RSL Legend Jason Kreis Un-Retires Number 9 Jersey
Sep 26, 2019, 1:25 PM | Updated: 5:54 pm
Simo Valakari #17 of FC Dallas tackles Jason Kreis #9 of Real Salt Lake in the first half on April 23, 2005 in Dallas, Texas. FC Dallas won 3-0. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
(Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
SANDY, Utah – Eight years and two months after his number 9 jersey was lifted in the rafters at Rio Tinto Stadium, former player and coach Jason Kreis announced that he would like his number “un-retired” to be used by other players.
Real Salt Lake retired the number on July 4, 2011.
Most of you soccer geeks probably did not understand why they retired the number in the first place, and for those of you who do not follow the beautiful game, you are probably wondering why would anyone in their right mind ‘un-retire’ their number?
Kreis is a legend at RSL.
Welcome home boys 👏 pic.twitter.com/6YostLrkWP
— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) September 26, 2019
After being traded by the then Dallas Burn on November 17th, 2004, Kreis became the first player in club history. He also scored the first goal for the club during their second match against the Los Angeles Galaxy during their inaugural season.
Following his 2 years, 58 appearances and 17 goals in RSL colors, Kreis jumped straight from the playing pitch to the sidelines, becoming the club’s second manager. It was here where Kreis cemented his legacy in Salt Lake City.
During Kreis’s tenure as a coach, RSL reached the MLS playoffs on six consecutive seasons. They won the 2009 MLS Cup and lost in the final during the 2013 season to Sporting Kansas City on penalties. He also guided the club to multiple CONCACAF Champions League campaigns in which they lost in the final to C.F. Monterrey on aggregate in 2011.
The success under Kreis during his seven-year stretch as manager, is yet to be replicated. The club has not been the same since.
During an interview with Brian Dunseth prior to the LA Galaxy game on September 25th, 2019, Kreis talked publicly about his intention to un-retire the number 9 jersey.
“I was never real comfortable with the idea of retiring my number, I know that it is an important number in soccer…I know what that number represents to teams, to fans and to players that want to come here and be a part of this club and so I would like to unretire my number tonight.”
.@realsaltlake legend @jasonkreis un-retires number 9 jersey…but why? #RSLonKSL pic.twitter.com/jWxkXtCaG4
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) September 26, 2019
The number 9 is a special number in the game of soccer. For years, the number 9 has been worn by some of the best players to ever play the game. Generally, the number 9 is worn by the striker, or forward, and represents the player on the team who is best at scoring goals.
Players relish the opportunity to wear the number 9. Players such as Ronaldo, Bobby Charlton, Ian Rush and Alan Shearer have all worn the number 9 and have combined to score 1,087 senior goals for their respected clubs.
For RSL, unretiring the number 9 jersey will hopefully help them attract future star strikers. Now that the number is available, they can hopefully entice prospects to come and wear the number of a man that has meant so much for this club, and continue the legacy that is the number 9 and Jason Kreis alive in Utah.
