RSL trades Watson-Siriboe to NYCFC; Eck hired as assistant coach


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SANDY — When Real Salt Lake signed Argentine forward Sebastian Jaime to a designated player contract at the close of the international transfer window last week, it created a problem, though not necessarily a bad one: too many players for a league-mandated 30-man roster.

In stepped former RSL coach and club legend Jason Kreis.

Kreis and New York City FC acquired RSL defender Kwame Watson-Siriboe from RSL in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2016 Major League Soccer SuperDraft, the teams announced Monday.

“Thanks to Kwame for his two years here,” RSL general manager Garth Lagerwey said in a statement. “He has been a fantastic representative on and off the field; we wish him the best.”

The 6-foot-3 Watson-Siriboe featured regularly into RSL’s reserve team but only made 19 appearances with the RSL first team while being limited by injuries.

“I’m delighted to be reuniting with Jason Kreis and Miles Joseph,” Watson-Siriboe said in a statement from the New York club. “I had a great working relationship with coach Kreis, and I’m looking forward to continuing this under his leadership.


I'm delighted to be reuniting with Jason Kreis and Miles Joseph. I had a great working relationship with coach Kreis, and I'm looking forward to continuing this under his leadership.

–Kwame Watson-Siriboe, former RSL defender


“I already know what he expects from his defenders and I am confident that I will be able to contribute effectively from the moment I begin training in January. I feel strong, fit and am excited to start working hard for my new club and for the NYCFC supporters.”

Watson-Siriboe becomes the sixth player to sign with NYCFC in franchise history. The UConn product is the club’s second defender, joining Jeb Brovsky, who moved over from the Montreal Impact in June. Designated players David Villa and Frank Lampard, as well as midfielder Andrew Jacobson and goalkeeper Josh Saunders, are also on the new club’s roster. NYCFC will open play in 2015, with home games at Yankee Stadium until a soccer-specific venue is acquired.

“I’m really happy to be able to continue my work with Kwame from my time at Real Salt Lake,” Kreis said in a statement. “He is a player that was great to coach, and I’m confident he will be able to contribute to the strength and shape of our back line as we continue to build towards our first game in March 2015.”

ECK HIRED AS ASSISTANT

Ted Eck has been hired to fill the vacancy on RSL's coach staff, where he will serve as an assistant to Jeff Cassar and the team's primary forwards coach.

Eck played for the Dallas Burn from 1996-2001, when he was a teammate of Cassar and Lagerwey.

The 48-year-old native of Springfield, Illinois, also had a standout indoor soccer career that included 14 caps with the U.S. Futsal Team that included a second-place finish at the 1992 FIFA Futsal World Championships.

Eck coached locally as the top coach for the PDL's Ogden Outlaws in 2009, as well as various youth coaching positions with Salt Lake City-based youth club Firebirds FC. He comes to RSL after three years coaching various LA Galaxy Academy teams.

SCHULER NAMED PLAYER OF THE WEEK

RSL defender Chris Schuler was named MLS Defender of the Week by the North American Soccer Reporters.

Schuler scored two goals Saturday to help RSL blitz D.C. United 3-0 and help goalkeeper Nick Rimando to the MLS-best 113th shutout of his career.

Schuler is the first defender to earn the award in 2014.

USWNT COMES TO SLC

Rio Tinto Stadium will also host an international friendly between the U.S. Women’s National Team and Mexico on Sept. 13 at 4:30 p.m.

The match will be the first in a two-game series that will serve as the final warmup for both clubs prior to the 2014 CONCACAF Women’s Championship. The tournament serves as a qualifier for the 2015 Women’s World Cup in Canada, wherein the top three finishers will qualify while the fourth-place team goes into a two-game playoff against a team from South America.

Tickets will go on sale Aug. 15 at 10 a.m. Fans can purchase them at realsaltlake.com/tickets or by calling 801-727-7200.

Contributing: Jeremiah Jensen

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