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SANDY — Real Monarchs defender Chris Schuler has been through a lot in the past year.
Numerous surgeries, including a maligned knee ailment, kept him out of action with Real Salt Lake for the better part of the 2015 season, and when his contract was up at the end of the season, the veteran center back departed for rehabilitation and training with the club’s third-tier club Real Monarchs.
Now, he’s back.
RSL announced the addition of Schuler to a full-team contract Thursday, bolstering its back line with a veteran presence who is looking to get back into Major League Soccer.
“It’s been a crazy 18 months,” Schuler said in a statement. “I had a knee surgery, a foot surgery, was unemployed, signed with the Monarchs and finally earned another RSL contract.
“None of this would have been possible without the support of my family, friends, teammates and the entire Real Salt Lake organization. I’m so thankful for an environment in which I could regain my health and have the opportunity to be successful and achieve my goals, especially here in the community that I’ve grown to love.”
The 28-year-old native of St. Louis was selected by RSL with the 39th overall pick in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft, and he ascended through the ranks of the club. By 2014, Schuler had played a career-high 2,154 minutes across 25 matches with three goals, and the best appeared to be on the horizon.
But injuries plagued his 2015 campaign when he played in just five league matches. When the Monarchs saw an opportunity to keep Schuler close to Rio Tinto Stadium while providing meaningful minutes in United Soccer Leagues play, he quickly signed the opportunity.
Naturally, he hoped the whole time to be recalled back to RSL. No player dreams of third-division glory when a shot at MLS is possible — or even previously proven.
Schuler formally signed with the Monarchs March 18, playing a full 90 minutes in six of his nine matches in USL play. In the nearly six months since, the veteran defender never strayed far from the sights of RSL general manager Craig Waibel.
“We are excited to bring Chris back to RSL,” Waibel said in a statement. “It’s been great having him involved with the organization while with the Monarchs and we’ve kept a close eye on him throughout the year, and we are satisfied that he is healthy and ready to contribute to the first team.
“A veteran presence like his is valuable on the field and in the locker room and he will be a good addition to our group," he said.
