Real Salt Lake facts for kids
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| Nickname(s) | Claret and Cobalt | |||
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| Short name | RSL | |||
| Founded | July 14, 2004 | |||
| Stadium | America First Field Sandy, Utah |
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| Stadium capacity |
20,213 | |||
| Owners | Gail Miller (majority) David Blitzer (minority) |
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| Head coach | Pablo Mastroeni | |||
| League | Major League Soccer | |||
| 2024 |
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Real Salt Lake (often called RSL) is a professional soccer team from the Salt Lake City metropolitan area in the United States. They play in Major League Soccer (MLS) as part of the Western Conference. The team started in 2004 and began playing games in 2005.
RSL plays its home games at America First Field. This stadium is made just for soccer and is located in Sandy, Utah. Before moving to America First Field, RSL played at Rice-Eccles Stadium from 2005 to 2007. The team's head coach is currently Pablo Mastroeni.
Real Salt Lake has won the 2009 MLS Cup, which is a big championship in American soccer. They also finished second in other important tournaments, like the Supporters Shield in 2010 and both the U.S. Open Cup and MLS Cup in 2013. They were also the first American club to reach the finals of the 2010-11 CONCACAF Champions League. Their related team, Real Monarchs, won the USL Championship in 2019.
Contents
What's in a Name?
The name Real comes from the Spanish language. It means "royal" in English. Many Spanish soccer clubs have used this name after getting support from a king or queen. Famous examples include Real Madrid.
When the team was first named, the owner, Dave Checketts, wanted a simple name. He also hoped to create a partnership with Real Madrid. This was because Real Madrid is a very successful soccer club and also has ties to basketball, which was similar to Checketts' own history with the Utah Jazz basketball team.
At first, some people in Salt Lake City didn't like the name. They thought it sounded made up. Other names like "Highlanders" or "Salt Lake SC" were suggested. However, over time, the name Real Salt Lake became well-known and represented the community.
Team History
Starting Out (2005–2008)
Real Salt Lake became the 12th team in MLS on July 14, 2004. John Ellinger was the first coach, and Jason Kreis was the first player. RSL played its first game on April 2, 2005, which ended in a tie. Kreis scored the team's first goal in the next game.
The team's first home game and first win happened on April 16, 2005. They won against their rival, the Colorado Rapids. However, the 2005 and 2006 seasons were tough for the team. Even with good players like Kreis and Eddie Pope, RSL had long losing streaks. They finished near the bottom of the league.
In 2007, the team brought in new players like goalkeeper Nick Rimando and midfielder Kyle Beckerman. But after more poor results, coach Ellinger was replaced by Jason Kreis, who stopped playing to become the coach.
The 2008 season was better. RSL had an even record and made it to the MLS Playoffs for the first time. This season also saw the opening of America First Field, their new soccer stadium in Sandy. They did well in the playoffs but lost in the Western Conference final.
Big Wins and Success (2009–2012)
In 2009, RSL had a great home record, which helped them get into the playoffs. They were the lowest-ranked team from the Eastern Conference (because of how the playoffs were set up then). But they surprised everyone by winning the 2009 MLS Cup against the LA Galaxy in a penalty shootout. This was their first championship!
As champions, RSL had its best season ever in 2010. They went 25 games without losing and didn't lose any games at home. They finished second in the Supporters Shield standings. Rimando was named the best goalkeeper, and Álvaro Saborío became a top goal scorer. They also did well in the CONCACAF Champions League.
In 2011, RSL became the first MLS team to reach the 2011 CONCACAF Champions League final. They played against C.F. Monterrey from Mexico. After a tie in the first game, Monterrey won the second game 1-0 in Utah.
The team continued to do well in 2011 and 2012, making it to the playoffs and qualifying for the CONCACAF Champions League again.
New Owners and Changes (2013–2021)
In 2013, the team's owner, Dave Checketts, sold his share to Dell Loy Hansen. Some key players left the team that year. Still, RSL finished second in their conference and reached the finals of both the 2013 MLS Cup and the 2013 U.S. Open Cup final. They lost both finals. After this, coach Jason Kreis left to coach a new team, and Jeff Cassar took over.
In 2015, more important players left, and the team missed the playoffs for the first time since 2007. They had a better season in 2016 and returned to the playoffs briefly.
In 2017, Cassar was replaced by Mike Petke as head coach. The team improved but still missed the playoffs. In 2018, RSL got better on the field. This year also saw the opening of the Real Academy and Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman, Utah. This new facility became home for RSL's related teams, Utah Royals FC and Real Monarchs, and their youth academies.
In 2019, long-time players Nick Rimando and Tony Beltran retired. Coach Petke was dismissed in August, and assistant coach Freddy Juarez became the new head coach.
The 2020 season was shorter because of the COVID-19 pandemic. During this time, it was announced that Dell Loy Hansen would sell his ownership of Real Salt Lake and its related teams. Also, Kyle Beckerman, who was the team captain and the last player from the 2009 championship team, retired. He played more regular season games than any other outfield player in MLS history.
New Leadership (2022–Present)
In 2021, MLS managed the team while new owners were found. Coach Juarez left in August, and Pablo Mastroeni became the interim coach. Under Mastroeni, the team made a strong push and qualified for the playoffs on the very last day of the season. They reached the conference finals before being defeated. Because of this success, Mastroeni was named the permanent head coach.
Before the 2022 season, investors Ryan Smith and David Blitzer bought the team.
On April 18, 2025, Miller Sports + Entertainment, led by Gail Miller, bought a majority share of the team. David Blitzer remained a minority owner.
Team Colors and Badge
Real Salt Lake's team colors are claret red, cobalt blue, and real gold.
Uniforms Over the Years
The team has had different home, away, and special uniforms throughout its history.
- Home Uniforms
         2005
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     2006–07
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    2008–09
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    2010–11
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    2012–13
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    2014–15
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     2016–17
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  2018–19
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    2020–21
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     2022–23
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- Away Uniforms
    2005
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     2006–07
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    2008–09
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     2010–11
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    2012–14
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     2015–16
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   2017–18
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     2019–20
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     2021–22
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    2023–24
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- Third/Special Uniforms
   2008
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     2010–11
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     2018
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Home Stadium
Real Salt Lake plays its home games at America First Field in Sandy, Utah. This stadium can hold 20,213 fans. Before this, they played at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City from 2005 to 2008.
Building the new stadium was a big project. At first, some local groups voted against it. The team's owner even said he might sell the team and move it out of Utah. But then, the State Senate and House approved a plan to help fund the stadium. The governor signed the bill, and the $110 million stadium was built.
The stadium opened on October 9, 2008. It was first named Rio Tinto Stadium after its sponsor. In September 2022, it was renamed America First Field as part of a new sponsorship deal.
Team Culture
Team Rivalries
Real Salt Lake has a main rivalry with the Colorado Rapids. These two teams are the closest geographically and play each year for the Rocky Mountain Cup.
Another strong rivalry is with Sporting Kansas City. This rivalry started with a fight during a preseason game in 2011 and grew when the teams met in the MLS Cup 2013 final. They often play against each other in the Western Conference.
RSL also has smaller rivalries with the LA Galaxy, Los Angeles FC, and Seattle Sounders FC. The rivalry with Seattle grew from playoff games and when some RSL staff and players moved to Seattle.
Fan Groups
Real Salt Lake has several official fan groups. These include Salt City United, Rogue Cavaliers Brigade, Section 26, Riot Brigade, La Barra Real, Section 11 ("The Swarm"), and Los Caballeros Reales. All these groups are part of a larger group called The Riot.
The team's official mascot is Leo the Lion.
Team Song
In 2011, Branden Steineckert, a drummer for the band Rancid and an RSL fan, wrote a song called "Believe" for the club. This song became the team's official anthem. It is sung at the start of every home game, after every goal RSL scores, and at the end of every home game if the team wins.
Team Business
Being a team in a smaller market, Real Salt Lake has worked hard to bring in enough money to compete. Opening America First Field in 2008 helped a lot. The number of season ticket holders grew from 4,000 before 2008 to over 15,000 by 2016.
Sponsors
Real Salt Lake has a long-term sponsorship deal with Intermountain Health. They also had past deals with LifeVantage and XanGo. Other sponsors include JetBlue Airways, Ford, and Zions Bank.
Broadcasting Games
Sinclair Broadcast Group used to show Real Salt Lake games that were not on national TV. Their station KMYU was the main channel for the team's games. In 2018, the team also started a partnership with KSL-TV to stream games online. This allowed fans to watch RSL games, and games for their former sister club Utah Royals FC and reserve club Real Monarchs, online.
Players and Staff
Current Roster
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Players on Loan
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Coaches and Staff
| Job Title | Name |
|---|---|
| President | John Kimball |
| Sporting Director/CSO | Kurt Schmid |
| General manager | Vacant |
| Assistant general manager | Tony Beltran |
| Club Operations | Jason Kreis |
| Head coach | Pablo Mastroeni |
| Assistant coach | Jámison Olave |
| Assistant coach | Anthony Pulis |
| Assistant coach | Nate Miller |
| Goalkeeping coach | Mirza Harambašić |
| Performance Coach | Sean Buckley |
| Director of video analysis | Rob Rogers |
| Director of athletic performance | Theron Enns |
| Director of team administration | Chase Rusden |
| Team administrator | Rory James |
| Player care manager | Christian Peters |
| Head athletic trainer | Jacob Joachim |
| Assistant athletic trainer | Luke Cantin |
| Equipment manager | Benjamin Chavez |
Last updated: January 6, 2024
Source: Real Salt Lake
Retired Jersey Numbers
| Number | Player | Position | Country | Years Played | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Jason Kreis | Forward |  United States |
2005–2007 | |
| 11 | Javier Morales | Midfielder |  Argentina |
2007–2016 |
While Jason Kreis's number 9 and Javier Morales's number 11 were "retired," the club decided to let players wear them again. However, their names and numbers are still honored and displayed at America First Field.
Team Captains
| Country | Name | Years as Captain |
|---|---|---|
| United States |
Jason Kreis | 2005–2007 |
| United States |
Eddie Pope | 2007 |
| United States |
Kyle Beckerman | 2008–2020 |
 Slovakia |
Albert Rusnák | 2021 |
 Croatia |
Damir Kreilach | 2022–2023 |
 Colombia |
Chicho Arango | 2024 |
| United States |
Emeka Eneli | 2025–present |
Head Coaches
| Head Coach | Years | Games | Wins | Losses | Ties | Win % | Playoffs | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Ellinger |
2005 – 2007 | 71 | 16 | 39 | 16 | 33.8% | 0/2 | First head coach |
| Jason Kreis |
2007 – 2013 | 261 | 112 | 85 | 64 | 55.2% | 6/7 | Won first championship |
| Jeff Cassar |
2013 – 2017 | 121 | 45 | 43 | 33 | 50.8% | 2/3 | |
| Daryl Shore |
2017 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 25.0% | 0/0 | Interim coach |
| Mike Petke |
2017 – 2019 | 91 | 37 | 39 | 15 | 48.9% | 1/2 | |
| Freddy Juarez |
2019 – 2021 | 55 | 18 | 14 | 23 | 53.6% | 1/2 | Interim until December 2019 |
| Pablo Mastroeni |
2021 – present | 149 | 61 | 57 | 31 | 51.3% | 4/4 | Interim until December 2021 |
Team Achievements
| National Titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Competitions | Titles | Season |
| MLS Cup | 1 | 2009 |
| Western Conference (Playoffs) | 1 | 2013 |
| Eastern Conference (Playoffs) | 1 | 2009 |
Associated Teams
Real Salt Lake has other teams connected to it:
- Real Monarchs SLC: This is the reserve team, created in 2014. It helps younger players develop and move up to the main team. They play in the USL Championship, a lower league.
- Real Salt Lake Women: This women's soccer team started in 2008. They play in United Women's Soccer, which is the second level of women's soccer in the U.S. and Canada.
- Utah Royals FC: In 2017, Real Salt Lake added a top-level women's team in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). This team also shares America First Field.
Player Records
These records are for regular season games only. Players in bold are still playing for Real Salt Lake.
Top Goal Scorers
| Rank | Player | Goals | Games Played | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Álvaro Saborío |
63 | 127 | 2010–2015 |
| 2 | Javier Morales |
49 | 240 | 2007–2016 |
| 3 | Damir Kreilach |
47 | 151 | 2018–2023 |
| 4 |  Joao Plata |
46 | 175 | 2013–2019 |
| 5 | Albert Rusnák |
41 | 140 | 2017–2021 |
Most Assists
| Rank | Player | Assists | Games Played | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Javier Morales |
81 | 240 | 2007–2016 |
| 2 | Joao Plata |
43 | 175 | 2013–2019 |
| 3 | Albert Rusnák |
39 | 140 | 2017–2021 |
| Kyle Beckerman |
39 | 350 | 2007–2020 | |
| 5 |  Jefferson Savarino |
33 | 125 | 2017–2019, 2022–2024 |
Most Games Played
| Rank | Player | Games Played | Goals | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nick Rimando |
369 | 0 | 2007–2019 |
| 2 | Kyle Beckerman |
350 | 30 | 2007–2020 |
| 3 | Chris Wingert |
247 | 2 | 2007–2014, 2016–2017 |
| 4 | Tony Beltran |
245 | 1 | 2008–2019 |
| 5 | Justen Glad |
241 | 13 | 2013–present |
Most Shutouts (Goalkeepers)
| Rank | Player | Shutouts | Games Played | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nick Rimando |
118 | 369 | 2007–2019 |
| 2 | Zac MacMath |
30 | 98 | 2020–present |
| 3 | Andrew Putna |
6 | 22 | 2018–2021 |
| 4 |  David Ochoa |
5 | 26 | 2019–2022 |
| Jeff Attinella |
5 | 29 | 2013–2016 |
Hat Tricks (3 Goals in One Game)
| Player | Date | Opponent | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jason Kreis |
July 13, 2005 | Minnesota Thunder | L 4–6 | Open Cup |
| Robbie Findley |
April 2, 2009 | Columbus Crew | W 4–1 | MLS |
| Álvaro Saborío |
July 7, 2012 | Portland Timbers | W 3–0 | |
| September 29, 2012 | Chivas USA | W 4–0 | ||
| July 27, 2013 | New York Red Bulls | L 3–4 | ||
| Javier Morales |
May 11, 2014 | Houston Dynamo | W 5–2 | |
| Damir Kreilach |
September 1, 2018 | LA Galaxy | W 6–2 | |
| Chicho Arango |
March 30, 2024 | St. Louis City SC | W 3–1 | |
| June 1, 2024 | Austin FC | W 5–1 |
Player Awards
MLS All-Star Appearances
Players in bold currently play for Real Salt Lake.
| Appearances | Player | Country | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Kyle Beckerman | |
2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016 |
| 7 | Nick Rimando | |
2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2019 |
| 3 | Jamison Olave | |
2010, 2011, 2012 |
| 2 | Tony Beltran | |
2013, 2015 |
| Javier Morales | |
2009, 2010 | |
| Eddie Pope | |
2005, 2007 | |
| 1 | Chicho Arango | |
2024 |
| Fabián Espíndola | |
2012 | |
| Justen Glad | |
2024 | |
| Will Johnson |  |
2009 | |
| Damir Kreilach | |
2021 | |
| Diego Luna | |
2024, 2025 |
Major League Soccer Awards
These awards were given to Real Salt Lake players by Major League Soccer.
| Season | Award | Player(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | MLS Best XI | Jeff Cunningham |
| MLS Golden Boot | ||
| 2009 | MLS Cup Most Valuable Player | Nick Rimando |
| 2010 | MLS Best XI | Nat Borchers, Jámison Olave, Javier Morales |
| MLS Defender of the Year | Jámison Olave |
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| MLS Newcomer of the Year | Álvaro Saborío |
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| 2011 | MLS Best XI | Jámison Olave |
| 2018 | MLS Rookie of the Year | Corey Baird |
| 2024 | MLS Young Player of the Year | Diego Luna |
Team Awards
These awards are voted on by RSL players at the end of each season.
Team MVP
| Season | Player |
|---|---|
| 2005 |  Andy Williams |
| 2006 | Jeff Cunningham |
| 2007 | Nick Rimando |
| 2008 | Javier Morales |
| 2009 | Nat Borchers |
| 2010 | Javier Morales (2) |
| 2011 | Kyle Beckerman |
| 2012 | Kyle Beckerman (2) |
| 2013 | Kyle Beckerman (3) |
| 2014 | Joao Plata |
| 2015 | Javier Morales (3) |
| 2016 | Kyle Beckerman (4) |
| 2017 | Albert Rusnák |
| 2018 | Damir Kreilach |
| 2019 |  Everton Luiz |
| 2020 | Damir Kreilach (2) |
| 2021 | Damir Kreilach (3) |
| 2022 | Justen Glad |
| 2023 | Pablo Ruiz |
| 2024 | Emeka Eneli |
Golden Boot (Top Scorer)
| Season | Player | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Jason Kreis |
9 |
| 2006 | Jeff Cunningham |
16 |
| 2007 | Robbie Findley |
6 |
| 2008 |  Yura Movsisyan |
8 |
| 2009 | Robbie Findley (2) |
12 |
| 2010 | Álvaro Saborío |
12 |
| 2011 | Álvaro Saborío (2) |
11 |
| 2012 | Álvaro Saborío (3) |
17 |
| 2013 | Álvaro Saborío (4) |
12 |
| 2014 | Joao Plata |
13 |
| 2015 | Javier Morales |
8 |
| 2016 | Joao Plata (2) |
9 |
| 2017 | Albert Rusnák |
7 |
| 2018 | Damir Kreilach |
12 |
| 2019 | Albert Rusnák (2) |
7 |
| 2020 | Damir Kreilach (2) |
8 |
| 2021 | Damir Kreilach (3) |
16 |
| 2022 | Sergio Córdova |
9 |
| 2023 | Jefferson Savarino |
7 |
| 2024 | Chicho Arango |
17 |
Defensive Player of the Year
| Season | Player |
|---|---|
| 2005 | Eddie Pope |
| 2006 | Carey Talley |
| 2007 | Eddie Pope (2) |
| 2008 | Nat Borchers |
| 2009 | Jámison Olave |
| 2010 | Nat Borchers (2) |
| 2011 | Nat Borchers (3) |
| 2012 | Nick Rimando |
| 2013 | Nick Rimando (2) |
| 2014 | Chris Schuler |
| 2015 | Aaron Maund |
| 2016 | Justen Glad |
| 2017 | Justen Glad (2) |
| 2018 | Brooks Lennon |
| 2019 |  Aaron Herrera |
| 2020 | Aaron Herrera (2) |
| 2021 | Aaron Herrera (3) |
| 2022 | Andrew Brody |
| 2023 | Brayan Vera |
| 2024 | Justen Glad (3) |
See also
In Spanish: Real Salt Lake para niños
