Real Salt Lake: Albert Rusnak the chosen man to lead

Real Salt Lake secured the contract of midfielder Albert Rusnak through the 2021 season. Here is why this was a great offseason move.

Just a few months ago, Albert Rusnak was rumoured to have been on his way back to Europe after just one full season in Major League Soccer. Fast forward to December and the Slovakian international is now contracted through the 2021 season at Real Salt Lake.

This move makes complete sense when looking at the impact Rusnak has had in just two seasons with RSL. In 2017, he contributed 14 assists and seven goals. His 14 assists tied for the third most by an individual player in the league.

In 2018, Rusnak made a splash, scoring 10 goals coming during the regular season. He would add another goal in the postseason. Although he was unable to match his assists total from the previous year, he still finished with a respectable seven assists. This is a player who is routinely involved in Real Salt Lake’s attacking play.

More from MLS Multiplex

• Javier Milei Elected in Argentina: Potential Impacts on MLS and Signings of Argentine Players
• Orlando City and New York City FC in the Battle for Matías Arezo; Grêmio Enters Negotiations! Who Will Come Out on Top?
• USA, Honduras, Panama, and Canada Close in on a Spot in the 2024 Copa America
• De Gea Turns Down Al-Nassr’s Lucrative Offer: Speculation Points to Possible Reunion with Messi at Inter Miami
• Messi’s Magnetic Impact in the United States

At 24, Rusnak can only improve in the next three seasons with RSL. His play has already led to international opportunities with Slovakia and he is one of the best in MLS in the middle of the pitch. The ability to score and contribute assists is what makes him a must for RSL who relied heavily on his playmaking ability in the final third and opposing half of the pitch.

He has that big-play ability that can change the outcome of matches and swing the momentum in favour of RSL. During this past season, he scored some absolute stunners, including the goal below.

By extending Rusnak’s contract, RSL will continue to have a very good midfielder, with Damir Kreilach also proving to be a monster player. Both Rusnak and Kreilach provided 26 goals combined during the regular season and postseason. That is a sensational return for two leading midfielders. These two are quickly becoming two of the most exciting duos to watch in the Western Conference and both players aren’t going anywhere soon.

RSL have certainly improved this season and Rusnak was a big part of their reemergence. They will now be able to build around the midfielder in the seasons to come and the franchise can begin to seriously look at areas of improvement to try and continue to make deep runs into the MLS Cup Playoffs.

Rusnak and RSL have a big three years ahead of them and they could very well find themselves in a Western Conference or MLS Cup Final in the very near future. This should be good news for the league as a whole as one of its most exciting players is here to stay.