Jason Kreis Will Interview With RSL This Week
Nov 5, 2019, 1:31 PM | Updated: 2:10 pm
SANDY, UT - Real Salt Lake President of Soccer Operations Jason Kreis. (Photo by George Frey/Getty Images)
(Photo by George Frey/Getty Images)
SANDY, Utah – Former RSL legend and head coach Jason Kreis will interview for the vacant head coaching and general manager jobs this week, according to a spokesperson from RSL.
Conversations between both parties started when Kreis was in town to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of the 2009 MLS Cup-winning team.
Interim general manager, Elliot Fall, initiated the conversation in Park City, where Kreis was staying over the weekend.
Welcome home boys 👏 pic.twitter.com/6YostLrkWP
— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) September 26, 2019
History With RSL
On November 17, 2004, Kreis was traded to Real Salt Lake from the then Dallas Burn and became the first player in club history. At the time, RSL was just an expansion club, their inaugural season came in 2005.
Kreis scored the first goal in club history during their second match against the LA Galaxy. RSL would eventually lose that game 3-1.
Strangely enough, Kreis also scored the first goal in club history for his previous club, the Dallas Burn.
Kreis would later set the foundations for what RSL would eventually become. He became the first player in MLS history to score 100 career league goals, much to the surprise of many MLS fans.
On May 3, 2007, Kreis announced his retirement from professional soccer, only to be named the head coach of Real Salt Lake.
This is when Kreis’s legacy at the club took off.
𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘀𝘄𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗥𝗶𝗼𝗧 pic.twitter.com/5k3AyfvmVX
— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) October 15, 2019
Under Kreis, RSL would win the 2009 MLS Cup, he is still the youngest MLS coach to ever do so. He guided his team to the MLS Cup final in 2013 as well as the CONCACAF final in 2010.
Kreis holds the record for most wins at the helm having won 112 MLS games, the next closest is Jeff Cassar who was able to notch 45.
If you look into the rafters on the West side of Rio Tinto Stadium, you will see two names plastered into the stands – Jason Kreis and Javier Morales.
Kreis is a beloved hero for RSL fans, and the thought of a return has the faithful salivating.
In what role? Nobody knows, there is a chance he could take over as both head coach and general manager. Although, I have a hard time seeing that as a long term option.
My 18th MLS Preseason Completed! I am hoping this view we were treated to yesterday is a sign of what lies ahead… pic.twitter.com/0M2KySAP0g
— Jason Kreis (@JasonKreis) February 25, 2013
Current Role(s)
Kreis currently works as the USMNT U-23 head coach, where he works alongside the likes of Justen Glad, Aaron Herrera, Sebastian Saucedo, David Ochoa and Brooks Lennon. He also works for expansion club Inter Miami CF as an academy coach.
Kreis’s current work consists of developing young talent within North America. His responsibilities lye with the youth of America; something that may be very appealing to the powers that be at RSL.
What if…
Kreis takes over as GM and head coach for the 2020 season with the promise that Javier Morales, who still needs the correct licensing to become a head coach (he told me that he is a year out), takes over the reins as head coach in 2021.
