Marc Narducci: Union veteran Chris Albright savors his limited minutes

He played nine minutes Sunday in the Union's 3-1 Major League Soccer win over the visiting Houston Dynamo, and midfielder-defender Chris Albright was grateful for the opportunity.

At 33, the former Penn Charter standout understands where he is in his soccer career. It's a career in which he has been a member of the 2006 U.S. World Cup team and the 2000 Olympic squad, while also winning three MLS championships and making three all-star appearances.

While he has appeared in just five games this season, making two starts for an 8-14-6 team, Albright is savoring every moment on the pitch.

"It absolutely is the twilight of my career, but it is a different high for me," he said.

Albright is the father of three young children, and after Sunday's game they could be seen running around PPL Park.

"I look at it as another high in my career, to come home, and my kids are running on the field," he said. "For me, that is bigger than a World Cup and Olympics in a lot of ways in that I am around my family, and they get to see me play at home. And if that is 10 minutes here and there, it is still special."

Instead of complaining about limited playing time, Albright has embraced his role as elder statesman. He's also had to hear the good-natured barbs from his much younger teammates.

"We do give him a hard time," said 22-year-old defender Sheanon Williams. "We leave whistles on his chair and make sure he has the coaching uniform when going to practice."

Even the real coach appreciates Albright's work.

"Every day he helps out with the young guys in our locker room because of his experiences in the World Cups and the Olympics. He has been in this league a long time, and he is very valuable to us," Union team manager John Hackworth said.

Albright, who played two years at the University of Virginia, began his MLS career in 1999 with D.C. United.

"I was in the league as a . . . 20-year-old, sort of out on my own for the first time, and the league has come a long way," he said. "I remember guys who were picking me up and helping me understand it's a career and a job. And now I am trying to impart some of that and my experiences on the field to my teammates."

This is such a young Union team that even somebody like 23-year-old Freddy Adu, who began his MLS career at 14, is considered one of the more seasoned veterans. Yet even an "old" youngster such as Adu is impressed by Albright.

"The way he talks to guys, the way he trains and leads by example, the younger guys really have followed him," Adu said.

Albright said he is taking things year to year and hasn't decided whether he will keep playing. He said he would like to stay in the game in some capacity.

It seems that such a positive influence with a wealth of experience would be a welcome addition to any organization.