HERRIMAN, Utah (Monday, November 14, 2022) – Real Salt Lake FW Jefferson Savarino was named earlier today to the Venezuela roster for upcoming Dubai-based friendlies against Panama (Tuesday, Nov. 15) and Syria (Sunday, Nov. 20).
Since returning to the Wasatch Front in May for his second career stint with RSL, Savarino appeared in 20 regular-season and playoff games this past season for the Claret-and-Cobalt, starting 18. Playing on both the left and right wings, as well as underneath the point of attack, Savarino scored seven goals – second only to fellow Venezuelan international Sergio Cordova (11 goals; not called in for these friendlies) – and added six assists (tied for second-most on the team).
Savarino was the author of 21 RSL goals from 2017-19 – and now with his seven in 2022, the needs just four more goals in the upcoming season to move up to eighth in RSL’s all-time scoring ledger, past FW Yura Movsisyan (31 goals) and MF Kyle Beckerman (30). Savarino also ranks sixth in RSL’s career assist annals, with 28 – surpassing Kreilach, but sitting well shy of such past luminaries as Javier Morales, Joao Plata, Albert Rusnák, Beckerman and Andy Williams.
On Oct. 1 against the Galaxy, RSL fans saw Savarino become the 23rd player in Club history to notch 100 reg. season MLS appearances in the Claret-and-Cobalt; in the 60th minute of his full-game performance at LAFC on Sept. 10, Savarino became the 18th all-time RSL player to have played 8000+ minutes for the Utah side in MLS action.
During his two-and-a-half-year period in Brazil between his RSL / Major League Soccer stints, Savarino provided numerous critical goals for his Atletico Mineiro club, across various South American competitions – totalling 21 goals & 21 assists in 93 appearances. In League play, Savarino’s side earned won the “Campeonato Mineiro” League title in each of his three seasons (2020, 2021, 2022), as well as the 2021 Copa do Brasil and the 2021 Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A. This 2022 season brought Savarino’s side additional hardware via the Supercopa do Brasil. Savarino also competed in the highly-prestigious Copa Libertadores for Mineiro in 2020 and 2021.
Player Details
#11 – Jefferson Savarino
Pronunciation: YEFF – er – son sav – uh – REE - no
Position: Forward
Height: 5-9
Weight: 158
Place of Birth: Maracaibo, Venezuela
Date of Birth: 11 November 1996 (26)
Nationality: Venezuelan
How Acquired: Signed via permanent transfer from Atletico Mineiro (Brazil) on 4 May 2022
Utah’s Major League Soccer side returns in early January, 2023, as RSL’s preseason preparations in Utah and Arizona advance the Club’s 19th regular-season kickoff on the weekend of Saturday, February 25 to kick off the 28th MLS campaign. Over the past two seasons, RSL has earned an 18W-7L-9T home record at what is now known as America First Field in Sandy, setting a new Club mark in 2022 with 17 sellout crowds in as many MLS contests at the 14-year-old venue.
2023 Season Tickets can be purchased at www.RSL.com/tickets, or by calling 844.Real.Tix.
