Matt Besler
Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
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Full name | Matthew Scott Besler[1] | ||||||||||||||||
Date of birth | February 11, 1987 | ||||||||||||||||
Place of birth | Overland Park, Kansas, United States | ||||||||||||||||
Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||||||||||||||
Position(s) | Defender | ||||||||||||||||
Youth career | |||||||||||||||||
2001–2005 | KCFC Alliance | ||||||||||||||||
College career | |||||||||||||||||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||
2005–2008 | Notre Dame Fighting Irish | 90 | (5) | ||||||||||||||
Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||
2009–2020 | Sporting Kansas City[a] | 294 | (3) | ||||||||||||||
2021 | Austin FC | 20 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
Total | 314 | (3) | |||||||||||||||
International career‡ | |||||||||||||||||
2006 | United States U20 | 1 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
2013–2017 | United States | 47 | (1) | ||||||||||||||
Medal record
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*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of November 10, 2021 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of October 10, 2017 |
Matthew Scott "Matt" Besler (/ˈbiːzlər/; born February 11, 1987) is an American former professional soccer player. A left-sided central defender with the ability to play left-back. Besler spent the majority of his career in MLS with Sporting Kansas City. From 2013 to 2017, Besler represented the United States national team, including at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Youth and college
Besler was a four-year All-Conference player at
Besler played
Professional career
Besler was drafted in the first round (eighth overall) in the
In 2012, Besler anchored the top defense in MLS with Sporting Kansas City and helped the club win the U.S. Open Cup by converting his attempt after the game against the Seattle Sounders went into penalty kicks. He also was named 2012On December 12, 2012, Besler re-signed with Sporting Kansas City on a three-year deal, passing up trial offers from
Besler was voted into the 2013 All-Star Fan XI.[7]
He was included in the roster for the July 2016 MLS All-Star Game.[8]
Throughout the 2018 season, Besler became the all-time leader in each of the club's longevity categories, overtaking club legends such as
On January 6, 2021, Besler signed as a free agent with
International career
On August 23, 2012, Besler was called up to the United States team by head coach Jürgen Klinsmann for a friendly against Mexico, but he did not appear in the match. Besler made his debut appearance for the United States on January 29, 2013, in a friendly match against Canada.
Besler became the regular starting left-center back for the United States under head coach Jürgen Klinsmann. He was rated the top performer[12] during the 2014 CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying matches.
On March 26, 2013, Besler made his debut World Cup qualifying appearance in a 0–0 draw at Mexico. On June 2, Besler started as the United States defeated Germany[13] 4-3 in an international friendly played at RFK Stadium. Subsequently, Besler started in the World Cup qualifying wins against Jamaica, Panama, and Honduras.
After being left off of the initial roster for the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup so that the team could evaluate other players, Besler was added to strengthen the squad after the United States qualified for the knockout round.[14]
Besler was selected for U.S. national team 23-man roster for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. He started all three games of the group stage and their Round of 16 games, helping the U.S. make it through the group stage for consecutive World Cups. Following his strong performance in the World Cup, several European outfits placed offers and expressed interest in signing Besler, including Freiburg, Fulham and Sunderland. Besler reportedly declined the offers and decided to stay in Kansas City.
He scored his debut national team goal on September 2, 2016, with an assist from Sporting Kansas City teammate Graham Zusi. This was the same day his first child was born.
Besler was a part of the U.S. national team that won the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Besler made four appearances in the tournament, including a start in the final as the U.S. beat Jamaica 2-1 on a late goal from Jordan Morris as Besler lifted his second international title.
International goals
- Scores and results list United States' goal tally first.[15]
No | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | September 2, 2016 | Arnos Vale Stadium, Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 2–0 | 6–0 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
Personal
Besler is known throughout his hometown of Kansas City for his willingness to give back to the community. On March 1, 2012, he joined forces with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) during the months of March, April and May for the Man of the Year campaign, raising funds for blood cancer research.[16] In April 2012, Besler was named W.O.R.K.S. Humanitarian of the month by Major League Soccer.[17]
He is a fan of his hometown Kansas City Chiefs and Royals. On July 5, 2013, he threw out the first pitch before the Kansas City Royals vs. Oakland Athletics baseball game.[18]
His younger brother, Nick, was drafted by the Portland Timbers 5th overall in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft, and currently plays for fellow MLS club Real Salt Lake. He is currently represented by US & Asia-based agency, Libero Sports LLC.[19]
Besler is
Career statistics
- As of December 31, 2021
Club | Season | League | Playoffs | National cup | Continental | Total | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Sporting Kansas City | 2009 | MLS | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 32 | 0 |
2010 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | ||
2011 | 32 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 2 | ||
2012 | 31 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 0 | ||
2013 | 23 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 30 | 0 | ||
2014 | 24 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 30 | 0 | ||
2015 | 32 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 0 | ||
2016 | 18 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 1 | ||
2017 | 26 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 0 | ||
2018 | 31 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 0 | ||
2019 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 33 | 0 | ||
2020 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | ||
Total | 294 | 3 | 18 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 345 | 3 | ||
Austin FC | 2021 | MLS | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 0 |
Career total | 314 | 3 | 18 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 365 | 3 |
Honors
Sporting Kansas City
- 2017
- 2013
United States
Individual
- Sporting Kansas City Defensive Player of the Year: 2011
- MLS Defender of the Year: 2012[25]
- MLS Breakout Player of the Year: 2012[26]
- MLS Best XI: 2012,[27] 2013
- MLS All-Star: 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015
References
- ^ "2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil: List of Players" (PDF). FIFA. June 12, 2014. p. 32. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 4, 2019. Retrieved June 12, 2014.
- ^ http://kc.wizards.mlsnet.com/scoreboard/game.jsp?match=03282009_KCCOL [permanent dead link]
- ^ Fire outlast Kansas City after Bravo sees red Archived April 30, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Kurt Austin (July 10, 2011). "Matt Besler voted 2011 MLS All-Star | Sporting Kansas City". Sportingkc.com. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
- ^ "Matt Besler - 2012 Defender of the Year". MLSsoccer.com. November 19, 2012. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
- ^ "Sporting Kansas City hero Matt Besler's breakout blur, and why he's staying in MLS". MLSsoccer.com. December 4, 2013. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
- ^ "All-Star: Tim Cahill, Robbie Keane, DeAndre Yedlin added to gameday roster; Landon Donovan left off". Major League Soccer. Archived from the original on December 21, 2014. Retrieved July 15, 2013.
- ^ "Villa, Pirlo and Kaka headline MLS All-Star squad to face Arsenal". FourFourTwo. July 17, 2016. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
- ^ "Sporting KC announces roster moves ahead of 2021 MLS season | Sporting Kansas City".
- ^ "Austin FC Acquires Sporting Kansas City Captain Matt Besler via Free Agency | Austin FC". www.austinfc.com. Archived from the original on January 6, 2021.
- ^ "Retirement | by Matt Besler | Austin FC".
- ^ "Besler leads player ratings through Day 5 06/17/2013". SoccerAmerica. June 17, 2013. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
- ^ "USMNT 4, Germany 3 | International Friendly Match Recap". Archived from the original on July 10, 2013. Retrieved July 9, 2013.
- ^ "Gold Cup: Omar Gonzalez, Alan Gordon, Matt Besler, Eddie Johnson added to USMNT roster". Major League Soccer. Archived from the original on September 7, 2014. Retrieved July 19, 2013.
- ^ "Besler, Matt". National Football Teams. Retrieved February 4, 2017.
- ^ "Matt Besler up for Man of the Year | Sporting Kansas City". Sportingkc.com. March 2, 2012. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
- ^ Steve Brisendine (April 9, 2012). "Sporting's Besler named W.O.R.K.S. Humanitarian for April". MLSsoccer.com. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
- ^ "Besler & Zusi Throw First Pitch at Royals Game". YouTube. Retrieved June 7, 2014.[dead YouTube link]
- ^ "Libero Sports". Libero Sports.
- ^ "Major League Soccer Player Keeps His Trust in God". National Catholic Register. November 19, 2011. Retrieved June 23, 2014.
- ^ Brian Kelly (November 21, 2011). "Pro Soccer Star Prays Rosary Before Every Game". catholicism.org. Retrieved June 23, 2014.
- ^ "KANSAS CITY WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER: MATT & AMANDA BESLER".
- ^ "USA 1–0 Panama – as it happened". Guardian UK. July 28, 2013. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
- ^ "U.S. men's national team defeats Jamaica to win CONCACAF Gold Cup". USA Today. July 26, 2017. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
- ^ Wiebe, Andrew. "Sporting KC's Besler named 2012 Defender of the Year". MLS Soccer. Archived from the original on November 28, 2012. Retrieved November 20, 2012.
- ^ "Matt Besler named MLS Breakout Player of the Year | Sporting Kansas City". Sportingkc.com. December 21, 2012. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
- ^ "MLS reveals 2012 Best XI, headlined by Sporting KC quartet". MLSsoccer.com. November 26, 2012. Archived from the original on June 28, 2014. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
Notes
- ^ The club was known as the Kansas City Wizards prior to rebranding as Sporting Kansas City in 2011
External links
- Matt Besler at Major League Soccer
- Matt Besler at National-Football-Teams.com
- Matt Besler – FIFA competition record (archived)