After a weeklong countdown, we have covered all of the biggest stories around Real Salt Lake this year – from the record-setting attendance numbers at Rio Tinto Stadium to the arrival of Juan Manuel Martinez; the ubiquitous talent at the youth level to the steady talents of Kyle Beckerman and Nick Rimando.
Finally, we have reached the top story, as the age-defying wonder Javier Morales had the team’s top season.
Morales may be 35 years old, but he played his ninth season with Real Salt Lake with the same vigor, enthusiasm and verve as he did when he burst onto the season with a stellar second season at the age of 28 in 2008. However, he has seen a rebirth in the last three years that has seen him ranked third in the league with 34 assists since 2013, only one assist behind two-time Best XI midfielder Diego Valeri of the Portland Timbers. In that same time, Morales has outscored Valeri with 25 goals to 23 for his countryman.
Another Argentine midfielder – Philadelphia’s Cristian Maidana – has more than the 24 assists Morales has amassed in the last two seasons. Maidana has 26 assists in that span for the Union, but has just three goals to the 17 scored by Morales since 2014.
This season alone, Morales ranked sixth in the league with 12 assists and his eight goals also led Real Salt Lake. That earned him his third award as Real Salt Lake’s Most Valuable Player. The first came in 2008 when he had six goals and 15 assists in 29 matches; the second when he notched seven goals and nine assists in 26 matches in 2010.
Earning club MVP honors in the fashion that he did made him a standout memory of the 2015 season and our top story of the year. Do you agree with our list? Let’s hear your lists in the comments section below.
Top 10 RSL Stories of 2015
10. Maund Emerges on Defense
9. The Launch of the Monarchs
8. Waibel Climbs the Ladder
7. Youth is Served at RSL
6. Records at The Riot
5. The Captain Reaches New Heights
4. Rimando Stands Out
3. Champions League Glory
2. Fully-Loaded Burrito
1. Morales Defies Father Time
