After an offseason of overhauling its roster, Real Salt Lake made its first player signing of the new year today, announcing the inking of DF Ian Joy to a Senior roster contract with Utah's Major League Soccer side. Per team policy, terms of the contract will not be released. Joy, a left-sided defender, will arrive in Salt Lake City this evening and will join his new teammates when RSL kicks off its 2008 preseason this weekend in Salt Lake City.
The 26-year-old Joy arrives in Salt Lake City for his second MLS stint from German 2. Bundesliga (Second Division) side FC St. Pauli, his most recent stop in a career that has included stints in Germany, Scotland, England, and now back to the United States' top-flight division.
"We are excited about adding an experienced American player like Ian to our team," said Real Salt Lake General Manager Garth Lagerwey. "He has played at a high level in Germany and played consistently well over the past several seasons, so we look forward to his contributions both on the field and as a leader in our locker room."
Born in San Diego and raised in Scotland since the age of four, Joy left home as a teenager to hone his skills in the youth system of arguably the world's most popular side, English Premiership power Manchester United. Joy spent two years in Manchester before signing with then-Division One side Tranmere Rovers, his three years in Merseyside also coinciding with his debut for the U.S. Youth National Team system, which he represented at the U-17, U-20, and U-23 levels. A year of service each at Scotland's FC Montrose (2000/01) and England's Kidderminster Harriers (2001/02) and Chester City (2002/03) precluded his return to the U.S. in 2003, when he had a short stint with the Columbus Crew but never saw action for the MLS side.
Joy returned to Europe in summer of 2003, this time to more stable surroundings in Germany, where he caught on with the second team of Hamburger SV for the 2004/05 campaign in the German Regionalliga Nord (third division). The next season Joy would move across Hamburg to fellow Regionalliga side FC St. Pauli, where he would enjoy his longest stay with a club since his youth days at Tranmere. Joy spent three-and-a-half seasons with St. Pauli beginning with the 2004/05 campaign, helping the squad to a first-place finish in the Regionalliga Nord last season and subsequent promotion to the 2. Bundesliga for their current 2007/08 campaign.
Real Salt Lake DF Ian Joy speaks...
On playing in Major League Soccer:
"Major League Soccer has always been a dream of mine, and I didn't want to be 30 years old and finishing my career when I joined. I still want to learn and, in the meantime, help our players with the experience I have gained over my years in European soccer."
On joining Real Salt Lake:
"Why Real Salt Lake? Well, I love a challenge and I think that with a great staff behind you, a great coaching staff pushing you and the right players there is a great chance of success. I have come to Real Salt Lake to do the best I can, to become a better soccer player, and learn from the coaches, but most importantly I have come to win. It's in my blood and I will do anything it takes to walk off the field after every game a winner."
On the timing of his departure from FC St. Pauli:
"I have had many people asking me why I am leaving such a great soccer league (2nd Bundesliga) and such a great team (FC St. Pauli) to go and play soccer in the U.S.A.? When I arrived at St Pauli they were in much debt and stuck in the 3rd German league, and I said back then that my goal was to help this club back into the 2nd Bundesliga after a four-year absence, and therefore taking them back into a better financial state. Now the club is in 10th position in the 2nd Bundesliga and building a new stadium, so I feel I have done what I set out to do. I have played in many, many big games for St Pauli and enjoyed playing in front of their amazing fans."
On the importance of fan support:
"I am coming from a club with fantastic support in FC St Pauli, and I know that the fans play a huge role in the team winning games. We have to make Real Salt Lake one of the most feared clubs in MLS, and we start that by making it very hard for teams to get points from our house. I have heard a lot about the Real Salt Lake fans and with their help I'm looking forward to taking this club to where it deserves to be - the top!"
Ian Joy
Position:
Defender
Height:
5'7" (1.70 m)
Weight:
158 lbs. (71.7 kg)
Date of Birth:
July 14, 1981 (26) in San Diego, Calif.
Hometown:
San Diego, Calif.
Citizenship:
United States/Scotland
Last club:
St. Pauli FC (GER/2) (2008)
Acquired:
Signed by Real Salt Lake to a Senior roster contract on Jan. 23, 2008
Amateur/Professional Club Career
1995-97 Manchester United (English Premiership) (youth system)
1997-2000 Tranmere Rovers (English Division One) (youth system/reserve team)
2000-01 Montrose F.C. (Scottish Third Division)
2001-02 Kidderminster Harriers [English Football League (Third Division)]
2002-03 Chester City [English Nationwide Conference (Fifth Division)]
2003 Columbus Crew (MLS)
2003-04 Hamburger SV Reserves [German Regionalliga Nord (Third Division)]
2004-08 FC St. Pauli [German 2.Bundesliga (Second Division) and Regionalliga Nord]
