Kyle Beckerman re-ups for 2020, signs new RSL contract

Real Salt Lake has announced the re-signing of club captain Kyle Beckerman for a 14th season with the club in a press release issued this morning.

Beckerman, 37, has gone through a bit of a will-he, won’t-he offseason, with talk of retirement prominent among fans.

His return bolsters a midfield that already contains within it a good number of starting players, and it will be particularly interesting to see whether Beckerman is put directly into starting lineups, or if he’ll be playing a more calculated bench role.

This puts Beckerman as the longest-tenured player on the RSL roster following the retirement of goalkeeper Nick Rimando in the offseason.

In a club-issued release, Beckerman said he he knows he can play a role with the club.

“Over the last 13 seasons, Utah has been home for me and I’m proud of Real Salt Lake’s role on and off the field in building the soccer community here. The fans have welcomed me from day one and I am eager to get back on the field for another season with RSL because there is still so much more to accomplish. I know I have a role to play in reaching those goals for myself and the club.”

From the release, RSL coach Freddy Juarez:

“We’re incredibly excited to have Kyle back in 2020.He’s so important to us in so many ways as a player, a leader and has been a great representative of our club. Everything that this club has done has happened with him leading the team. He’s always a great leader through both good and bad times and we expect nothing different from him again this year.”

RSL general manager Elliot Fall:

“Kyle Beckerman is a club legend and an iconic player in the history of this organization and league. We’re thrilled to have him back for 2020. He’s a leader on the field and in the locker room and a special person for this club.”

RSL’s roster stands as follows, according to the release:

Goalkeepers (3): Zac MacMath, David Ochoa, Andrew Putna

Defenders (7): Justen Glad, Aaron Herrera, Erik Holt, Alvin Jones, Nedum Onuoha, Marcelo Silva, Donny Toia

Midfielders (8): Luis Arriaga, Kyle Beckerman, Nick Besler, Damir Kreilach, Everton Luiz, Justin Portillo, Pablo Ruiz, Albert Rusnák

Forwards (8): Corey Baird, Maikel Chang, Milan Iloski, Sam Johnson, Douglas Martinez, Jefferson Savarino, Tate Schmitt, Julian Vazquez