Real Salt Lake

**History** edit **Early years (2005–2008)** edit Robbie Russell (in red) playing for Real Salt Lake Real Salt Lake became the twelfth MLS team when Major League Soccer awarded an expansion franchise on July 14, 2004, to SCP Worldwide, headed by Dave Checketts. United States U-17's coach John Ellinger was named as the initial manager of the club, with forward Jason Kreis becoming the club's first player. RSL began play on April 2, 2005, in a match against the MetroStars at Giants Stadium that ended as a scoreless draw; Kreis would score the team's first ever goal the following game on the road against the LA Galaxy. The club's first ever home match, and victory, would occur on April 16 in front of 25,287 fans at Rice-Eccles Stadium, with defender Brian Dunseth securing a victory over Rocky Mountain Cup rival Colorado Rapids. However, both the 2005 and 2006 seasons would prove to be relative disappointments for the club. Despite strong performances from key players Kreis, Eddie Pope, Andy Williams, and Jeff Cunningham, RSL would embark on a 10-game losing streak in the former and an 18-game winless run in the latter, finishing each season among the worst teams in the league. The 2007 season began with the club making moves for veteran talent to build around, most notably bringing in goalkeeper Nick Rimando and midfielder Kyle Beckerman pre-season. However, following continued poor form, Ellinger was fired in May and unexpectedly replaced as head coach by Kreis, who immediately retired as a player to take the role. The 2008 season saw the club begin to achieve successes, finishing with an even record and qualifying for the MLS Playoffs for the first time. The season additionally saw the opening of America First Field, a soccer-specific stadium for the club in Sandy. The club advanced past Chivas USA in the first round of the playoffs before losing to the New York Red Bulls in the Western Conference final. **MLS and CONCACAF success (2009–2012)** edit The 2009 season saw the club post a near-perfect home record to propel itself into a playoff-qualification battle, won on the final day against the Colorado Rapids. Seeded as the lowest Eastern Conference team (due to the playoff format of the time), RSL progressed through the playoffs to the 2009 MLS Cup, where they defeated the LA Galaxy in a penalty shootout to win their first championship. As defending champions, RSL proved to have its best season to date in 2010, posting a 25-game unbeaten streak and home and zero losses at home on the way to a second-place finish in the MLS Supporters Shield standings. Rimando finished as the league's best goalkeeper, with Olave named as MLS Defender of the Year and newly acquired forward Álvaro Saborío establishing himself as a primary goal scorer. The group stages of the Champions League saw the club finish first. The remainder of the 2011 season saw an end to the home unbeaten streak at 29 games, but successful re-qualifications to both the playoffs and CONCACAF Champions League. This was followed by a second-place Western Conference finish in 2012, as well as a group-stage elimination in the 2012-13 CONCACAF Champions League. **Hansen ownership (2013–2021)** edit In 2013, Checketts sold his stake in the club to minority owner Dell Loy Hansen. The season saw the departure of key players Olave, Espindola, and Johnson; however, the club garnered another second place Western Conference finish, as well as trips to both the 2013 MLS Cup and 2013 U.S. Open Cup final, where the team lost to Sporting Kansas City and D.C. United, respectively. Following the season, Kreis left the club to coach expansion side New York City FC, with assistant coach Jeff Cassar replacing him; despite this, the club finished with a then-high points total of 56 points in 2014, qualifying for CONCACAF before being eliminated early in the playoffs. 2015 saw the departures of Borchers and Saborío, which led to the team failing to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 2007. A push to the quarterfinals of the 2015-16 CONCACAF Champions League helped contribute to a stronger 2016 season and brief return to the playoffs. However, this season saw even further departures, with Morales and Olave leaving the club following 2016. A poor start to the 2017 season saw Cassar dismissed as head coach, with Mike Petke taking over the position in April – however, despite a late-season run, the team failed to make the playoffs. 2018 saw improvements on the field, as the club finished sixth in the conference led by strong performances from Albert Rusnák and Damir Kreilach. However, the season was primarily focused on the opening of the Real Academy and Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman, which provided a new home for the club, the NWSL's Utah Royals FC, reserve side Real Monarchs, and the club's youth academies. 2019 saw the final seasons of both Rimando and long-time defender Tony Beltran. Both retired at the end of the season. The club also saw the dismissal of head coach Petke on August 11, following an incident with match officials during the 2019 Leagues Cup. Initially named interim manager for the remainder of the season, assistant coach Freddy Juarez was eventually named as head coach following the season. The 2020 season, significantly shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic, nonetheless saw announcement that Hansen would sell his stakes in Real Salt Lake, Utah Royals FC, and Real Monarchs following controversy over his past use of racist language. Additionally, long-time club captain – and final remaining member of the 2009 MLS Cup winning side – Beckerman retired following the season's end, having played more regular season games than any outfield player in MLS history. **Blitzer and Smith ownership (2022–2025)** edit RSL began the 2021 season with no defined ownership, with MLS controlling the process of sale to new ownership. Despite a relatively strong start to the season, Juarez unexpectedly left as head coach on August 27 to become an assistant coach with Seattle Sounders FC, leaving his own assistant Pablo Mastroeni to see out the season as interim. Under Mastroeni, the team made a late-season push to the playoffs, qualifying on the final day of the season through a stoppage-time goal by Kreilach to give RSL a win over Sporting Kansas City. Despite barely qualifying, the team progressed to the conference finals for the first time since 2013 before being defeated by the Portland Timbers. This success led to Mastroeni being named permanent head coach following the season. Prior to the 2022 season, the franchise was acquired by sports team investors Ryan Smith and David Blitzer. **Miller ownership (2025–present)** edit On April 18, 2025, Miller Sports + Entertainment, led by former Utah Jazz owner Gail Miller, acquired a controlling interest in the franchise for $600 million, with Blitzer remaining as a minority owner. - ^ Dicker, Ron (April 3, 2005). "On a Night Unfit for Scoring, the MetroStars Slog to a tie". The New York Times. - ^ Dan Rasmussen (October 5, 2008). "Real Salt Lake: Things have changed a lot since '05 opener". DeseretNews.com. Archived from the original on January 17, 2010. Retrieved February 21, 2015. - ^ Hackett, Tom (December 9, 2020). "Real Salt Lake Trio Honored As Top 25 Greatest Players In MLS History". KSL Sports. Retrieved April 14, 2025. - ^ KSL.com (May 23, 2007). "RSL Trades Jeff Cunningham to Toronto". www.ksl.com. Retrieved April 14, 2025. - ^ James Edward (August 8, 2007). "'Tireless' Ellinger setting sails". DeseretNews.com. Archived from the original on October 23, 2012. Retrieved February 21, 2015. - ^ "Winless RSL has coaching shake up". ESPN. September 1, 2011. Archived from the original on October 23, 2012. Retrieved September 1, 2011. - ^ "2009 Real Salt Lake Stats, All Competitions". FBref.com. Retrieved April 14, 2025. - ^ James Edward (October 25, 2009). "Real Salt Lake: Believe it! RSL earns playoff spot". DeseretNews.com. Archived from the original on October 29, 2009. Retrieved February 21, 2015. - ^ "Salt Lake beat L.A. Galaxy to MLS title". ESPN. November 23, 2009. Archived from the original on October 20, 2012. Retrieved November 23, 2009. - ^ "RSL Notes & Quotes – RSL 2 : 0 FCD". Real Salt Lake. Archived from the original on July 15, 2011. Retrieved February 21, 2015. - ^ Lewis, Michael C. (October 20, 2010). "Brazilian's two goals propel RSL over Cruz Azul". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved November 19, 2015. - ^ "Real Salt Lake, Club World Champions?". usdish.com. Retrieved April 26, 2011. - ^ "CCL Recap: Herediano hold RSL 0–0, dash CCL dream". MLSsoccer.com. Archived from the original on November 11, 2012. Retrieved February 21, 2015. - ^ Nicholas Rosano (January 24, 2013). "Dell Loy Hansen acquires full ownership of Real Salt Lake". Archived from the original on April 7, 2013. Retrieved April 14, 2013. - ^ Michael Black (February 27, 2013). "2013 Real Salt Lake Preview: Revamp–not overhaul–should keep RSL in the hunt". Archived from the original on June 2, 2013. Retrieved April 14, 2013. - ^ "Jason Kreis steps down as head coach of Real Salt Lake, will take top job at New York City FC". MLSsoccer.com. Archived from the original on December 13, 2013. Retrieved February 21, 2015. - ^ "Real Salt Lake promote longtime assistant Jeff Cassar to replace departed head coach Jason Kreis". MLSsoccer.com. Archived from the original on January 20, 2014. Retrieved February 21, 2015. - ^ Kamrani, Chris (December 8, 2014). "Done deal: RSL trades Nat Borchers to Portland in exchange for allocation money". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved November 19, 2015. - ^ Kamrani, Christopher (July 16, 2015). "Real Salt Lake: RSL trades Alvaro Saborio for D.C. United midfielder Luis Silva (with video)". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved November 19, 2015. - ^ "Real Salt Lake Exercises Options on Five Players". Real Salt Lake. November 30, 2016. Retrieved March 30, 2017. - ^ "Real Salt Lake Dismisses Head Coach Jeff Cassar". Real Salt Lake. March 20, 2017. Retrieved March 21, 2017. - ^ "Real Salt Lake promote Mike Petke to Head Coach". Real Salt Lake. March 29, 2017. Retrieved March 30, 2017. - ^ Lee, Maddie (February 28, 2018). "MLS commissioner says Real Salt Lake's new facility enables the league to recruit, develop world's top talent". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved August 22, 2018. - ^ "RSL coach hopes COVID-19 cases slow before MLS tournament start in Florida". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved July 3, 2020. - ^ "RSL Manager Freddy Juarez Eager To Begin Orlando Tournament Preparations". KSL Sports. June 10, 2020. Retrieved July 3, 2020. - ^ Carlisle, Jeff (August 30, 2020). "Dell Loy Hansen to sell Real Salt Lake, Utah Royals". ESPN. Retrieved August 30, 2020. - ^ RSL Communications (December 21, 2020). "Real Salt Lake Icon Kyle Beckerman Announces His Retirement". RSL.com. Real Salt Lake. Retrieved December 9, 2021. - ^ Vejar, Alex (January 7, 2021). "MLS to take over sale process of RSL on Friday". Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved January 8, 2021. - ^ MLSSoccer.com staff (August 27, 2021). "Real Salt Lake, head coach Freddy Juarez part ways midseason". MLSSoccer.com. MLSSoccer.com. Retrieved December 9, 2021. - ^ Dylan Butler (November 8, 2021). "Recap: Sporting Kansas City 0, Real Salt Lake 1". MLSSoccer.com. MLSSoccer.com. Retrieved December 9, 2021. - ^ MLSSoccer.com staff (December 13, 2021). "Real Salt Lake name Pablo Mastroeni permanent head coach". MLSSoccer.com. MLSSoccer.com. Retrieved December 13, 2021. - ^ "David Blitzer & Smith Entertainment Group to Purchase Real Salt Lake". RSL.com. MLS Digital. January 5, 2022. Retrieved January 11, 2022. - ^ Stejskal, Sam; Tenorio, Paul (January 5, 2022). "David Blitzer group finalizes RSL purchase; Details on Lorenzo Insigne's Toronto FC salary: MLS Notebook". TheAthletic.com. Retrieved January 11, 2022. - ^ Novy-Williams, Eben (April 18, 2025). "Miller Family Buying Real Salt Lake, Utah Royals From Blitzer". Sportico. Retrieved April 20, 2025.