RSL Signs Albert Rusnak To Multi-Year Contract

Dec 28, 2018, 12:19 PM | Updated: 12:30 pm

Real Salt Lake midfielder Albert Rusnak (11) scores on a penalty kick against FC Dallas during MLS soccer in Sandy on Saturday, July 7, 2018. (Ravell Call, Deseret News)

(Ravell Call, Deseret News)

BY TREVOR ALLEN, KSL SPORTS

KSL Sports

SANDY, Utah – Real Salt Lake announced that they have signed midfielder Albert Rusnak to a new multi-year contract, keeping the team’s leading scorer over the last two seasons in Utah through the 2021 season.

“I wanted to stay with Real Salt Lake because this is the perfect place to continue to develop as a player. I enjoy working with Mike Petke and want to thank him, Craig Waibel and Dell Loy Hansenfor their support and belief in me,” Rusnák said. “I have really enjoyed playing for Real Salt Lake the last two years and I am now looking forward to us competing and bringing an MLS Cup back to the fans who have given me and my teammates unbelievable support.”

Rusnak has played 61 matches with RSL since joining the club before the 2017 season, he has compiled 17 goals and 21 assists, leading the club in both categories over that span. In 2018, he was second on the team in goals with 10 and fourth with seven assists. During the 2017 campaign, Rusnak earned the club’s Golden Boot and MVP awards after scoring seven goals and dishing out 14 assists – the second-highest assist total in club history.

“Albert is a very important piece on this team long-term. He’s a piece that, among others, we can build around,” Petke said. “He’s a kid that’s extremely talented and he’s not even at his ceiling yet. He has a hunger for knowledge. He wants to know. He asks questions. For me as a coach, those are players that I want to work with.”

He has also scored four goals in 17 appearances for the Slovakian National Team, while making 16 appearances since coming to Utah. Rusnak scored his first international goal on March 22, 2018 against Thailand in the King’s Cup.

Albert Rusnak of Slovakia in action during the FIFA 2018 World Cup Qualifier between England and Slovakia at Wembley Stadium on September 4, 2017 in London, England (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

“It’s not only great for the club to establish and bring in young players, but then to retain young players – and good young players, international young players,” RSL General Manager Craig Waibel said. “This is the basis of who we are. One of the most important things about retaining a guy like Albert is how much respect he has for the club, and how he fits so well with our leadership of Kyle Beckerman and Nick Rimando and the leaders of this organization that have been here forever, will be here forever and whenever they’re not here, their names will be here forever.”

Before signing with RSL, Rusnak spent the previous three seasons with FC Groningen in the first division in Netherlands. He started his senior professional career with England’s Manchester City in 2013.