It was always unlikely to be a final farewell. The door was left cracked, the porch light on.
Nearly three years after departing FC Dallas as a free agent, Matt Hedges has returned to sign a one-day contract to officially retire as a member of the club where he’s renowned as an all-time great.
Hedges ends his storied career as FC Dallas’ record appearance leader (349), its top-scoring defender (25) and the club’s only winner of the MLS Defender of the Year award. As co-captain, he led Dallas to its most successful season: the 2016 MLS Supporters’ Shield and Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup double.
Above all, he was a beloved fan-favorite in his adopted city.
“This felt like home,” Hedges told FCDallas.com “This is where I built my career. My family lived here for a long time. I won trophies here, had a great relationship with the fans, and this (coming back), it felt like the right thing to do.”
It was a tearful goodbye when Hedges finally departed Dallas after 11 seasons following the 2022 campaign. At 32, the Carmel, Indiana native joined Toronto FC via free agency before being traded to Austin FC. In time, Hedges’ legacy proved so great that not even playing for an in-state rival could tarnish it. And while not quite a one-club man in the traditional sense, there was little doubt he’d find his way back to FC Dallas eventually.
“There’s no replacing somebody like him, as the player or the person,” FC Dallas President Dan Hunt said at the time. “We wish him and his family the best. We love him and we love them and hopefully one day they'll come home.”
Less than three years later, Hedges and his family are home. His one-day retirement contract forever immortalizes him as a rarified club legend. But it isn’t just about the past. Hedges is back on the fields at Toyota Soccer Center – or at least the sidelines – working with the next generation at North Texas SC’s training sessions.
Hearing Hedges’ own assessment of his career, FC Dallas can be confident its future stars are in good hands:
“I want my legacy to be that everyone knew I gave 100% every time I was on the field,” Hedges said. “I wasn't always the most talented player or the most athletic or the best with the ball, but I wanted to get out there and work as hard as I could. It seemed to have worked out for me in the end. That’s what I want my legacy to be, a hard-working guy who gave his all for the club.”
If coaching at the club in an official capacity ever becomes part of Hedges' mission, you can be sure that door is always open.
"My experience with North Texas has been fantastic," he said. "The coaching staff were great, asking me to come in and just help out, lend my knowledge to the guys. I'm really enjoying it, trying to help out the younger guys and pass on some of that knowledge that I gained when I was here.
"I've enjoyed it far more than I anticipated and probably the next step is coaching. And I think FC Dallas definitely factors into that."
