Real Salt Lake Retains Kyle Beckerman For 2020 Season
Jan 20, 2020, 10:18 AM
Real Salt Lake midfielder Kyle Beckerman (5) and Real Salt Lake defender Donny Toia (4) celebrate after RSL defeated Orlando City 2-1 at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy on Saturday, April 13, 2019. (Steve Griffin, Deseret News)
(Steve Griffin, Deseret News)
SANDY, Utah – Real Salt Lake announced that they have retained captain and midfielder Kyle Beckerman for the 2020 season, his 14th with the club and 21st in Major League Soccer.
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The nine-time MLS All-Star and four-time club Most Valuable Player is the league’s all-time leader with 488 games played, 456 games started and 40,772 minutes played among field players.
“Over the last 13 seasons, Utah has been home for me and I’m proud of Real Salt Lake’s role on and off the field in building the soccer community here,” Beckerman said. “The fans have welcomed me from day one and I am eager to get back on the field for another season with RSL because there is still so much more to accomplish. I know I have a role to play in reaching those goals for myself and the club.”
Since arriving in 2007, Beckerman has been instrumental in establishing the club’s identity. During that time, RSL has reached the postseason in 10 of the last 12 seasons, including an MLS Cup in 2009 and a deep run in CONCACAF Champions League and Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
We interrupt your regularly scheduled Monday morning news feed for this important message. pic.twitter.com/psiqV7qQIm
— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) January 20, 2020
“We’re incredibly excited to have Kyle back in 2020,” RSL Head Coach Freddy Juarez said. “He’s so important to us in so many ways as a player, a leader and has been a great representative of our club. Everything that this club has done has happened with him leading the team. He’s always a great leader through both good and bad times and we expect nothing different from him again this year.”
Last season, Beckerman started 25 matches and had 5 assists, the most in a season since 2013.
“Kyle Beckerman is a club legend and an iconic player in the history of this organization and league,” RSL General Manager Elliot Fall said. “We’re thrilled to have him back for 2020. He’s a leader on the field and in the locker room and a special person for this club.”
The 37-year-old midfielder joined RSL in a midseason trade with the Colorado Rapids in 2007. He began his career with the Miami Fusion in 2000, playing two seasons with the club before the team was contracted. Beckerman played for the Rapids from 2002-07 before joining RSL.
