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Real Salt Lake retires Jason Kreis' number
Salt Lake, unconcerned by the controversy it has stirred, moved to retire its coach's number 9 jersey.
Jul 5, 2011 8:12:00 PM
By Tyler G. Page
George Frey
Real Salt Lake retired coach Jason Kreis' number nine jersey on Monday in a ceremony following the side's 3-3 draw against the New England Revolution.
“Jason continues to fit the profile of every great leader I have worked with throughout my career,” Salt Lake founder Dave Checketts said when he announced the decision to retire Kreis' number. “We understand that retiring a player’s number is unprecedented, according to soccer protocol. While we have great respect for the game, we seek to honor an exceptional player and coach for our organization.”
Kreis' jersey will hang in honor on the west side of Rio Tinto Stadium as long as the franchise exists.
“Jason is the first in Major League Soccer's 15-year history to receive such an honor,” Checketts said at the ceremony. “[Jason won] our first MLS Cup title, and the first professional championship in Utah in over 40 years.”
Retiring a number is a tradition in many American sports. However it is not typically done in soccer.
Checketts also owns the St. Louis Blues hockey team and has worked in the front offices of the Utah Jazz and New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association. In the end, Salt Lake's founder made the decision.
“It's Mr. Checketts decision... I'm supportive of it,” Salt Lake general manager Garth Lagerwey said. “There is a soccer purist argument that 'one doesn't do this in soccer.' I would actually submit that there's plenty of examples of clubs that have - put [a number] in a ring of honor or noted it in some form or fashion and kind of informally retired it.”
Kreis was honored by the franchise's decision and teared up during the ceremony. After thanking friends and family, he indicated there was more left to do for Salt Lake.
“We have achieved a lot together and we have a lot more ahead of this to conquer together,” Kreis said. “Onwards and upwards, Real Salt Lake.”
As an undersized forward, Kreis built his reputation on his work ethic and fitness level. He still stays in shape and practices with the team occasionally.
Kreis was the first player to sign with Real Salt Lake. The Nebraska native was the first American-born MVP of Major League Soccer, winning the award in 1999.
Kreis retired with 108 goals, making him the all-time leading goal-scorer in MLS at the time. He still ranks 5th in the MLS record books.
Kreis' retirement as a player came unexpectedly on May 3, 2007 when he was named as the new head coach of Real Salt Lake. He has seen remarkable success in that role.
Under Kreis, Salt Lake's record is an impressive 63-52-49. In 2009, Kreis became the youngest coach in MLS history to win an MLS Cup. Last season, his team was the first in MLS history to reach the CONCACAF Champions League final. RSL also set MLS records for best goal differential and fewest goals allowed in a season.
“Jason is a massive part of who we are as an organization, both as a player and as a coach,” Lagerwey said. “For us, it was really important to associate ourselves with the guy who retired as the leading goal scorer in MLS history.”
Kreis' players stayed after the match to applaud their coach as he received this honor.
While most clubs in Major League Soccer have rushed to sign big-name designated players from overseas, Kreis built his team on a different philosophy: “The Team is the Star.”
That philosophy permeates everything Salt Lake does, including trading away goal-scorer Jeff Cunningham and making sure Alvaro Saborio was not paid a seven-figure contract like most other designated players in the league.
Kreis even painted the motto in the team's locker room.
The organization credits its new-found success to this philosophy and to Kreis. The side expects continued success as long as Kreis is at the helm. At the ceremony, Checketts summed up Kreis' career in a simple sentence.
“[Jason] always outworked, outfought, and outlasted his opponent.”
Read more from Tyler G. Page at www.realsoccernation.com for more information on all things Real Salt Lake.
Keep updated with Major League Soccer by visiting Goal.com's MLS page and joining Goal.com's
page.
“Jason continues to fit the profile of every great leader I have worked with throughout my career,” Salt Lake founder Dave Checketts said when he announced the decision to retire Kreis' number. “We understand that retiring a player’s number is unprecedented, according to soccer protocol. While we have great respect for the game, we seek to honor an exceptional player and coach for our organization.”
Kreis' jersey will hang in honor on the west side of Rio Tinto Stadium as long as the franchise exists.
“Jason is the first in Major League Soccer's 15-year history to receive such an honor,” Checketts said at the ceremony. “[Jason won] our first MLS Cup title, and the first professional championship in Utah in over 40 years.”
Retiring a number is a tradition in many American sports. However it is not typically done in soccer.
Checketts also owns the St. Louis Blues hockey team and has worked in the front offices of the Utah Jazz and New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association. In the end, Salt Lake's founder made the decision.
“It's Mr. Checketts decision... I'm supportive of it,” Salt Lake general manager Garth Lagerwey said. “There is a soccer purist argument that 'one doesn't do this in soccer.' I would actually submit that there's plenty of examples of clubs that have - put [a number] in a ring of honor or noted it in some form or fashion and kind of informally retired it.”
Kreis was honored by the franchise's decision and teared up during the ceremony. After thanking friends and family, he indicated there was more left to do for Salt Lake.
“We have achieved a lot together and we have a lot more ahead of this to conquer together,” Kreis said. “Onwards and upwards, Real Salt Lake.”
As an undersized forward, Kreis built his reputation on his work ethic and fitness level. He still stays in shape and practices with the team occasionally.
Kreis was the first player to sign with Real Salt Lake. The Nebraska native was the first American-born MVP of Major League Soccer, winning the award in 1999.
Kreis retired with 108 goals, making him the all-time leading goal-scorer in MLS at the time. He still ranks 5th in the MLS record books.
Kreis' retirement as a player came unexpectedly on May 3, 2007 when he was named as the new head coach of Real Salt Lake. He has seen remarkable success in that role.
Under Kreis, Salt Lake's record is an impressive 63-52-49. In 2009, Kreis became the youngest coach in MLS history to win an MLS Cup. Last season, his team was the first in MLS history to reach the CONCACAF Champions League final. RSL also set MLS records for best goal differential and fewest goals allowed in a season.
“Jason is a massive part of who we are as an organization, both as a player and as a coach,” Lagerwey said. “For us, it was really important to associate ourselves with the guy who retired as the leading goal scorer in MLS history.”
Kreis' players stayed after the match to applaud their coach as he received this honor.
While most clubs in Major League Soccer have rushed to sign big-name designated players from overseas, Kreis built his team on a different philosophy: “The Team is the Star.”
That philosophy permeates everything Salt Lake does, including trading away goal-scorer Jeff Cunningham and making sure Alvaro Saborio was not paid a seven-figure contract like most other designated players in the league.
Kreis even painted the motto in the team's locker room.
The organization credits its new-found success to this philosophy and to Kreis. The side expects continued success as long as Kreis is at the helm. At the ceremony, Checketts summed up Kreis' career in a simple sentence.
“[Jason] always outworked, outfought, and outlasted his opponent.”
Read more from Tyler G. Page at www.realsoccernation.com for more information on all things Real Salt Lake.
Keep updated with Major League Soccer by visiting Goal.com's MLS page and joining Goal.com's
page.
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