Fire defender Gibbs retires after 12-year career

CHICAGO (AP) -- Chicago Fire defender Cory Gibbs has retired from professional soccer after suffering a season-ending knee injury last spring, ending a 12-year career.

Gibbs started the first three matches at center back last season before injuring his right meniscus on April 4. He underwent surgery six days later and missed the rest of the year.

He says he did "everything in my power" to return. Gibbs was initially taken by the Miami Fusion in the fourth round of the 2001 MLS draft but played three seasons in Europe instead. He returned to the U.S. to play for the Dallas Burn and then went back to Europe before rejoining MLS in 2008.

The Fire took him in the MLS re-entry draft in December 2010.