SANDY, Utah (Tuesday, December 13, 2016) – Real Salt Lake GK Jeff Attinella was among five players selected by Minnesota United FC as the club prepares for its inaugural season in MLS with the 2016 MLS Expansion Draft on Tuesday.
“I’m thankful for the opportunities I got with Real Salt Lake,” Attinella said. “I made some of the best friends I’ll ever have and the support the team and the fans gave to me and my wife is what means the most to me.”
Originally drafted in the fourth round of the 2011 MLS Supplemental Draft by Real Salt Lake, Attinella spent two seasons with the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the NASL before ultimately signing with RSL on December 3, 2012. With the Rowdies, he won the 2012 NASL Soccer Bowl title and was named NASL Best XI.
In four seasons with Real Salt Lake, he played in 29 matches, starting 28 times. He finished with a 7-15-6 record with five shutouts and a 1.86 goals against average. Across all competitions, he totaled 37 games played with a record of 11-16-9 with eight shutouts and a 1.61 goals against average.
“I’m a little disappointed for the club, but we are excited for Jeff and the new opportunities he has,” Real Salt Lake General Manager Craig Waibel said. “Jeff was a great piece to our locker room for four years and was always someone we could rely on when he was called upon.”
Attinella was among three players who had played with Real Salt Lake to get selected, joining Donny Toia, who was picked first overall by Atlanta United, and Collen Warner, who was picked by Minnesota.
MLS Free Agency begins today at 3 p.m. MT. The MLS Waiver Draft is scheduled for Thursday, December 15 at 12 p.m. MT and the MLS Re-Entry Process begins with Stage One on Friday, December 16 at 1 p.m. MT. Stage Two of the Re-Entry Draft takes place on Thursday, December 22 at 1 p.m. MT.
Players selected in the 2016 Expansion Draft
*Re-Entry Eligible
<strong>Round</strong> |
<strong>Atlanta United</strong> |
<strong>Minnesota United FC</strong> |
<p align="center">1</p> |
<p>Donny Toia (Montreal Impact)</p> |
<p>Chris Duvall (New York Red Bulls)</p> |
<p align="center">2</p> |
<p>Zach Loyd (FC Dallas)*</p> |
<p>Collen Warner (Houston Dynamo)</p> |
<p align="center">3</p> |
<p>Clint Irwin (Toronto FC)</p> |
<p>Mohammed Saeid (Columbus Crew SC)</p> |
<p align="center">4</p> |
<p>Mikey Ambrose (Orlando City SC)</p> |
<strong>Jeff Attinella (Real Salt Lake)</strong> |
<p align="center">5</p> |
<p>Alec Kann (Sporting Kansas City)</p> |
<p>Femi Hollinger-Janzen (New England Revolution)</p> |
