whether it’s his goalkeeping prowess, his devotion to his hometown or his bushy beard, Cardone has always been a fan favorite and the most deserving of the title SAFC legend.
“These last seven and a half seasons with SAFC have been an incredible adventure,” Cardone said in a statement SAFC released on Wednesday. “I have enjoyed every minute I’ve spent representing this club and community. Thank you, San Antonio, I will miss y’all.”
San Antonio’s own, Matthew Cardone will hang up his gloves after Saturday’s match. Thank you for always representing our community, and soccer in the Alamo City. 🖤❤️
— San Antonio FC (@SanAntonioFC) June 29, 2022
We cannot wait to see how you succeed in the next stage of your life. #FearTheBeard | #Defend210 pic.twitter.com/vKIcXzUTBl
Cardone retires as SAFC’s leader in appearances (109), saves (328), clean sheets (26), penalty saves (five) and minutes played (9,650). He also became the first SAFC player to win the USL Championship Player of the Week award after making nine saves against Swope Park Rangers in July 2016.
Beyond SAFC, Cardone ranks eighth all-time in the USL Championship with 323 regular-season saves, a tally which is tied for the most for an individual club in the league’s history with former Phoenix Rising FC goalkeeper Carl Woszczynski, Cardone also ranks third in goalkeeper appearances for a single team in league history.
“His on-field accomplishments speak for themselves, and off the field there has been no more positive representative for professional soccer in San Antonio,” said SAFC Managing Director Tim Holt. “While we all miss seeing him at the club every day, his legacy will last at SAFC.”
Cardone is a rarity in professional soccer, growing up and playing his entire career in the same city. He played at Classics Elite Soccer Club, MacArthur High School and Trinity University in San Antonio before starting his professional career with San Antonio Scorpions FC in 2015, climbing every rung of the soccer ladder in his hometown before joining SAFC.
“My sincere appreciation and gratitude goes to Matt for everything he has given to football, to this club and to our city,” said Juan Lamadrid, SAFC Director of Goalkeeping and Pro Academy Director, who has coached Cardone at Classics Elite, Trinity, the Scorpions and SAFC. “He leaves a legacy of professionalism and commitment to the generations to come. He didn’t give 100% but 200%.”
If Cardone’s achievements in goal or dedication to San Antonio didn’t stand out, his beard certainly did. Although Cardone has trimmed it periodically over the years, the iconic beard has endured and always been tied to his identity as a player.
“Matt has been the bearded face of our club since its inception in 2016,” said SAFC Managing Director Tim Holt.
The beard is so tied to Cardone’s identity that SAFC began using #FearTheBeard as early as June 2016 and has used it regularly ever since.
13' @mattcardone makes the initial save and then gathers in the rebound with traffic around him. 0-0. #FearTheBeard pic.twitter.com/y7D1ImBYPx
— San Antonio FC (@SanAntonioFC) July 31, 2016
Cardone’s final match with SAFC will be against Charleston Battery at home on Saturday, after which SAFC will have a two-week break before starting the second half of its season.
Following Cardone’s retirement from professional soccer, he will begin pursuing a degree from the Dedman School of Law at Southern Methodist University in the fall.