HERRIMAN — Returning to Real Salt Lake for a 14th season was always something Kyle Beckerman wanted. The big question was whether RSL wanted him back.
As contract negotiations lagged during the offseason, Beckerman said there were times he doubted whether a deal would get done and whether he’d be spending more time fly fishing this spring. Playing for another team, he said, wasn’t an option.
Retirement will have to wait another season, maybe more.
Beckerman, 37, and Real Salt Lake reached announced an undisclosed contract agreement on Monday that will bring Beckerman back for his 14th season with the club. Asked whether it would be his last, Beckerman said he wasn’t sure.
“We’re thrilled to have Kyle (Beckerman) back. What Kyle means for this club and what he’s done for this organization, words can’t describe the importance he’s played in what we’ve done.” — RSL general manager Elliot Fall
“We’re thrilled to have Kyle back. What Kyle means for this club and what he’s done for this organization, words can’t describe the importance he’s played in what we’ve done,” said RSL general manager Elliot Fall.
RSL’s new GM said the contract negotiation with Beckerman was very unique, almost referring to it as a holistic approach. “It’s different than any other player and frankly it’s because he’s earned a different process than any other player.”
Beckerman has played 20 seasons in MLS, and 13 with RSL. He’s the MLS leader in games played (488), starts (456) and minutes (40,772).
Last season Beckerman started 24 games, his fewest in MLS since 2002 in his first season with the Colorado Rapids. He finished with five assists.
He may end up starting even less matches this year, but neither Fall nor Beckerman expounded much on the details of his potential role in 2020.
Beckerman said playing time will always be dictated by the coach from what he sees in training, and he’s just excited to get back to work after a successful 2019 season.
“There’s 28 guys, everybody wants to be in the 11, but it’s not going to be like that. Now the question is, the guys that aren’t in the 11, are you going to be a positive for the team or are you going to be a negative? For me, I will always be a positive, I’m always going to help the team,” Beckerman said.
During his first 12 years with RSL, Beckerman was pretty much always a 90-minute guy, hardly every getting subbed off for tactical reasons. Last season he was subbed off seven times late in the second half for a variety of different reasons.
Beckerman’s body language was always positive and encouraging toward the player coming on, and that leadership is something Fall said he’s excited to have back.
Even during Monday’s first full training session of 2020, Fall said he could see Beckerman raising the level and mood of the session.
Beckerman said he’s excited about RSL’s potential in 2020 after a third-place finish in the Western Conference a year ago.
“Our goal is to make the playoffs and of course finish as high as we can in the standings, but it’s going to be extremely hard, everybody around is getting better, spending more money. But we got a bit of history together now, of winning together and going through some tough times, so that will hopefully help push us to have a good season,” said Beckerman.