Regardless of a disappointing finish to the 2013 MLS season, Actual Salt Lake captain is targeted and optimistic about 2014—each for his membership and for the World Cup-bound United States nationwide group.
BY
Brian Sciaretta
Posted
March 11, 2014
3:53 PM
SHARE THIS STORY
THE 2013 MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER season led to bitter disappointment for Actual Salt Lake and its captain, Kyle Beckerman.
On December 7, RSL performed Sporting Kansas Metropolis to a 1-1 draw within the MLS Cup Finals, solely to lose within the tenth spherical of a penalty kick shootout. 4 days later, longtime head coach Jason Kreis introduced he was leaving the group and taking the reins of New York Metropolis FC.
The double-dose of dangerous information has prompted a sequence of questions that may little doubt observe Actual Salt Lake because the 2014 marketing campaign will get underway. Most importantly: Can the membership survive Kreis’ departure and does new head coach Jeff Cassar have what it takes to guide this group?
American Soccer Now’s Brian Sciaretta spoke with Beckerman about a wide range of matters, together with the 2014 World Cup, MLS’s latest successes, and sure, the membership’s prospects for the approaching season.
“Jeff has been really trying to keep things pretty steady,” Beckerman informed ASN. “We do a lot of things that we’ve done in the past and I really feel Jeff has been a really important part of the team when Jason was here. He had a big footprint in what we do.”
Judging from Saturday’s 1-0 highway win in opposition to archrival Los Angeles Galaxy, RSL has maintained its gritty identification regardless of Kreis’ departure. However Beckerman mentioned that Cassar offers extra than simply continuity.
“Jeff does have his own ideas,” Beckerman mentioned. “We want to continue to be fighting for every trophy that’s out there. Jeff feels that we can always get better.”
Beckerman, 31, joined the league in 2000, signing with the now-defunct Miami Fusion as a 17-year-old. On the time he was a promising attacking midfielder, however he quickly moved again right into a defensive midfield function the place he has flourished. It wasn’t a straightforward transition, however Beckerman realized to take pleasure in doing the soiled work and finally turned probably the most worthwhile gamers within the league.
The stats again this up: Beckerman holds the all-time document for many fouls in league historical past, and he has amassed 72 yellow playing cards over a 13-year span. It’s no coincidence that in every single place Beckerman has performed, his group has received.
“It’s something, I’ve grown into and taken great pride in—taking part in the gritty dirty work by helping the defense get a shutout,” Beckerman defined. “The position comes down to wins and losses. Did you help your team win a game?”
The steely veteran additionally takes pleasure in his longevity. At present ranked No. 17 within the ASN 100, Beckerman has been with the league via a few of its roughest instances, which makes the wholesome glow of the present surroundings that rather more particular.
“We feel that there is so much momentum going on right now,” Beckerman mentioned of the league’s evolution. “It’s taken us a while to get there. A couple of us have been in this league for a long time and to see where it is today, it’s really exciting to be here and see where it’s going to be here.”
Beckerman is considerably distinctive amongst league stars in that he has by no means taken his recreation abroad and appears destined to complete his profession an MLS lifer. As an alternative of seeing the drawbacks on this, Beckerman insists he’s “super proud” to be a part of the league all through his profession, and says he seems like a pioneer.
“I think it’s great for the guys who go overseas but I think there’s also something to be said to be a big part of building this league,” Beckerman mentioned. “You’re going to continue to see more and more players be part of MLS their whole careers. It can be a really great thing.”
Beckerman acknowledges that a spot on Jurgen Klinsmann’s 2014 World Cup group would even be a fantastic factor. The five-foot-ten Maryland native has 34 caps, and seems to have the within monitor for a roster spot. Past being a Klinsmann favourite, Beckerman stood out in final summer season’s Gold Cup, which the U.S. dominated from begin to end.
“He gives you everything,” U.S. Klinsmann mentioned of Beckerman after the Gold Cup. “He’s a pure giver as I’ve often said. I wish I could have had Kyle 10 or 12 years ago because as a player I could have helped him reach higher levels—even going to Europe and playing in Europe.”
“We are happy with where he is,” Klinsmann continued. “He’s in a very good environment in Salt Lake, he’s the leader there, and he’s the captain there. He deserved to be man of the match in the final, the final match of Gold Cup 2013, and he deserves a special compliment.”
The considered the World Cup is a troublesome subject for Beckerman today as a result of he is aware of he’s within the combine however is making an attempt to place it out of his thoughts. His World Cup goals date again to the 1990 match, when a then-eight-year-old Beckerman recorded the entire video games he may on his household’s VCR.
He remembers being notably impressed by the U.S.’s hard-fought 1-0 defeat to the host Italians.: “From then on,” Beckerman recalled, “that’s want I wanted to do and I knew what I wanted to be.”
Now that the objective is nearly a actuality, nonetheless, Beckerman stays cautious.
“I think the best way to go about it is to try to put it out of your mind the best you can,” Beckerman mentioned of his World Cup aspirations. “I am just trying to stay in form and help my team get off to a good start. If I sit there and just think about it, I get too anxious. I don’t think that’s healthy.”
Beckerman’s subsequent likelihood with the U.S. nationwide group will come on April 2nd when america hosts Mexico in Glendale, Ariz.—the membership’s remaining recreation earlier than the opening of World Cup camp in Might.
In World Cup group play, america will sq. off in opposition to Ghana, Portugal, and Germany. Most pundits contemplate the Yanks lengthy pictures to advance, however Beckerman says that the temper among the many group group is upbeat and optimistic.
“The feeling around the team is that if we can play our best and everybody is clicking, any game is winnable,” Beckerman mentioned. “We can get out of the group but it’s going to take a huge effort. It’s going to be difficult but that’s why you play the games—to challenge yourself.”
“We’re all looking forward to it.”
Brian Sciaretta is an American Soccer Now columnist and an ASN 100 panelist. Observe him on Twitter.
