SALT LAKE CITY — Real Salt Lake midfielder and captain Kyle Beckerman announced Monday that he will be retiring from professional soccer.
Beckerman announced the news in a tweet, seen below, in which he thanked his former teams (Miami Fusion and Colorado Rapids) before profusely thanking and reflecting on his time with RSL, the club he played for in 14 of his 21 years in Major League Soccer.
BREAKING: After a 21-year @MLS career, 14 with @realsaltlake, captain Kyle Beckerman has announced his playing days have come to an end. The RSL legend has hung up his cleats. https://t.co/w3vW61KqIt
— Andrea Urban (@AndreaUrbanTV) December 21, 2020
"To Real Salt Lake, I am eternally grateful," he wrote, in part. "I step away with a full heart and a lifetime of memories."
Beckerman came to Utah in 2007 and has remained with RSL ever since. He has also been the team captain since 2008. He played in 350 matches, scored 30 goals, helped the team win the 2009 MLS Cup and was a league all-star eight times.
21 seasons
498 appearances
41,164 minutes played
2014 World Cup Vet
2013 Gold Cup Winner
2011 CCL Finalist
2009 MLS Cup Champion
9 Time MLS All-Star
🐐 pic.twitter.com/1MUBiim0qp— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) December 21, 2020
He also played for the U.S. National Team from 2007-2016, where he had 58 caps (appearances) and scored one goal. He started in three of the United States' four matches in the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
He was showered with praise on social media on Monday, one of the more meaningful well-wishes coming from former teammate and longtime RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando, who also spent the vast majority of his career with the club before his retirement in 2019.
My brother congratulations on a unbelievable career. I will cherish all the memories on and off the field with you. A true warrior on the pitch and gentleman off. Welcome to retirement my CAP.
This man should never have to buy a beer in our utah again. 🍻 pic.twitter.com/2TwAePu4uU
— Nick Rimando (@NickRimando) December 21, 2020
