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Captain Kyle Beckerman has been an influential figure for Real Salt Lake since his arrival in 2007, almost immediately earning the team captaincy in his first full season with the club in 2008.
Beckerman has enjoyed numerous successes since then with an MLS Cup victory in 2009, five consecutive All-Star appearances from 2009-2013, with international honors as well. Winning Man of the Match in the 2013 Gold Cup Final victory against Panama and representing the United States in the 2014 World Cup highlight those honors.
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Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images
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Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images
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Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images For ESPYS
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Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images for New York Red Bulls
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As Beckerman starts to battle Father Time, it brings the question of how many seasons Beckerman has left. Being a holding midfielder is an integral part of any team that requires lots of endurance and stamina, which Beckerman has in spades. But with Beckerman turning 35 years of age in the early stages of the new MLS season, it is hard to see him playing too much longer with the same frequency.
Beckerman had yet to show signs of slowing down appearances-wise in 2016 as he started 27 games. He has been a model of consistency starting at least 20 games in all of his years as a Salt Laker, but after suffering a season that had his lowest statistical output with zero goals and one assist, supporters have to wonder if this goes down to Beckerman’s age, playing in a three-man-midfield or a combination of the two.
In an offseason that brought the end of Javier Morales’ stint in Claret-and-Cobalt, fans will be hoping that Beckerman can lead RSL to at least one more moment of glory before riding off into the sunset.