| Club: | Real Salt Lake |
| Season: | 2021 |
| Stadium: | Rio Tinto Stadium |
| League: | Major League Soccer |
| Mgrtitle: | Head coach |
| Manager: |
|
| Highest Attendance: | 20,738 (Oct 16 vs COL) |
| Lowest Attendance: | 9,842 (May 1 vs SKC) |
| Average Attendance: | 15,253 |
| Largest Win: | VAN 0–4 RSL (7/7) |
| Largest Loss: | POR 6–1 RSL (9/25) |
| Season Topscorer: | Damir Kreilach (16) |
| Cup1: | MLS Cup Playoffs |
| Cup1 Result: | Western Conference Finals |
| Cup2: | U.S. Open Cup |
| Cup2 Result: | Cancelled |
| Cup3: | Rocky Mountain Cup |
| Cup3 Result: | Winners |
| Pattern La1: | _rsl20h_390 |
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| American: | true |
| Prevseason: | 2020 |
| Nextseason: | 2022 |
The 2021 Real Salt Lake season was the team's 17th year of existence, and their 17th consecutive season in Major League Soccer, the top division of the American soccer pyramid. RSL entered the 2021 season looking to rebound from a tumultuous 2020 season, having finished near the bottom of the table and endured the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic continued to have a significant impact on MLS in 2021, causing the season's start to be delayed to mid-April instead of the traditional first weekend in March, a reworked schedule that focused heavily on intra-conference play to reduce travel, and stadiums at reduced capacity.[1] [2] [3] The state of Utah allowed RSL to open the season with Rio Tinto Stadium at 50% capacity. The 2021 Major League Soccer season began on April 16, 2021, though RSL did not begin their season until the following week, April 24, having had a bye in the opening weekend due to the odd number of teams in MLS in 2021.
RSL's offseason was marked by the retirements of several key players, including long time captain Kyle Beckerman.[4] The club's ownership was also in question, as Dell Loy Hansen had agreed to sell the club following allegations of racism directed at club players and employees.[5] The pending sale of the club resulted in a relatively quiet offseason on the signing front, with most of the clubs new signings coming from the club's own USL Championship team, Real Monarchs.[6]
RSL entered the season with low expectations, with most pre-season projections predicting a near last place finish.[7] Despite this, RSL opened the season with two straight wins, including a road win at Minnesota. They would go on to spend much of the spring and summer hovering at or just above the playoff line. In a surprising move, head coach Freddy Juarez departed the club on August 27 to take a position as an assistant coach to Brian Schmetzer in Seattle.[8] Assistant coach Pablo Mastroeni took over the head coaching position on an interim basis. Under Mastroeni's leadership, the club saw mixed form, rarely winning or losing consecutive matches. RSL qualified for the 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs on the last matchday of the season, or "Decision Day," following a 1–0 road win against Sporting Kansas City.[9] All-star forward Damir Kreilach scored the go-ahead goal in the 90+5" minute of the game, essentially saving the club's season with the final kick of the regular season. The result ensured RSL the 7th and final spot in the playoffs, subsequently eliminating the LA Galaxy, as RSL held the first points tiebreaker, total wins.
See also: 2021 Major League Soccer season.
See main article: 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs.
See also: 2021 U.S. Open Cup.
Last updated December 10, 2021.|-! colspan="14" style="background:#A51E36; color:#DAAC27; text-align:center"|Goalkeepers|-! colspan="14" style="background:#A51E36; color:#DAAC27; text-align:center"|Defenders|-! colspan="14" style="background:#A51E36; color:#DAAC27; text-align:center"|Midfielders|-! colspan="14" style="background:#A51E36; color:#DAAC27; text-align:center"|Forwards|-|}
| + Assists | ||||||
| Rank | Player | Nation | Assists | Matches Played | Minutes Played | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | 11 | 29 | 2514 | ||
| 2 |  | 11 | 34 | 3045 | ||
| 3 | 9 | 33 | 2875 | |||
| 4 |  | 5 | 17 | 890 | ||
| 5 |  | 5 | 31 | 1398 | ||
| 6 | | 5 | 34 | 2238 | ||
| 7 | | 4 | 29 | 2066 | ||
| 8 | | 2 | 16 | 1078 | ||
| 9 |  | 2 | 28 | 1085 | ||
| 10 | | 2 | 19 | 1323 | ||
| 11 | | 1 | 17 | 618 | ||
| 12 |  | 1 | 30 | 1016 | ||
| 13 | | 1 | 27 | 1643 | ||
| 14 |  | 1 | 25 | 1662 |
| + Shutouts | ||||||
| Rank | Player | Nation | Shutouts | Matches Played | Minutes Played | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | David Ochoa | | 5 | 25 | 2250 | |
| 2 | Zac MacMath | | 2 | 7 | 585 | |
| 3 | Andrew Putna | | 0 | 3 | 225 |
| No. | Name | Nationality | Positions | Date of birth (age) | Signed from | Seasons with club (year signed) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | |||||||||
| Defenders | |||||||||
| Midfielders | |||||||||
| Forwards | |||||||||
| 1 | data-sort-value="Ochoa" | David Ochoa (HGP) | December 4, 2021 | Real Salt Lake Academy (HGP) | data-sort-value="3" | 3 (2019) | |||
| 2 | data-sort-value="Brody" | Andrew Brody | December 4, 2021 | Real Monarchs | data-sort-value="1" | 1 (2021) | |||
| 3 | data-sort-value="Morgan" | Ashtone Morgan | December 4, 2021 |  Toronto FC | data-sort-value="2" | 2 (2020) | |||
| 4 | data-sort-value="Toia" | Donny Toia | December 4, 2021 | Orlando City SC | data-sort-value="4" | 4 (2011, 2019) | |||
| 6 | data-sort-value="Toia" | Pablo Ruíz | December 4, 2021 | San Luis | data-sort-value="4" | 4 (2018) | |||
| 7 | data-sort-value="Wood" | Bobby Wood | December 4, 2021 | Hamburger SV | data-sort-value="1" | 1 (2021) | |||
| 8 | data-sort-value="Kreilach" | December 4, 2021 | Union Berlin | data-sort-value="4" | 4 (2018) | ||||
| 9 | data-sort-value="Meram" | Justin Meram | December 4, 2021 | Atlanta United FC | data-sort-value="2" | 2 (2020) | |||
| 10 | data-sort-value="Menéndez" | Jonathan Menéndez | December 4, 2021 | Independiente | data-sort-value="1" | 1 (2021) | |||
| 11 | data-sort-value="Rusnák" | Albert Rusnák (DP) | December 4, 2021 | FC Groningen | data-sort-value="5" | 5 (2017) | |||
| 12 | data-sort-value="Martínez" | Douglas Martínez | December 4, 2021 | Real Monarchs | data-sort-value="3" | 3 (2019) | |||
| 13 | data-sort-value="Besler" | Nick Besler | December 4, 2021 | Real Monarchs | data-sort-value="5" | 5 (2017) | |||
| 14 | data-sort-value="Rubin" | Rubio Rubin | December 4, 2021 | San Diego Loyal SC | data-sort-value="1" | 1 (2021) | |||
| 15 | data-sort-value="Glad" | Justen Glad (HGP) | December 4, 2021 | Real Salt Lake Academy (HGP) | data-sort-value="8" | 8 (2014) | |||
| 16 | data-sort-value="Chang" | Maikel Chang | December 4, 2021 | Real Monarchs | data-sort-value="2" | 2 (2020) | |||
| 17 | data-sort-value="Garcia" | Chris Garcia (HGP) | December 4, 2021 | Real Salt Lake Academy (HGP) | data-sort-value="2" | 2 (2020) | |||
| 18 | data-sort-value="MacMath" | Zac MacMath | December 4, 2021 | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | data-sort-value="2" | 2 (2020) | |||
| 19 | data-sort-value="Davis" | Bode Davis | December 4, 2021 | Real Monarchs | data-sort-value="1" | 1 (2021) | |||
| 20 | data-sort-value="Holt" | Erik Holt (HGP) | December 4, 2021 | Real Salt Lake Academy (HGP) | data-sort-value="3" | 3 (2019) | |||
| 21 | data-sort-value="Schmitt" | Tate Schmitt (HGP) | December 4, 2021 | Real Salt Lake Academy (HGP) | data-sort-value="3" | 3 (2019) | |||
| 22 | data-sort-value="Herrera" | Aaron Herrera (HGP) | December 4, 2021 | Real Salt Lake Academy (HGP) | data-sort-value="4" | 4 (2018) | |||
| 23 | data-sort-value="Iloski" | Milan Iloski (HGP) | December 4, 2021 | Real Salt Lake Academy (HGP) | data-sort-value="2" | 2 (2020) | |||
| 24 | data-sort-value="Dewsnup" | Jeff Dewsnup (HGP) | December 4, 2021 | Real Salt Lake Academy (HGP) | data-sort-value="1" | 1 (2021) | |||
| 25 | data-sort-value="Luiz" | Everton Luiz | December 4, 2021 |  S.P.A.L. | data-sort-value="3" | 3 (2019) | |||
| 26 | data-sort-value="Powder" | Noah Powder | December 4, 2021 | Real Monarchs | data-sort-value="1" | 1 (2021) | |||
| 27 | data-sort-value="Powder" | Bret Halsey (GA) | December 4, 2021 | Virginia Cavaliers | data-sort-value="1" | 1 (2021) | |||
| 28 | data-sort-value="Ramírez" | Jeizon Ramírez (DP) | December 4, 2021 |  Deportivo Táchira F.C. | data-sort-value="2" | 2 (2020) | |||
| 29 | data-sort-value="Ramírez" | Anderson Julio | December 4, 2021 |  Atlético San Luis (on loan) | data-sort-value="2" | 1 (2021) | |||
| 30 | data-sort-value="Silva, M" | Marcelo Silva | December 4, 2021 |  Real Zaragoza | data-sort-value="5" | 5 (2017) | |||
| 32 | data-sort-value="Farnsworth" | Zack Farnsworth (HGP) | December 4, 2021 | Real Salt Lake Academy (HGP) | data-sort-value="1" | 1 (2021) | |||
| 43 | data-sort-value="Portillo" | Justin Portillo | December 4, 2021 | Real Monarchs | data-sort-value="3" | 3 (2019) | |||
| 44 | data-sort-value="Datković" | Toni Datković | December 4, 2021 | Aris Thessaloniki | data-sort-value="1" | 1 (2021) | |||
| 51 | data-sort-value="Putna" | Andrew Putna | December 4, 2021 | Real Monarchs | data-sort-value="4" | 4 (2018) | |||
| Player | Position | Previous Club | Fees/Notes | Date | Notes | Ref. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bode Davis | Real Monarchs | Free transfer | September 22, 2020 | [12] | |||
 Noah Powder | Real Monarchs | Free transfer | September 24, 2020 | [13] | |||
| Andrew Brody | Real Monarchs | Free transfer | September 25, 2020 | [14] | |||
| Rubio Rubin | San Diego Loyal SC | Undisclosed | January 7, 2021 | [15] | |||
| Jeff Dewsnup | RSL Academy | Homegrown player | January 7, 2021 | [16] | |||
| Bobby Wood | FW | Hamburger SV | Undisclosed | April 2, 2021 | Joined Club on June 3, 2021 | [17] | |
| Jonathan Menéndez | FW | Independiente | Undisclosed | May 29, 2021 | [18] | ||
| Toni Datković | DF | Aris Thessaloniki | Undisclosed | June 2, 2021 | [19] | ||
| Zack Farnsworth | DF | RSL Academy | Homegrown Player | June 16, 2021 | [20] |
| Player | Position | Acquired From | Fees/Notes | Date | Ref. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bret Halsey | DF | Virginia Cavaliers | SuperDraft, 1st Round, Pick 7 | January 21, 2021 | [21] | |
| Elijah Amo | MF | Louisville Cardinals | SuperDraft, 2nd Round, Pick 34 | January 21, 2021 | [22] | |
| Aris Briggs | FW | Georgia State Panthers | SuperDraft, 3nd Round, Pick 61 | January 21, 2021 | [23] | |
| Rene White | FW | NJIT Highlanders | SuperDraft, Compensatory Pick, Pick 84 | January 21, 2021 | [24] |
| Player | Position | Next Club | Fees/Notes | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Sam Johnson |  Sabah | Mutual Agreement | October 31, 2020 | |
| Nedum Onuoha | Retired | November 8, 2020 | ||
| Luke Mulholland | Retired | November 8, 2020 | ||
| Alvin Jones | Option Declined | November 30, 2020 | ||
| Luis Arriaga | North Carolina FC | Option Declined | November 30, 2020 | |
| Giuseppe Rossi | SPAL | Option Declined | November 30, 2020 | |
| Julián Vázquez | Las Vegas Lights | Option Declined | November 30, 2020 | |
| Kyle Beckerman | Retired | December 21, 2020 | ||
| Corey Baird | Los Angeles FC | $500,000 + int'l roster spot | January 11, 2021 | |
| Player | Position | Loaned To | Fees/Notes | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tate Schmitt | Phoenix Rising | Loan for the remainder of the 2021 season | June 10, 2021 | ||
| Chris Garcia |  Ljungskile SK | Loan for the entire 2021 Superettan season (Nov 2021) | August 10, 2021 | ||
| Douglas Martínez | San Diego Loyal | Loan for the remainder of the 2021 season | August 23, 2021 |