| Club: | Real Salt Lake |
| Season: | 2014 |
| Stadium: | Rio Tinto Stadium |
| League: | Major League Soccer |
| League Result: | Conference: 3rd Overall: 4th |
| Chrtitle: | Owner |
| Chairman: | Dell Loy Hansen |
| Mgrtitle: | Coach |
| Manager: | Jeff Cassar |
| Highest Attendance: | 20,513 (vs New England Revolution, 4 July) |
| Lowest Attendance: | 18,881 (vs Toronto FC, 29 March) |
| Average Attendance: | 20,157 |
| Largest Win: | RSL 5–1 COL (9/19) |
| Largest Loss: | SEA 4–0 RSL (5/31) |
| Cup1: | MLS Cup |
| Cup1 Result: | Conference Semifinals |
| Cup2: | U.S. Open Cup |
| Cup2 Result: | 4th Round |
| Cup3: | Rocky Mountain Cup |
| Cup3 Result: | 1st |
| Cup4: | Desert Diamond Cup |
| Cup4 Result: | 3rd |
| Pattern La1: | _RSL_14h |
| Pattern B1: | _RSL_14h |
| Pattern Ra1: | _RSL_14h |
| Pattern Sh1: | _RSL_12h |
| Pattern So1: | _RSL_14h |
| Leftarm1: | FFC20E |
| Body1: | FFFFFF |
| Rightarm1: | FFFFFF |
| Shorts1: | FFFFFF |
| Socks1: | B20000 |
| Pattern La2: | _RSL_12 |
| Pattern B2: | _RSL_12a |
| Pattern Ra2: | _RSL_12a |
| Pattern Sh2: | _adidasonwhite |
| Pattern So2: | _3_stripes_on_white |
| Leftarm2: | B20000 |
| Body2: | FFFFFF |
| Rightarm2: | FFFFFF |
| Shorts2: | B20000 |
| Socks2: | B20000 |
| American: | true |
| Prevseason: | 2013 |
| Nextseason: | 2015 |
The 2014 Real Salt Lake season was the team's tenth year of existence and also the first year with new head coach Jeff Cassar. The team's first game was on March 8 at StubHub Center.
See main article: 2013 Real Salt Lake season.
In 2013 Real Salt Lake played in the MLS Cup final, losing in the tenth round of penalty kicks to Sporting Kansas City.[1] Real Salt Lake also announced that LifeVantage would be a long-term sponsor beginning in the 2014 Season.[2] Additionally, long term head coach, Jason Kreis announced that he would leave the club at the end of the season to embark on an opportunity to become the first coach for New York City FC to start in the 2015 season.[3] Other changes to the staff including Miles Joseph who left to assist Kreis in New York and C. J. Brown returned to his former club, Chicago Fire Soccer Club, to serve as assistant coach.[4] Jeff Cassar was promoted to be the head coach beginning in the 2014 season.[5]
Real Salt Lake began the season away to LA Galaxy on 8 April 2014 and won their first match of the season. Nick Rimando was awarded the first week Player of the Week after a nine-save performance helping to secure the win. Additionally, Rimando was voted for MLS Save of the Week and named for MLS Team of the Week along with defender Nat Borchers for week one. Real Salt Lake continued to remain unbeaten throughout the month with draws at San Jose (3–3) and the home opener to LA Galaxy (1–1), and a three-nil home win to Toronto FC which saw Álvaro Saborío, Javier Morales, and Nat Borchers named to the MLS team of the Week for week four. Captain Kyle Beckerman was also awarded MLS Goal of the Week for his 25-yard shot against San Jose that earned him nearly 50 percent of the votes.
RSL continued their unbeaten run through the month with draws away to Sporting Kansas City (0–0) and Philadelphia Union (2–2), and home against Vancouver Whitecaps FC (2–2). Real Salt Lake also had a single home win over Portland Timbers (1–0), to bring the tally to eleven consecutive matches unbeaten against the Timbers. Real Salt Lake also were honored by being awarded the "Team of the Year" in the Utah Governor's State of Sport awards, as well as awards to Kyle Beckerman for "Male Professional Athlete of the Year", and Nick Rimando was awarded for "Highlight of the Year" for their accomplishments in the 2013 season.[6]
Luis Gil was called up to the U-21 US National Team for the pre-Olympic Training Camp, but backed out to recover from a lingering hamstring injury.[7] Defender Carlos Salcedo additionally was called up to train with the Mexico U-21 National Team to prepare for the 2016 Summer Olympics.[8] RSL Arizona Academy graduate Justen Glad was offered a Homegrown Player contract and became the seventh academy graduate to join the first team. Real also announced a new Under-12 Academy to be based in Utah with graduates being promoted to the RSL Arizona Academy.[9]
Real Salt Lake continued their unbeaten run to tie the MLS record for an unbeaten start of the season, tying with 1996 and 2010 LA Galaxy and 2000 Kansas City Wizards. RSL suffered their first defeat the final day of the month when they lost away to Seattle Sounders. Forward Álvaro Saborío was named to the Costa Rica World Cup Roster, and Midfielder Kyle Beckerman and Goalkeeper Nick Rimando were called up to the United States men's national soccer team and departed to train with their respective teams in preparation for the upcoming 2014 FIFA World Cup,[10] although Saborío returned after fracturing his fifth metatarsal in training.[11] Jordan Allen was ruled out for the remainder of the season after undergoing a microfracture surgery to his right knee.[12]
Joao Plata won the MLS Player of the Week for week nine after his two-goal performance against Chicago Fire Soccer Club. Javier Morales scored the second fasted goal in RSL history with his first goal finding the net fifteen seconds into the match.[13] Javi also got his first hat-trick for Real Salt Lake in the team's first ever win away to FC Dallas. In Nick Rimando's absence, Jeff Attinella won the MLS Save of the Week for Week 11 with a double save in the win against Colorado Rapids.
Note: the table below has no impact on playoff qualification and is used solely for determining host of the MLS Cup, certain CCL spots, and 2015 MLS draft. The conference tables are the sole determinant for teams qualifying to the playoffs
Legend::
Schedule Updated: February 2, 2014
Source: Real Salt Lake Schedule
Kickoff times are in MDT
As of April 8, 2014. Age calculated as of the start of the 2014 season.[14]
| No. | Position | Player | Nation | Age | Acquired | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | data-sort-value="Fernández" | Lalo Fernández (HGP) | February 24, 2012 | ||||
| 2 | data-sort-value="Beltran" | January 18, 2008 | |||||
| 3 | data-sort-value="Watson-Siriboe" | June 27, 2012 | |||||
| 4 | data-sort-value="Maund" | December 3, 2012 | |||||
| 5 | data-sort-value="Beckerman" | Kyle Beckerman (C) | July 16, 2007 | ||||
| 6 | data-sort-value="Borchers" | February 14, 2008 | |||||
| 7 | data-sort-value="Allen" | Jordan Allen (HGP) | December 13, 2013 | ||||
| 8 | data-sort-value="Plata" | January 30, 2013 | |||||
| 10 | data-sort-value="Findley" | January 16, 2013 | |||||
| 11 | data-sort-value="Morales" | Javier Morales (DP) | August 17, 2007 | ||||
| 12 | data-sort-value="Grossman" | November 12, 2012 | |||||
| 13 | data-sort-value="García" | February 21, 2013 | |||||
| 14 | data-sort-value="Glad" | Justen Glad (HGP) | April 4, 2014 | ||||
| 15 | data-sort-value="Glad" | Álvaro Saborío (DP) | March 15, 2010 | ||||
| 16 | data-sort-value="Salcedo" | Carlos Salcedo (HGP) | January 15, 2013 | ||||
| 17 | data-sort-value="Wingert" | July 13, 2007 | |||||
| 18 | data-sort-value="Rimando" | February 23, 2007 | |||||
| 19 | data-sort-value="Mulholland" | January 21, 2014 | |||||
| 20 | data-sort-value="Grabavoy" | March 3, 2009 | |||||
| 21 | data-sort-value="Gil" | Luis Gil (GA) | February 23, 2010 | ||||
| 22 | data-sort-value="Lopez" | Benji Lopez (HGP) | July 17, 2013 | ||||
| 23 | data-sort-value="Jaime" | August 8, 2014 | |||||
| 24 | data-sort-value="Attinella" | December 23, 2012 | |||||
| 25 | data-sort-value="Balchan" | March 2, 2013 | |||||
| 26 | data-sort-value="Velásquez" | January 12, 2012 | |||||
| 27 | data-sort-value="Stertzer" | January 17, 2013 | |||||
| 28 | data-sort-value="Schuler" | January 14, 2010 | |||||
| 29 | data-sort-value="Mansally" | June 20, 2012 | |||||
| 49 | data-sort-value="Sandoval" | January 17, 2013 |
| Position | Player | Previous club | Fees/Notes | Date | Source | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Real Salt Lake – Arizona Academy | Graduate, Home Grown Player | [15] | ||||
| 19 | Tampa Bay Rowdies | Undisclosed | [16] | ||||
| 23 | California Golden Bears | First round MLS SuperDraft Pick (18th overall) | [17] | ||||
| Georgetown Hoyas | Third round MLS SuperDraft Pick (53rd overall) | [18] | |||||
| Coker College | Fourth round MLS SuperDraft Pick (70th overall) | ||||||
| 14 | Real Salt Lake – Arizona Academy | Home Grown Player | [19] | ||||
| 23 | Unión Española | Undisclosed | [20] |
| Position | Player | Next Club | Fees/Notes | Date | Source | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Chicago Fire | Traded for Allocation Money | [21] | ||||
| 23 |  San Jose Earthquakes | Released to MLS Re-Entry Draft | [22] | ||||
| 23 | San Jose Earthquakes | Not signed after being picked in the MLS Superdraft | [23] | ||||
| 44 |  Ljungskile SK | Released to MLS Re-Entry Draft | |||||
| 45 | Released to MLS Re-Entry Draft | ||||||
| 19 | Carolina RailHawks | Waived | [24] | ||||
| Carolina RailHawks | Not signed after being picked in the MLS Superdraft | [25] | |||||
| Arizona United | Released | ||||||
| 3 | New York City FC | Trade for 2016 MLS 4th Round Super-Draft Pick | [26] |
| Position | Player | Loaned To | Fees/Notes | Date | Source | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | Orlando City | Loaned for 2014 season and Trade for 2015 for 2017 4th Round Super-Draft Pick | [27] | ||||
| 25 | Carolina RailHawks | Short-term loan to regain fitness | – | [28] | |||
| 3 | Orange County Blues FC | Short-term loan to regain fitness. | [29] | ||||
| 22 | Arizona United SC | Loaned for 2014 USL PRO season | [30] |
| Type | Shirt | Shorts | Socks | First appearance / Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home | Claret with Gold Bar / Cobalt sleeves | Claret | Claret | 8 March at LA Galaxy | |
| Away | White / Cobalt right sleeve | White | White | 15 March at San Jose Earthquakes |
Source: Real Salt Lake Statistics
The MLS Player of the Week, Month, and Year is awarded by the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) and decided by vote.[31]
| Week | Player of the Week | Team of the Week | Save of the Week | Goal of the Week | |
| 1 | Nick Rimando[32] | Nick Rimando[33] Nat Borchers | Nick Rimando[34] | ||
| 2 | Nick Rimando[35] | Kyle Beckerman[36] | |||
| 4 | Álvaro Saborío[37] Javier Morales Nat Borchers Jeff Cassar (coach) | ||||
| 5 | Jeff Attinella[38] Chris Schuler | ||||
| 6 |  Javier Morales[39] | ||||
| 7 | Nick Rimando[40] | Nick Rimando[41] Ned Grabavoy | |||
| 9 |  Joao Plata[42] | Joao Plata[43] | |||
| 10 | Javier Morales[44] | Javier Morales[45] | |||
| 11 | Devon Sandoval[46] | Jeff Attinella[47] | |||
| 12 | Tony Beltran[48] | ||||
| 13 | Jeff Attinella[49] | ||||
| 17 | Kyle Beckerman[50] |
| Place | Number | Name | MLS | MLS Cup | U.S. Open Cup | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8 |  Joao Plata | 8 | 0 | 0 | 8 | |
| 2 | 15 | Álvaro Saborío | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | |
| 3 | 11 | Javier Morales | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | |
| 19 | Luke Mulholland | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | ||
| 5 | 5 | Kyle Beckerman | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| 21 | Luis Gil | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
| 6 | 20 | Ned Grabavoy | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| 7 | 10 | Robbie Findley | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| TOTALS | 24 | 0 | 0 | 24 | |||
| Place | Number | Name | MLS | MLS Cup | U.S. Open Cup | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11 | Javier Morales | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | |
| 2 | 8 | Joao Plata | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
| 19 | Luke Mulholland | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 | ||
| 4 | 5 | Kyle Beckerman | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
| 15 | Álvaro Saborío | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
| 6 | 17 | Chris Wingert | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| 20 | Ned Grabavoy | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||
| 21 | Luis Gil | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||
| 26 | Sebastián Velásquez | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||
| 29 | Abdoulie Mansally | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||
| 49 | Devon Sandoval | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||
| Total | 21 | 0 | 0 | 21 | |||
| Number | Nationality | Position | Name | MLS | MLS Cup | US Open Cup | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | Luke Mulholland | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | |||
| 2 | | Tony Beltran | 4 | 1* | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | ||
| 11 | | Javier Morales | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | ||
| 6 | | Nat Borchers | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
| 15 | Álvaro Saborío | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |||
| 28 | | Chris Schuler | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
| 27 | | John Stertzer | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 17 | | Chris Wingert | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
| 5 | | Kyle Beckerman | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 18 | | Nick Rimando | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 12 | | Cole Grossman | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 13 | | Olmes García | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 4 | | Aaron Maund | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 16 |  | Carlos Salcedo | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 18 | | Nick Rimando | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Total | 33 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 35 | 2 | ||||
Source: Competitions
Competitive matches only
* indicates a second yellow card