Donning the No. 11 shirt, RSL introduces newest DP Rusnak from Slovakia


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SANDY — A lot of people tried to convince Manchester City academy product Albert Rusnak where to sign this offseason, not the last of which was Real Salt Lake general manager Craig Waibel, owner Dell Loy Hansen, head scout Andy Williams and head coach Jeff Cassar.

In the end, the biggest influence, perhaps, was his father — a new fan of Major League Soccer.

“From the first moment that I said RSL is interested, he started watching games from last season,” Rusnak said. “He might know more than me (about RSL) at this time because he’s been on his laptop for the last few weeks.

“He said the league is improving massively and rapidly over the last few years, and it’s a really high-tempo football. There is a lot of quality, and a lot of strong athletes. He said it’s going to be a step forward.”

Rusnak was introduced as the newest Designated Player in the RSL organization Friday morning at Rio Tinto Stadium, and the former FC Groningen attacking midfielder will suit up in the club’s No. 11 shirt when the team kicks off the 2017 season March 4 against Toronto FC.

The jersey is symbolic in a lot of ways; the previous owner of the shirt, Javier Morales, signed a free-agent deal with FC Dallas after his club of the past decade unceremoniously cut ties with him this offseason, and Rusnak brings a similar attacking mentality as the 36-year-old Argentine playmaker.

“He looks like Muhammad Ali in soccer,” Hansen said. “He can really move his feet. For his training and everything that has come, we feel lucky that of the number of teams that wanted him, he would pick RSL.”

Rusnak entertained offers from several other clubs after his Dutch Eredivisie stint. But the mutual interest and respect from RSL sealed the deal for the rising 22-year-old attacker.

Slovakia's Albert Rusnak and Austria's Karim Onisiwo, from left, challenge for the ball during an international friendly soccer match between Austria and Slovakia in Vienna, Austria, Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2016. (AP Photo, Ronald Zak)
Slovakia's Albert Rusnak and Austria's Karim Onisiwo, from left, challenge for the ball during an international friendly soccer match between Austria and Slovakia in Vienna, Austria, Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2016. (AP Photo, Ronald Zak)

“The style of football that we are going to play here was a key factor; to speak to the coach himself, that’s always good,” Rusnak said. “I always wanted to play for a club that really wants me. That makes me feel really good, and I’m very happy to join RSL.”

Rusnak will slot into the space in the upper midfield, behind fellow DP Yura Movsisyan and alongside wingers like Joao Plata and Jordan Allen — and potentially a yet-unsigned Landon Donovan, with whom Waibel admitted the club was still in “continued discussions” about another DP deal.

What he brings to the table is obvious. Rusnak scored seven goals the past two seasons with Groningen while leading the club to the Europa League in 2015. His career started at Manchester City in the Premier League, and he also spent time on loan with Oldham Athletic in England’s League One and Birmingham City in the English League Championship.

Such an attacking mindset will be put to good use at RSL, where Young DP is expected to move full time by late January (pending the receipt of a P-1 visa and international transfer certificate) in front of veteran midfielder Kyle Beckerman.

When Waibel and other club officials introduced Rusnak to the stadium, he stopped in the locker room and spent time staring in admiration at each name — his new teammates. And he spent a few extra minutes in front of Beckerman’s locker space, having known the U.S. international from his own time with the Slovakian national team.

“He is one guy I recognize from the U.S. national team, too,” the native of Vyskov, Czech Republic, said in perfect English. “I was double-checking if that is the guy. Some guys ring a bell, but it’s better for me to shake everyone’s hand on my first day in the locker room and say hello to everybody.”

The spot in front of his new teammate, then, will work just fine for Cassar, who signed a new contract in the offseason while shuffling a few members of his coaching staff.

“I think he’s going to fit in just perfectly,” Cassar said. “After watching all the games that he’s played, it’s exactly what we want. We want somebody that ends with product, getting assists and scoring goals and giving killer final balls. He’s also somebody who wants to get on the end of things and score goals.

“He shows up in different parts of the field, drifting into channels but not staying there. He’s constantly moving, which we think will play really well into how we want to attack.”

After two days in Salt Lake City, Rusnak returns to his home country Saturday while he finalizes paperwork to make the move official. But he’s already talking about his goals for the upcoming season.

“I want to win as much as I can,” he said. “I came here to win trophies, and everybody wants to win one.

“I want to help the team to reach the highest position possible.”

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