Real Salt Lake (RSL) is an American professional soccer club based in Sandy, Utah, a suburb of Salt Lake City. The team competes in Major League Soccer (MLS). They currently play their home games at Rio Tinto Stadium. Real Salt Lake won the MLS Cup in 2009, and reached the final of the 2010–11 CONCACAF Champions League. The team's head coach is Jason Kreis, the former United States international coach.
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| Full name | Real Salt Lake | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Claret and Cobalt, Royals, RSL, Real, La Realeza | ||
| Founded | 2004 | ||
| Stadium | Rio Tinto Stadium Sandy, Utah (capacity: 20,213[1]) |
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| Owner | Dell Loy Hansen | ||
| Head Coach | Jason Kreis | ||
| League | Major League Soccer | ||
| 2012 | Western Conference: 2nd Overall: 5rd Playoffs: Quarterfinals |
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| Website | Club home page | ||
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Real Salt Lake (RSL) is an American professional soccer club based in Sandy, Utah, a suburb of Salt Lake City. The team competes in Major League Soccer (MLS). They currently play their home games at Rio Tinto Stadium. Real Salt Lake won the MLS Cup in 2009, and reached the final of the 2010–11 CONCACAF Champions League. The team's head coach is Jason Kreis, the former United States international coach.
Contents |
History[edit]
Major League Soccer awarded an expansion franchise on July 14, 2004 to SCP Worldwide, headed by Dave Checketts. RSL became the twelfth MLS franchise and began play on April 2, 2005 in a match against the New York Metrostars. Future coach Jason Kreis became the first player in RSL history, coming in a trade from the Dallas Burn, and also scored the club’s first goal.
RSL’s first few years in MLS were marked by heavy losses and player turnover. Led by coach John Ellinger, the first season included a 10-match losing streak en route to a 5-22-5 inaugural season. RSL added veterans Clint Mathis, Eddie Pope, and Jeff Cunningham to these early teams.
In 2007, RSL Jason Kreis was hired as the new manager midseason and retired as an active player. Working with new General Manager Garth Lagerwey, RSL added several key players including Kyle Beckerman, Robbie Findley, Javier Morales, Nat Borchers and Jamison Olave. RSL advanced to the playoff for the first time in 2008.[2]
RSL won the 2009 MLS Cup by defeating the Los Angeles Galaxy in the November 22 final at Qwest Field. RSL played the L.A. Galaxy to a 1–1 tie through overtime and won the MLS cup (5–4 on penalties) to complete the upset. Goalkeeper Nick Rimando was named Man of the Match.[3]
In 2011, RSL became the first MLS team to ever reach the CONCACAF Champions League Final, losing to Monterrey 3-2.
In 2013, Real Salt Lake and Rio Tinto Stadium are under the full ownership of Dell Loy Hansen, a Salt Lake City real estate investor and formerly the club's minority owner. Hansen acquired full ownership from former owner and club creator Dave Checketts.[4] The club traded key players Jonny Steele, Emiliano Bonfigli, Jámison Olave, Fabián Espíndola, and Will Johnson.[5]
Colors and badge[edit]
The team's official colors are claret red, cobalt blue, and Real gold.[6]
Kit evolution[edit]
Home, Away, and third Kits.[7]
- Home
         2005
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     2006–2007
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    2008–2009
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    2010–2011
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    2012-
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- Away
    2005
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     2006–2007
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    2008–2009
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     2010–2011
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    2012-
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- Third/Special
   2008
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     2010–2011
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Stadium[edit]
- Rice-Eccles Stadium; Salt Lake City, Utah (2005–2008)
- Rio Tinto Stadium; Sandy, Utah (2008–present)
In 2005 a soccer-specific stadium for the team was approved for Sandy, a suburb of Salt Lake City. However, funding for the stadium was still hard to come by. A vote in early 2006 struck down a funding proposal for the stadium. However, Tom Dolan, the mayor of Sandy, said that he would not give up on his fight to approve the proposal in Sandy. The funding plan was revised, but was struck down later in 2006 over disagreements in the appropriation of millions of hotel-tax dollars for a financially unproven sports franchise. The proposal for Sandy was declared "dead" by Checketts at that point, putting the team's future in doubt. Dave Checketts said that he wanted the team to remain in Utah, but would sell it if a proposal was not put forward by August 12, 2006.
Parties from several cities, including Rochester, New York[8] and St Louis, Missouri, expressed interest in purchasing the franchise and moving it. Other stadium sites in the area were also proposed, including the Utah State Fairgrounds in Salt Lake, and the tiny town of Vineyard, just west of Provo. Finally, on the very day Checketts had set as a deadline to have a stadium plan in place or decide to sell the team, and after months of up and down discussions with local municipalities, county, and state officials and a change in the funding structure, a tacit agreement between Checkets, Sandy City, and Salt Lake County was put in place, and Real Salt Lake announced that they would move forward with the construction of Real Salt Lake Stadium,[9] which would ultimately be named Rio Tinto Stadium. The groundbreaking, coinciding with the Xango Cup, Real's match against international power Real Madrid, took place that afternoon featuring elected leaders, team officials, as well as the entire rosters of both Real Salt Lake and Real Madrid. On August 15, the deal was officially approved by the Salt Lake County Council.[10]
The stadium plan encountered difficulties however after the Debt Review Committee of Salt Lake County voted against the stadium proposal 4–0 on January 26, 2007 citing what they saw as Real Salt Lake's financial inviability as the reasoning behind the lack of support. County mayor Corroon concurred with the DRC and the stadium plan was effectively killed on January 29, 2007. In response Real Salt Lake's owner announced the team would be sold and likely move out of the Salt Lake area after the 2007 season.[11]
The Sandy Stadium proposal was not completely dead, however: a new stadium proposal was made on February 2, that would divert 15 percent, roughly $2 million a year, of the county's hotel taxes to the stadium project beginning in July until 2017.[12] Such a deal would have to have been made by February 9, or the deal would have been completely off.[13] The bill was passed by the State Senate.[14]
After Governor Huntsman made a move that would allow the team to remain in Salt Lake County: the Utah House approved House bill 1SHB38, by a 48–24 margin, effectively approving $35 million towards the development of Real Salt Lake's new home. The governor was expected to sign the bill,[15] and ultimately did so.
Sandy City, along with the state of Utah and representatives of the team, finally came to an agreement regarding the placement of the Real stadium. The deal was shot down about a week prior to the agreement by the Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon saying it was too risky. However, Utah's governor, Jon Huntsman, Jr. said that soccer was here to stay. The $110 million dollar stadium was built in Sandy, a suburb of Salt Lake City. Rossetti's California office was the architecture firm responsible for the design of the new stadium. The stadium's opening date was set for October 9, 2008, when Real Salt Lake hosted the New York Red Bulls.[16]
Club culture[edit]
Name[edit]
The title "Real" (Spanish pronunciation: [reˈal]) is derived from the Spanish language where it is traditionally used by certain Spanish football clubs, the best known being Real Madrid of La Liga. Meaning "royal" in English, it is traditionally taken by teams that are given the title by the King of Spain whether through favoritism or otherwise. In 2006, Real Salt Lake established a relationship with Real Madrid, reinforcing the bond between the club and its Spanish inspiration.[citation needed]
Dave Checketts and SCP Worldwide partners Dean Howes, Kenneth Munoz, Michael McCarthy, and Chris Bevilacqua chose Real Salt Lake for the team's name because they desired to associate the team with a successful soccer club, Real Madrid,[citation needed] as well as to develop a brand that was clearly associated with association football.
The choice of Real Salt Lake was initially met with derision in the fan community, as many fans thought the name should more accurately reflect the Salt Lake area.[citation needed] Other team names considered were Salt Lake City Highlanders, Salt Lake Soccer Club, Alliance Soccer Club and Union SLC.[17] However, in recent years, criticism from local fans and the media has waned, and the club has instituted a formal relationship with Real Madrid.[18]
Real Madrid and Youth Academy[edit]
As of September of the 2006 season, Real Salt Lake and Real Madrid have signed a 10-year co-operative agreement. Among the provisions of the deal are a biennial friendly match between the two teams to take place in Salt Lake City, annual February training for RSL at the Real Madrid practice facility in Spain, and, perhaps most importantly, the creation of a $25 million elite youth academy in SLC that will train up to 200 players from ages 12 to 18.[19] The academy, a co-operative project for which Real Madrid will pay half the cost, will include academic facilities and dormitory housing, arguably becoming the first true soccer youth system in MLS. In this sense, it is part of a growing league-wide trend toward the emphasis of youth development, a trend which has been encouraged by the main office and jump-started by the league's decision to allow individual teams to maintain rights to the products of potential youth development systems.
Rivalries[edit]
RSL's major rivals are the Colorado Rapids, which it competes with for the annual Rocky Mountain Cup. With Major League Soccer's expansion in 2005, Real Salt Lake became the second team in the Rocky Mountain region and the Colorado Rapids' closest neighbor. The supporters of the two clubs created a competition between the two sides to foster and memorialize this budding rivalry. Colorado won the Rocky Mountain Cup in its inaugural year, 9 points to 3, and successfully defended the Cup in 2006 by a margin of 7 points to 4. Real Salt Lake won the Rocky Mountain Cup in the 2007 Season, 7 points to 4 points, and defended the cup successfully in 2008-2012.
The team also maintains a smaller rivalry with the Los Angeles Galaxy, whom they defeated in the 2009 MLS Cup and were runner-up to for the 2010 MLS Supporters Shield.
Supporters groups[edit]
Real Salt Lake has eight official supporters groups: The Loyalists, Rogue Cavaliers Brigade (RCB), Salt City United (SCU), Section 26, La Barra Real, Union de Real, The Royal Pride (TRP),[20] and The Royal Army. Except for Section 26 and The Royal Army (which is dispersed throughout the stadium), all supporters groups sit in the south stands.
Mascot[edit]
Leo the Lion is the official mascot of Real Salt Lake.
Songs[edit]
The post-victory song was the Bob Marley anthem, "Iron Lion Zion". It was decided after an internal vote, because it fit the team's criteria for a celebration song. The team anthem is called "The Mighty R-E-A-L" and is performed by Indie rock group and Utah natives Meg & Dia.[21]
In 2011, Branden Steineckert of the group Rancid, an avid RSL supporter, composed the song "Believe" for fans to sing as the new RSL song.[citation needed] It is now played throughout the stadium after the kickoff, every RSL goal and an RSL victory.[citation needed]
Sponsorship[edit]
On November 17, 2006, RSL announced a multi-million dollar jersey sponsorship deal with XanGo. Additional sponsors include JetBlue Airways and Kentucky Fried Chicken.[citation needed]
Broadcasting[edit]
Radio broadcasts are on KALL AM 700 (English) and KTUB AM 1600 (Spanish). KTVX and KUCW are set to handle local television broadcasts for the 2012 season. With 10 games being broadcast on KTVX and 20 games on KUCW for the 2012 season. Bill Riley enters his eighth year as an RSL play-by-play personality on radio and TV, while 10-year MLS veteran and “RSL Original” Brian Dunseth assumes color analyst duties on RSL broadcasts for a seventh consecutive season.[22]
Players and staff[edit]
Current roster[edit]
As of February 23, 2012.[23]
Out on loan[edit]
As of February 23, 2012.[23]
| No. | Position | Player | Nation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | Midfielder | Enzo Martínez (GA; on loan to Carolina RailHawks) |  Uruguay |
| 24 | Goalkeeper | Jeff Attinella (on loan to Fort Lauderdale Strikers) |  United States |
Notable former players[edit]
This list of former players includes those who received international caps while playing for the team, made significant contributions to the team in terms of appearances or goals while playing for the team, or who made significant contributions to the sport either before they played for the team, or after they left. It is clearly not yet complete and all inclusive, and additions and refinements will continue to be made over time.
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- See also All-time Real Salt Lake roster
Players With 100 Caps or more[edit]
- Only regular season matches counted towards all-time records. Stats from MLS play offs, U.S. Open Cup, Super Liga, and CONCACAF Champions league are not included.
- Updated as of June 10, 2013
| Rank | Player | Nation | Caps | Goals | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Andy Williams |  JAM |
189 | 14 | 2005-2011 |
| Nick Rimando | USA |
189 | 0 | 2007-Present | |
| 3 | Kyle Beckerman | USA |
165 | 18 | 2007-Present |
| 4 | Chris Wingert | USA |
160 | 1 | 2007-Present |
| 5 | Nat Borchers | USA |
156 | 8 | 2008-Present |
| 6 | Javier Morales |  ARG |
139 | 23 | 2007-Present |
| 7 | Fabián Espíndola | ARG |
125 | 35 | 2007-2012 |
| 8 | Tony Beltran | USA |
124 | 0 | 2008-Present |
| 9 | Jámison Olave |  COL |
120 | 10 | 2008-2012 |
| 10 | Will Johnson |  CAN |
114 | 9 | 2008-2012 |
| 11 | Ned Grabavoy | USA |
108 | 6 | 2009-Present |
| 12 | Robbie Findley | USA |
106 | 32 | 2007-2010, 2013-Present |
Retired numbers[edit]
- 9 Jason Kreis Player/Head Coach.
Team captains[edit]
Jason Kreis (2005–07)- Eddie Pope (2007)
- Kyle Beckerman (2008–)
Head coaches[edit]
- John Ellinger (Jan 2005–May 2007)
- Jason Kreis (May 2007–present)
Honors[edit]
- Winners (1): 2009
- Winners (Playoff) (1): 2009
- Minor trophies
- Rocky Mountain Cup: (6) 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
- Carolina Challenge Cup: (1) 2009
Record[edit]
Year-by-year[edit]
| Year | Regular Season | Playoffs | US Open Cup | CONCACAF Champions' League |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 5th, West (5-22-5) | Did not qualify | Third Round | Did not qualify |
| 2006 | 6th, West (10-13-9) | Did not qualify | Fourth Round | Did not qualify |
| 2007 | 6th, West (6-15-9) | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2008 | 3rd, West (10-10-10) | Won Conference Semifinals (Chivas USA 3-2) Lost Conference Finals (New York Red Bulls 0-1) |
Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2009 | 5th, West (11-12-7) | Won Conference Semifinals (Columbus Crew 4-2) Won Conference Finals (Chicago Fire 5-4) Won MLS Cup (Los Angeles Galaxy 5-4) |
Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2010 | 2nd, West (15-4-11) | Lost Conference Semifinals (FC Dallas 1-2) | Did not qualify | Finals (2010–11) |
| 2011 | 3rd, West (15-11-8) | Won Conference Semifinals (Seattle Sounders FC 3-2) Lost Conference Finals (Los Angeles Galaxy 1-3) |
Quarter-Finals | Did not qualify (2011–12) |
| 2012 | 2nd, West (17-11-6) | Lost Conference Semifinals (Seattle Sounders FC 0-1) | Third Round | Group Stage (2012–13) |
| 2013 | Did not qualify (2013–14) |
Year-by-year stats[edit]
| Year | League Record | Top Scorer | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | L | D | F | A | GD | Pts | Name | G | S.S. | |
| 2005 | 32 | 5 | 22 | 5 | 30 | 65 | -35 | 20 | Jason Kreis | 9 | 11/12 |
| 2006 | 32 | 10 | 13 | 9 | 45 | 49 | -4 | 39 | Jeff Cunningham | 16 | 10/12 |
| 2007 | 30 | 6 | 15 | 9 | 31 | 45 | -14 | 27 | Chris Brown | 5 | 12/13 |
| 2008 | 30 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 40 | 39 | +1 | 40 | Yura Movsisyan | 7 | 7/14 |
| 2009 | 30 | 11 | 12 | 7 | 43 | 35 | +8 | 40 | Robbie Findley | 12 | 8/15 |
| 2010 | 30 | 15 | 4 | 11 | 45 | 20 | +25 | 56 | Álvaro Saborío | 12 | 2/16 |
| 2011 | 34 | 15 | 11 | 8 | 44 | 36 | +8 | 53 | Álvaro Saborío | 11 | 3/18 |
| 2012 | 34 | 17 | 11 | 6 | 46 | 35 | +11 | 57 | Álvaro Saborío | 17 | 5/19 |
| 2013 | 16 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 24 | 16 | +8 | 27 | Álvaro Saborío, Olmes García | 4 | /19 |
| Total | 268 | 97 | 103 | 68 | 348 | 340 | +8 | 359 | Álvaro Saborío | 44 | |
All-time regular season records[edit]
- Players in Bold are still active
- Only regular season matches counted towards all-time records. Stats from MLS play offs, U.S. Open Cup, Super Liga, and CONCACAF Champions league are not included.
- All stats are updated for all players as of June 10, 2013 [24]
Top scorers[edit]
Active players who are close to breaking the top 10:
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Assists[edit]
Active players who are close to breaking the top 10:
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Most Caps[edit]
Active players who are close to breaking the top 10:
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Shutouts[edit]
Active players who are close to breaking the top 10: |
Other team records and honors[edit]
Hat tricks[edit]
- Jason Kreis: July 13, 2005 vs Minnesota Thunder (Loss 4-6)
- Robbie Findley: April 2, 2009 vs Columbus Crew (Win 4-1)
Alvaro Saborio: July 7, 2012 vs Portland Timbers (Win 3-0)- Alvaro Saborio: September 29, 2012 vs Chivas USA (Win 4-0)
International tournaments[edit]
-
- Group Stage v.
Cruz Azul -- 3–1, 4–5 - Group Stage v.
Toronto FC -- 4–1, 1–1 - Group Stage v.
Árabe Unido -- 2–1, 3–2 - Quarterfinals v. Columbus Crew -- 0–0, 4–1
- Semifinals v. Deportivo Saprissa -- 2–0, 1–2
- Finals v. Monterrey -- 2–2, 0–1
- Group Stage v.
-
- Group Stage v. Tauro F.C. 2-0, 1-0
- Group Stage v. C.S. Herediano 0-0, 0-1
- Group Stage v.
Team records[edit]
- Total Games:
Andy Williams - 189 (2005–2011), Nick Rimando - 189 (2007–present) - Career Goals: Álvaro Saborío - 44 (2010–present)
- Career Assists:
Javier Morales - 48 (2007–present) - Career Shutouts: Nick Rimando - 67 (2007–present)
- Single Season Goals: Álvaro Saborío - 17 (2012)
- Single Season Assists: Javier Morales - 15 (2008)
- Single Season Shutouts: Nick Rimando - 14 (2010)
MLS regular season only, through May 20, 2013
- All-Time regular season record: 97-103-68 (Through May 20, 2013)
MLS records[edit]
- Fewest goals allowed: 20[note 1] (previous record 23, Houston 2007)
- Overall goal difference: +25[note 1] (previous record +22, San Jose 2005 and D.C. United 2007)
- Home goal difference: +24[note 1] (previous record +23, Real Salt Lake 2009)
- Total home points (30-game season): 37[note 1] (previous record 35, Columbus 2009)
- Fewest home losses: 0[note 1] (equals previous record set by San Jose in 2005)
- Fewest home goals allowed: 7[note 1] (previous record 8, Colorado 2004)[25]
Player awards[edit]
Awards given by MLS to Real Salt Lake players.
- 2006 "MLS Golden Boot" Jeff Cunningham
- 2009 "MLS Cup Most Valuable Player" Nick Rimando
- 2010 "MLS Defender of the Year"
Jámison Olave - 2010 "MLS Newcomer of the Year" Álvaro Saborío
MLS XI
- 2006 Jeff Cunningham
- 2010 Jámison Olave, Nat Borchers, Javier Morales
- 2011 Jámison Olave
Average attendance[edit]
Regular season / Play-offs
- 2005: 18,037 / missed Play-offs
- 2006: 16,366 / missed Play-offs
- 2007: 15,960 / missed Play-offs
- 2008: 16,179 / 17,364
- 2009: 16,375 / 11,499
- 2010: 17,095 / 19,324
- 2011: 17,594 / 17,067
- 2012: 19,153 / 19,657
Notes[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ Real Salt Lake 2012 Media Guide, p. 3, retrieved June 20, 2012
- ^ "Winless RSL has coaching shake up". ESPN. September 1, 2011. Retrieved September 1, 2011.
- ^ "Salt Lake beat L.A. Galaxy to MLS title". ESPN. November 23, 2009. Retrieved November 23, 2009.
- ^ Nicholas Rosano (January 24, 2013). "Dell Loy Hansen acquires full ownership of Real Salt Lake". Retrieved April 14, 2013.
- ^ Michael Black (February 27, 2013). "2013 Real Salt Lake Preview: Revamp – not overhaul – should keep RSL in the hunt". Retrieved April 14, 2013.
- ^ Real Salt Lake colors[dead link]
- ^ "Real Salt Lake jerseys through the years « claretpapers". Claretpapers.wordpress.com. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
- ^ Rhinos confirm talk with MLS club in Utah[dead link]
- ^ Real Salt Lake joined by Real Madrid Saturday at 12:00 noon to break ground on Sandy stadium site[dead link]
- ^ KUTV news – Soccer stadium finally a ReALity[dead link]
- ^ "KSL Newsradio: Soccer stadium deal is dead". Deseretnews.com. January 29, 2007. Retrieved December 3, 2011.
- ^ Jensen, Derek P. (February 2, 2007). "Stadium plan: It's ba-a-ack!". Sltrib.com. Retrieved December 3, 2011.
- ^ "Stadium deal due by Friday — or else". Deseretnews.com. February 3, 2007. Retrieved December 3, 2011.
- ^ Walsh, Rebecca (February 6, 2007). "Senate paves way for a Sandy stadium". Sltrib.com. Retrieved December 3, 2011.
- ^ Utah House approves stadium funds[dead link]
- ^ "RSL confirms Oct. 9 stadium opening". The Salt Lake Tribune. August 5, 2008. Retrieved August 5, 2008.
- ^ "USSoccerPlayers: Sounders Already Scoring". Ussoccerplayers.typepad.com. April 10, 2008. Retrieved December 3, 2011.
- ^ Real Madrid will be back in '08[dead link]
- ^ Salt Lake Tribune article announcing the RSL-RM deal
- ^ "RSL Royal Army LTD Edition Scarf". Rslroyalarmy.com. Retrieved December 3, 2011.
- ^ "adidas MLS Soccer". Adidas.com. Retrieved December 3, 2011.
- ^ [1], RSL 2012 TV Schedule.
- ^ a b "Players". Real Salt Lake. February 23, 2012. Retrieved December 3, 2012.
- ^ "Statistics". Real Salt Lake. Retrieved June 21, 2012.
- ^ Randy Davis (December 19, 2010). "The numbers behind RSL's record-setting season". Real Salt Lake. Retrieved December 3, 2011.
External links[edit]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Real Salt Lake |
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