SALT LAKE CITY - Real Salt Lake General Manager Steve Pastorino and Head Coach John Ellinger today announced that Brian Kamler, a veteran of 10 MLS seasons and two-time MLS Cup Champion, will join the Real Salt Lake technical staff as the team's first-ever Director of Soccer Development, effective at the end of the season.
"I am excited to bring someone of Brian's personal and professional caliber to this new position," Ellinger said. "His commitment to this organization, to this sport, and to this community is special. As our Director of Soccer Development, Brian's responsibilities range from coaching and scouting, to competitive analysis, to serving as our bridge between the team and the front office."
Kamler has appeared in all but two of RSL's 27 games during its inaugural campaign, starting 21, primarily at defensive midfield but also filling in at left back. With his appearance tonight, Kamler approached the 15,000 career minute threshold in MLS play, with 211 games played and 166 starts. During his 10 MLS seasons, Kamler has scored 12 goals and assisted on 27 others, setting single-season career highs in both categories during the 2003 season with the New England Revolution, when he scored six times and assisted on five others.
"My excitement to remain with the organization supersedes the bittersweet nature of knowing that my playing career ends after four more games," said Kamler. "While I know I could play for a few more years, I'm excited about the challenge of mixing the competitive side and the business side of our sport.
"Our owner, Dave Checketts, and our management and coaching staff have an exemplary vision for the future of soccer in this country and for what our sport means to Utah, and the opportunity to be a part of that is something I cannot reject. Real Salt Lake has an outstanding fan base, and I love living here in what my wife and I now consider the most beautiful place in the world. I'm elated to search for talent to bring to RSL, develop relationships with clubs all over the world and be part of the solution that rewards our fans with an MLS Cup championship in the very near future."
Essential duties for the Director of Soccer Development position include scouting opposing MLS teams in advance of League, Open Cup and other competitions; developing relationships with domestic and international clubs and federations with the express purpose of identifying talent; engaging the Utah and Rocky Mountain soccer communities with Real Salt Lake for educational and instructional opportunities; and managing the team operations budget in conjunction with Pastorino and Ellinger.
"The progression of Kamler, one of our staunchest performers during our inaugural season, to this newly-created role allows RSL to take advantage of his vast experience in the sport at the highest level in this country for an extended period of time," said Pastorino. "Kamler now follows in the footsteps of Alexi Lalas, Marcelo Balboa and Mike Burns as a trail-blazing example of professional players who have performed on the field in MLS' young history and now have the opportunity to guide its business and competitive future."
