Real Salt Lake Celebrates Nick Rimando Against D.C. United
Jun 14, 2025, 2:18 PM | Updated: 7:07 pm
SANDY, UT - MARCH 12: Goalie Nick Rimando #18 of Real Salt Lake eyes the ball in the game against Seattle Sounders FC at Rio Tinto Stadium on March 12, 2016 in Sandy, Utah. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images)
(Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images)
SANDY, Utah – Nick Rimando‘s career is nothing short of spectacular for an undersized goalkeeper out of Southern California. After winning a national championship at UCLA, Rimando went on to have the most decorated career in MLS history.
Rimando was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame on Saturday, May 3, 2025, in Frisco, Texas. Real Salt Lake plans to honor Rimando before their game against D.C. United on Saturday, June 13.
Another reminder to get to the stadium early tonight to catch the @NickRimando Ring of Honor reveal at 7:15 pm‼️ pic.twitter.com/lWNTg8tfo9
— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) June 14, 2025
His 20-year Major League Soccer career with three franchises will forever be remembered, as he established himself as the best goalkeeper in MLS history and one of the greatest in American soccer history.
Nick Rimando captures MLS records
Drafted by the Miami Fusion in 2000, Rimando made 47 appearances for the franchise. After Miami folded following the 2001 season, Rimando landed with D.C. United in the MLS Allocation Draft.
RELATED: Rimando Inducted Into National Soccer Hall Of Fame
Safe to say, the rest was history.
Nick Rimando tells the story of how he became a goalkeeper ahead of his Hall of Fame induction this weekend! ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/oTZh55voGk
— National Soccer HOF (@soccerhof) April 28, 2025
He spent four seasons with D.C., making 98 appearances and winning the 2004 MLS Cup title.
Rimando ended up at Real Salt Lake in 2007, and his career skyrocketed.
Thirteen seasons later, Rimando retired with MLS records in appearances (514), minutes (46,336), saves (1,705), wins (223), and clean sheets (153).
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Rimando finds a home with Real Salt Lake
Perhaps one of the most fortunate events in Real Salt Lake history came when Scott Garlick suddenly retired, forcing the club to reacquire Rimando from the New York Red Bulls before the 2007 season.
Playing behind a largely uncompetitive team, Rimando led the league with 146 saves in 27 games. His performance earned RSL’s 2007 MVP and set the stage for what was to come.
Caught up w/ the 🐐 Nick Rimando after @RealMonarchs training yesterday- ahead of his induction into the #RSL Ring of Honor tonight.
His reflections, his legacy, and the italicized WILD way he ended up back at RSL. 🎥👇
ARRIVE EARLY- ceremony starts at 715.
Early Memories: pic.twitter.com/KkGvsaeDnU
— Mattey Casey (@ShinKicker13) June 14, 2025
He earned the first MLS Player of the Month award of his career in July 2008. The club reached the Western Conference finals that season.
Rimando retired with 369 appearances at America First Field, formerly Rio Tinto Stadium, across 13 seasons.
He was named an MLS All-Star eight times and won the league’s Save of the Year thrice.
Nick Rimando brings MLS championship to Utah
In 2009, with Rimando and Co. building around defense, RSL became the first team in MLS history to win the Cup after finishing the regular season with a losing record, (11-12-7)
After slipping into the postseason with the eighth and final spot, RSL marched to the Eastern Conference Final against the Chicago Fire. Rimando kept Chicago scoreless through 120 minutes before stopping three penalty kicks in a 5-4 shootout win.
The MLS title game again came down to a shootout.
RELATED: Rimando Relives The 2009 MLS Cup, Shares Insight With Fans
All-time leader for career wins, appearances, shutouts, saves & minutes. 🙌@NickRimando is one of the greatest players in MLS history. pic.twitter.com/l4Z6GMgrg3
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 21, 2021
Rimando made three PK saves, leading the team past Landon Donovan and the Los Angeles Galaxy. He was named MLS Cup MVP, becoming the second goalkeeper to earn the award (Tony Meola).
Rimando’s extensive national team experience
His first United States Men’s National Team appearance came in 2002 when he took the field in a match against El Salvador.
Rimando went on to play in 22 games for the USMNT. He assisted the team during the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup and was part of the 2014 FIFA World Cup team.
How To Watch Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake hosts D.C. United on Saturday, June 14. Kickoff at America First Field is at 7:30 p.m. MT.
All Major League Soccer games are broadcast on Apple TV with MLS Season Pass.
All Real Salt Lake English-language radio coverage for the 2024 season and beyond will be carried on various KSL radio signals. KSL Sports Zone (97.5 FM/1280 AM) and KSL Newsradio (102.7 FM / 1160 AM) are both stations under the Bonneville International umbrella.
For more Real Salt Lake coverage and analysis, subscribe to The RSL Show and follow them on Instagram.
You can find KSL Sports coverage of Real Salt Lake here.
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Brian Preece is a sports.ksl.com insider covering Locals in MLB and the Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian’s Bees and Beehive baseball here. Find Brian on X, Instagram, and BlueSky at @bpreece24.
