SANDY, UTAH (Wednesday, December 17, 2014) – Real Salt Lake announced today club icons MF Kyle Beckerman and GK Nick Rimando had signed multi-year contract extensions, keeping the cornerstones of the franchise in Claret and Cobalt. The contract extensions come on the heels of a banner year for both men, as they both went with the U.S. National Team to the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil and had standout seasons for Real Salt Lake in helping the club reach the playoffs for a seventh consecutive season. Per league and club policy, financial terms of the deal will not be announced.
“Both personally and professionally, I’m extremely excited that our club has chosen to reward both Kyle and Nick for not only their incredible 2014 seasons for club and country, but their years of service here in Utah” said RSL Head Coach Jeff Cassar. “But it’s important to note that these moves also signal our appreciation for everything they’ve done to build this club, this league, this sport. They are the iconic faces of Real Salt Lake, they continue to play at Best XI-caliber levels – which will be extremely important as we head into CONCACAF in 2015 and deal with an extremely difficult Western Conference – and we are excited for them to lead us into the second decade of RSL.”
Both Beckerman and Rimando came to Real Salt Lake in 2007 and have been pivotal figures in leading the Claret-and-Cobalt to the playoffs in seven consecutive seasons. They won MLS Cup together in 2009 and reached another MLS Cup final in 2013. In addition, they also led RSL to the 2011 CONCACAF Champions League final and the 2013 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup final.
Beckerman just completed his eighth season with Real Salt Lake in 2014 and 15th season in Major League Soccer. He ranks fifth on the league’s all-time appearances list with 353 career games played, putting him third among field players. He has 35 goals and 46 assists in that time and is an eight-time MLS All-Star selection.
In eight seasons with the Claret-and-Cobalt, Beckerman ranks second with 205 career appearances, registering 24 goals and 30 assists while serving as Captain since the 2008 season. He had three goals and three assists in 2014, playing in 28 matches – missing six matches while with the U.S. National Team for World Cup duty.
With the National Team, Beckerman started in eight of his nine appearances in 2014, including three starts in the Group Stage of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, helping the U.S. through to the Round of 16 for the second consecutive World Cup tournament. He now has 42 career appearances for the Stars and Stripes.
The 32-year-old midfielder from Crofton, Maryland, came to Real Salt Lake in a midseason trade with the Colorado Rapids in 2007. He started his MLS career with the Miami Fusion in 2000, playing two seasons in Florida before the team folded. He subsequently played with the Rapids from 2002-2007 before landing with RSL.
“We’ve had something special in Salt Lake over the last eight seasons. I’m excited for what is still to come for the club and I’m happy that I will be a part of the team, the community and the organization for years to come,” said Beckerman.
Rimando is the all-time MLS leader with 115 career shutouts, earning the record-breaking clean sheet on August 9, 2014, in a 3-0 victory over his former club, D.C. United. He ranks third on the league’s all-time appearances list with 370 career games played, ranking second among goalkeepers. In 15 seasons, he has posted a 164-122-84 record with a 1.18 goals against average. He ranks second on the all-time wins list and third in goals against average for goalkeepers with at least 150 career starts.
In eight seasons with Real Salt Lake he has a 98-70-57 record with 79 shutouts in a club-record 225 career starts. In 2014, Rimando posted a league-best 1.04 goals against average while going 13-4-7 with seven shutouts in 24 starts. He finished second in MLS Goalkeeper of the Year voting.
He was included on the U.S. World Cup roster and was a regular in camps throughout the year. He now has 16 career caps after starting in three of his four appearances in 2014 for the U.S. National Team.
The 35-year-old goalkeeper from Montclair, California, started his professional career with Miami in 2000 after a successful college career with the UCLA Bruins. After the Fusion folded, Rimando went to D.C. United, where he played from 2002-2007, winning MLS Cup in 2004. He came to RSL in a trade with D.C. United in December of 2006, but later was traded to the New York Red Bulls in February of 2007, only to be reacquired by RSL two weeks later.
“I’m excited to continue my career at RSL, I’ve had a lot of great memories here on and off the field and looking forward to many more starting with CONCACAF next year,” Rimando said. “I lived my dream in 2014 and I look forward to the opportunity to bring more great memories at Rio Tinto Stadium for my family, the fans and the club.”
Player: Kyle Beckerman
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 165 lbs.
Date of Birth: April 23, 1982
Birthplace: Crofton, Maryland
Citizenship: USA
Previous Club: Colorado Rapids
How acquired: Traded from the Rapids for Mehdi Ballouchy on July 16, 2007.
Player: Nick Rimando
Position: Defender
Height: 5-foot-9
Weight: 184 lbs.
Date of Birth: June 17, 1979
Birthplace: Montclair, California
Citizenship: USA
Previous Club: New York Red Bulls
How acquired: Traded from the Red Bulls for a fourth round pick in the 2008 MLS SuperDraft and fourth round pick in the 2009 MLS Supplemental Draft.
