SALT LAKE CITY — For the first time he can remember, Eddie Pope’s futuredoesn’t include soccer. Not yet, anyway.

The veteran defender is retiring, ending a career that included three WorldCups with the U.S. national team and the entire existence of Major LeagueSoccer. So now what?

“That’s a good question,” he said.

Pope announced in June that this would be his last season, which will endquietly Saturday when Real Salt Lake visits Colorado.

Pope has had several months to reflect and think about what he wants to donext, but so far hasn’t come up with an answer.

There’s no rush. Pope finally has some time to relax and enjoy more timewith his 4-year-old son, Emilio, and wife, Corina. He’s leaning toward stayingin MLS in some capacity, perhaps in a front office job. With his credentials andexperience, somebody will be offering.

“He’s somebody that our organization and every organization would want tokeep involved,” said Real Salt Lake coach Jason Kreis, who has known Pope as anopponent, teammate and this season as one of his players.

Kreis, who retired as a player to become RSL’s coach in May, said he wouldlove to have Pope back for one more season as the three-year-old club tries todevelop some success. Real (5-15-9) has struggled through three seasons and willfinish with the worst record in the Western Conference this season.

“I tried my best to get him to stay,” Kreis said. “He’s the best defenderthis league has ever produced.”

But Pope, who will turn 34 on Christmas Eve, knew early this season thatthis was the end. The physical toll has become too much. He retired from thenational team last summer after 11 years of international soccer, including the1996 Olympics and the World Cup in 1998, 2002 and 2006.

Pope played in nine World Cup matches and 31 qualifiers for the U.S. team.Former national team coach Bruce Arena said Pope was probably the best defenderto come from the United States. With that kind of talent, Pope could have goneand played in Europe and been a star where the game is the biggest sport thereis.

But the rock star treatment wasn’t much of a draw for the quiet and composedPope, who leaves the spotlight to his teammates.

Pope had offers from European clubs, but thought he’d get more playing timeif he stayed home. The choice was sit on the bench in front of a raucousEuropean crowd or play in obscurity in the latest attempt to establish aprofessional soccer league in the United States.

So while juggling classes at North Carolina, where he started every game ofhis college career, Pope joined D.C. United in the brand-new MLS and played withthe U.S. team in the Atlanta Olympics.

The rookie defender ended that season with a goal in the 96th minute againstLos Angeles to clinch the first MLS title.

Defenders don’t score a lot of goals, let alone game winners in a titlegame, and that will always be one of Pope’s fondest memories. But more thanthat, Pope will always remember the U.S. team’s run to the quarterfinals in the2002 World Cup.

After going 0-3 in 1998, the Americans redeemed themselves with wins overPortugal and Mexico while advancing to the final eight in the world’s biggesttournament. The Americans still aren’t World Cup contenders, but are definitelymore of a threat than they used to be.

“I think we gained a lot of respect. I think that’s the most importantthing — starting to gain respect,” Pope said. “And from that, that obviouslyallowed some guys to go to Europe and started to put a lot of eyes on our leagueand on our national team.”

Pope has been with RSL since the club’s first season in 2005. He’s the teamcaptain this year and was honored along with Kreis with a video tribute to theMLS pioneers Monday night in RSL’s final home game.

When Pope came into the league, the teams were playing in cavernous footballstadiums that weren’t designed for soccer. It was a new venture and nobody wasquite sure how it would fare. Twelve seasons later, soccer-only stadiums arefound throughout the league or are being built.

RSL’s new stadium is scheduled to open next summer. Although he won’t playin it, the 10-time All-Star and three-time champion definitely had a role inestablishing the club.

“Every now and then I think I’ve reflected on the things that I’ve done.The fun that I’ve had and how fortunate I’ve been. Things like that,” Popesaid. “But it’s maybe even been a little bit more of ‘what am I going to getinto next?’ That’s probably consumed my mind more than looking backward.”

And he’ll take his time figuring out his future. But he is certain that itwon’t involve playing.

“You kind of know when it’s time to move on,” Pope said.