Charlie Hatch

Enquirer contributor

For one last time, Omar Cummings was saying goodbye.

His first one came more than 10 years ago, when he was a University of Cincinnati student, an All-American and good enough to be drafted by the Colorado Rapids in the 2007 Major League Soccer SuperDraft.

Over those 10 years, he’s had as successful of a career as anyone in American soccer: an MLS champion, a former MLS All-Star, a work permit away from an English Premier League contract and perhaps most importantly, an international player for his home nation, Jamaica.

But the final goodbye came Monday night.

While still a University of Cincinnati student – soon he’ll finish his last classes to earn a criminal justice degree – Cummings walked off the field one last time, with Cincinnati, a city he considers his adoptive home, giving him a final farewell.

At 35, Cummings retired from professional soccer, Futbol Club Cincinnati announced Sunday night. On Monday night, it paid tribute to one of its first – and biggest – signings.

Cummings made his last appearance in FC Cincinnati’s 2-0 loss against La Liga giant Valencia, at Nippert Stadium.

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The night was surreal. The past 24 hours had been surreal, he said.

“Before the (pre-match) warmups, there was a lot of emotions in me,” he said. “I almost felt like crying since yesterday. Once I got into the warm-ups, got into the routine…then it became the focus of the game.”

It always felt different, though.

During the pre-game warmups, the FC Cincinnati starters and substitutions separated into two groups. But then there was Cummings, also known as “Big Cat,” who kept some distance himself.

While he was stretching his legs, he was away from his teammates, looking up into the stands. Once the players began a rondo, a tightly-compacted game of keep away, Cummings’ happiness and delight radiated around his teammates. When he lost and had to go into the middle, he crossed his arms over his chest, looked up into the sky and smiled.

Typical Big Cat.

“The Omar the fans see is the Omar we see inside the changing room,” Cincinnati head coach Alan Koch said. “Genuine, fun-loving, fantastic role model. What I’ve seen in my six months since I came here, he’s done on equally on the field as he’s done off the field. Our young players and how he’s taken them under his wing is absolutely brilliant.

The announcement came at a strange time, but wasn’t a complete surprise. The reality is that Cummings is aging, while his teammates are becoming increasingly better. Before the friendly, he’d only appeared in three of FC Cincinnati’s matches this season.

If further justification was necessary, another forward, Kyle Greig, was added to the roster earlier this month.

Yet the friendly with Valencia was as much about the opponent as it was about the former Bearcat, who first played soccer in the city across the street from where he played his final match.

At halftime, the club produced a special video in Cummings’ honor. A sign in The Bailey read, “THANK YOU OMAR.”

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His family, FC Cincinnati’s front office and club majority owner Carl Lindner III joined him at midfield, where the forward was given a framed jersey. Soon after, he held it above his head and walked in a circle, a sign of both showing the fans the jersey and equally giving back his gratitude.

“Very special,” he said of the moment and the match. “Not a lot of players get the opportunity to do this in front of this environment, my adopted home.”

When Cummings finally took the field to play in the second half, he was the last player in the team huddle. While he trotted over to his teammates, they clapped for a player, who in many ways personified their club.

His impact was immediate. Within the first two minutes, he beat Valencia left-back Aymen Abdennour down the right flank and was tackled. Abdennour was carded.

But from then on, Cummings interactions with play was limited, mostly in part of the visitor’s quality.

In the 74th minute, his final appearance and his career were finished. The 23,114 fans in Nippert gave the Jamaican international one last standing ovation. Players hugged him as he left the pitch and finally, he stopped a foot away from the touchline and gave Danni König a long hug before walking away.

“I feel good,” Cummings said afterward. “I don’t know, but it doesn’t feel like it’s quite hit me yet. I feel like it’s just another match that’s just done.”

Cummings relationship with FC Cincinnati isn’t done yet, though. While finishing his degree, he said he’ll also have a full-time job with the club. The job description isn’t finalized.

As for other playing offers, he said he’s already been invited to join 10 recreation leagues. Only a “unique” offer with better incentives might merit a return to professional play.

But jokes aside, Cummings made it clear how special the retirement celebration party was. It was a moment that almost didn’t come, he said.

Last season, he suffered a torn ACL that kept him out for six months. Cummings contemplated retirement, and said he would’ve if he weren’t feeling better after preseason training finished in March.

“People keep asking me if I’m going to hang up my boots and stuff,” he said. “Yeah, I’ve stopped playing in a professional sense, but ever sinse I could walk, I was playing. As long as my legs move, I’m going to play soccer.”

His long-term plans include staying in Cincinnati.

When he initially signed with FC Cincinnati, he was one of six signings joining a newly formed team, where fans couldn’t hold expectations because they couldn’t identify their roster.

But everyone knew Big Cat. Though he didn’t grow up in the community like Austin Berry and Matt Bahner, the city grew up around him.

“Cincinnati has given me so much,” Cummings said. “To come back and finish my career in Cincinnati has been a joy. I’m happy.”