Coach Ellinger and Finding Players

montgjules · 11-11-2004, 12:16 PM

On Nov. 9th approximately 20 members of Real Salt Lake’s first official supporter’s club, the Loyalists, met with Trey Fitz-Gerald, the Senior Director of Marketing & Communications for RSL. He discussed upcoming events and decisions about the team and answered Loyalists’ questions for about 45 minutes. Here is a summary of what he discussed. For the complete article, please go to www.TheLoyalists.com where the article will be available soon.

As soon as John Ellinger was announced as the head coach for the team, players from all over started talking about how they’d love to play for him again. According to Fitz-Gerald, some players approached him saying, “You have to get me to Salt Lake. I’d love to play for Coach Ellinger again.” When Fitz-Gerald asks people what they have liked about working with Ellinger, they always say he’s sometimes blunt but always honest, so players always know where they stand with him. Some of the biggest names in MLS soccer, including Freddy Adu, Landon Donovan and DeMarcus Beasley, have stated how much they enjoyed playing with Ellinger as coach.

Ellinger has been traveling around the U.S. recently, scouting possible players for the team. He is hoping to build a team that will be young, fast, take advantage of the turf and altitude, and be accessible to the community. Fitz-Gerald commented that the vast majority of players are very good, solid citizens that will fit in well with the Utah community.

There will not be any open tryouts, but interested players are encouraged to send in video footage, newspaper clippings, etc. for review. There will be an invitation-only tryout for local and regional players who have caught the coach’s eye. Fitz-Gerald specifically mentioned hearing about one local player in a Latin league that he described as “phenomenal.” He said that the local Latin leagues are being watched and that RSL should be a unifying force for the different soccer leagues in the area. They have also been meeting with local youth clubs and coaches, trying to bring everyone together.

SoccerPrime · 11-11-2004, 01:42 PM

Don't forget the Real Challenge on the theloyalists.com site!

Czar Jake · 11-11-2004, 01:43 PM

I am really confident that RSL will end up with some great players because of Coach E. Not only does he have the inside track on new up and coming youngsters, but everyone else in the league seems to love playing for him too. I wouldn't be too surprised to see some Yanks Abroad end up in Salt Lake City within the next few years or so.

Loyal1 · 11-11-2004, 02:13 PM

Check this out.

Dunseth to RSL?

We may have the start of a roster.

Dunseth played for Cbus, right?

montgjules · 11-11-2004, 02:37 PM

Well, all it said was that Pastorino told a Swedish newspaper that RSL might be interested in him. That doesn't cement anything. But it is a good indication of what might come...

Czar Jake · 11-11-2004, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loyal1

Check this out.

Dunseth to RSL?

We may have the start of a roster.

Dunseth played for Cbus, right?

oooOOoo good find Loyal1! There it is, right at the bottom of the page, blinking at you! Dunseth not expected back, and Pastorino interested. I'll bet he'll be a Royal before too long.

He played for Cbus, leaving after 2003. In 2003 he scored 1 goal and had 2 assists (he's a defender) in 19 games played.

Jose Luis Luviano · 11-11-2004, 10:04 PM

Before he was in MLS, Dunseth was a Cal State Fullerton Titan.

Aggie fans will have a 2nd person to run smack on during college basketball season.

mckid · 11-12-2004, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jose Luis Luviano

Before he was in MLS, Dunseth was a Cal State Fullerton Titan.

Aggie fans will have a 2nd person to run smack on during college basketball season.

woohoo!
go aggies.

SoccerPrime · 11-12-2004, 10:24 AM

Heres a old bio on him.
http://www.soccertimes.com/usteams/roster/men/dunseth.htm
Cool, he was the 2000 Olympic Mens National team captain.

Nice find President!

Jose Luis Luviano · 11-20-2004, 11:09 PM

This is going to sound crazy, but here's what we should do if we get Cletus:

We should send him to Dallas for a draft choice & the rights to Kreis. Dallas needs to sell tickets to their pretty new stadium and they need to take a chance on, um, a Free Spirit like Mathis.

We get another draft choice & our coach knows young US & CONCACAF players like no one else in the league. He has a little less experience in dealing with guys like Mathis..........

Let's offer a contract to Ken Jennings. We may not win many games on the field, but with Jennings and 2 Ivy League guys, we could beat any team in the world at Jeopardy.