Harrisburg, Pa. native Connor Maloney is hanging up his boots after seven years playing professionally for the Columbus Crew, Pittsburgh Riverhounds and San Antonio FC.
Maloney captained San Antonio FC to the USL Championship title in 2022.
He started his soccer journey playing for Capital Area Soccer Association and LDC United (now Penn FC Youth) before joining the PA Classics Academy. He won a Generation Adidas Cup with a Philadelphia Union U-17 team coached by Jim Curtin in 2012 and went on to have a successful college career at Penn State.
“I want to take the time to thank my family and friends that have shown me love and supported me along the way,” the 28-year-old wrote in a social media post. “I want to especially thank my wife, Jane, who has sacrificed so much for me to be able to do what I love and achieve my dreams. And to my son, Maxwell, I hope that during my career I was able to grow and learn so that I can be the best dad and role model for you.”
A finalist in the Eastern Pennsylvania NCS State Cup in 2010 with LDC Capa Elite – coached by his father Terence Maloney – Connor is one of three Division 1 soccer players in his family. His sister, Kelsey Maloney, won a state cup and US Youth Soccer Eastern Regional Championship with FC Pennsylvania Strikers in 2007 before playing at West Virginia University and his younger brother, Austin Maloney, was a teammate of Connor’s both at Penn State and at Reading United.
Maloney also has younger cousins who have excelled on the pitch. His cousin Alex Murphy, who plays at High Point University, won a US Youth Soccer National Championship with Penn FC Youth Lightning in 2021 and his cousin Erika Murphy was on the Penn FC Youth 2007 team that won an Eastern Regional Championship last summer.
“Soccer has brought me so much love and joy and it has helped me encounter amazing individuals that I will cherish for the rest of my life,” Maloney wrote. “I never took one day for granted and tried to the best of my ability to maximize each opportunity that I have had. I had the chance to win a championship, but for me, the best part about soccer was the platform to make a difference in the community. I have made so many friendships and gotten to learn about so many cultures and stories of special individuals that I will never forget.”
Photo Credit: San Antonio FC