Leslie Osborne (left) will have her No. 12 jersey retired by the Boston Breakers. (Photo Copyright: Meg Linehan).
Leslie Osborne will enter into Boston Breakers immortality on May 22, when her No. 12 jersey is retired by the club. Osborne will join Maren Meinert, Angela Hucles and Kristine Lilly in the Pillars of Excellence, the Breakers’ version of a hall of fame.
“I will never forget my time in Boston, and I am forever grateful for all of the owners who helped allow me the opportunity to play professionally there,” Osborne said. “To have my number retired by Boston and be next to Kristine Lilly, Angela Hucles, and Maren Meinert is an incredible honor. Playing for Boston was really, really special. It was the best decision in my career.”
Osborne played for the Breakers professionally in WPS in 2010 and 2011 and she played for the club in 2012 in the semi-professional WPSL Elite league. She started in 50 of her 51 matches played and was the team’s captain all three seasons. Even after WPS folded, Osborne served as an ambassador for the club to keep things on the same professional standard in Boston.
“As a player, Leslie Osborne was a tenacious, world-class midfielder and team captain. Behind the scenes, Leslie was a relentless promoter and fundraiser of the women’s pro game,” former Boston Breakers general manager Andy Crossley said in a statement. “She did a lot of very hard work that took place out of the public eye, which was essential to the fact that the Breakers are the longest-running women’s team in America today.”
Osborne appeared in 61 matches for the United States national team, including the 2007 Women’s World Cup, where the U.S. finished third.
Osborne also played for FC Gold Pride in the Bay Area in WPS during the 2009 season. She played for the Chicago Red Stars in the inaugural National Women’s Soccer League season in 2013.
Her number will be retired at Soldiers Field Soccer Stadium — the Breakers’ new home, across the Harvard parking lot — on Friday, May 22 against Sky Blue FC.
