Real Salt Lake Announces Roster Moves Ahead Of 2021 Season Despite Ownership Uncertainty
Nov 30, 2020, 2:08 PM | Updated: 2:31 pm
Real Salt Lake celebrates a goal by Damir Kreilach #8 during a match against Colorado Rapids in the MLS Is Back Tournament at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex on July 12, 2020 in Reunion, Florida. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
(Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Real Salt Lake has begun rebuilding its roster ahead of the 2021 season with multiple roster decisions being announced today.
Goalkeeper David Ochoa; defenders Justen Glad and Erik Holt; midfielders Everton Luiz and Justin Portillo; and forwards Maikel Chang, Douglas Martinez, and Tate Schmitt will all return in 2021 for RSL.
While defender Alvin Jones; midfielder Luis Arriaga; and forwards Giuseppe Rossi and Julian Vazquez have had their contracts declined. They will not return to the RSL roster. Rossi appeared in seven games for RSL during 2019 but struggled with injury while Arriaga saw action in two games during the 2019 season. Jones and Vasquez never saw minutes for RSL during their time with the club.
“Those were very tough decisions to make. Those kids (Arriaga and Vasquez) have come up through our system, they have been a part of this club for a long time and are a part of the fabric of this club, ” General Manager Elliot Fall said. “The reality is that in this sport and in this league we have to make those tough decisions.”
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— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) November 30, 2020
Goalkeeper Andrew Putna and midfielders Kyle Beckerman and Luke Mulholland are out of contract, “conversations about returning to the roster in 2021 are ongoing with a number of players,” the press release read.
“The conversations are ongoing, we (the club) hope Beckerman is a member of this organization for a very long time regardless of what his role is,” Fall said.
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The roster currently involves 25 players, Major League Soccer allows clubs to have 30 players on the roster leaving RSL 5 players shy of the cap.
Goalkeepers (2): Zac MacMath, David Ochoa
Defenders (7): Justen Glad, Aaron Herrera, Erik Holt, Ashtone Morgan, Noah Powder, Marcelo Silva, Donny Toia
Midfielders (7): Nick Besler, Bode Davis, Damir Kreilach, Everton Luiz, Justin Portillo, Pablo Ruiz, Albert Rusnák
Forwards (9): Corey Baird, Andrew Brody, Maikel Chang, Chris Garcia, Milan Iloski, Douglas Martinez, Justin Meram, Jeizon Ramirez, Tate Schmitt
Since the departure of Sam Johnson, RSL only has two Designated Players (DP) on its roster; Jeizon Ramirez and Albert Rusnak. However, each club is allowed three DP’s on its roster. It remains unclear if the club will pursue a third DP following the impending sale of the club.
