Rubio Rubin joins Real Salt Lake from San Diego Loyal
- by Paul Kennedy @pkedit, Jan 8, 2021
After six seasons with teams in the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Mexico and the USL Championship, Rubio Rubin is moving to MLS.
Real Salt Lake signed the 24-year-old forward from the San Diego Loyal, for which he scored seven goals in five games after arriving late in the 2020 season from Mexico's Dorados.
“We’ve kept tabs on him from a young age and we are excited to bring him in,” said RSL coach Freddy Juarez said. “He is young but has experience playing in Europe and Mexico. We hope to be able to help in his continued development and with his quality he can add a lot to our roster.”
Rubin was the 2012 U.S. Soccer Young Male Athlete of the Year and debuted for the USA in 2014 after breaking into the first team at FC Utrecht. He scored two goals in four games for the USA at the 2015 U-20 World Cup.
The last of his seven senior caps came against Ireland in June 2018.
Rubio also played for Denmark's Silkeborg and Norway's Stabaek and Tijuana and Dorados in Mexico. At Dorados, he played for Diego Maradona.
Goalkeepers (3): Zac MacMath, *David Ochoa (HG), Andrew Putna/
Defenders (8): Andrew Brody (HG, *Justen Glad (HG), Aaron Herrera (HG), *Erik Holt (HG), Ashtone Morgan, Noah Powder (Real Monarchs), Marcelo Silva, *Donny Toia.
Midfielders (7): Nick Besler, Bode Davis (HG), Damir Kreilach, *Everton Luiz, *Justin Portillo, Pablo Ruiz, Albert Rusnak.
Forwards (9): Corey Baird (HG), Real Monarchs), *Maikel Chang, Chris Garcia (HG), Milan Iloski (HG), *Douglas Martinez, Justin Meram, Jeizon Ramirez, Rubio Rubin (San Diego Loyal), *Tate Schmitt (HG).
*Option exercised.
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MLS Free Agents: Kyle Beckerman, Luke Mulholland.
Free Agents: Alvin Jones, Giuseppe Rossi, Luis Arriaga (HG), Julian Vazquez (HG).
Retired: Nedum Onuoha.
Westside SC is very proud of Rubio. He started playing with us when he was 9 years old. Have great success Rubio.
It's a drag he's had such an up and then...really dooooown career so far. I know untimely injuries have played their role. He had an enterprising match v. Colombia with the USMNT and then...really shows ya how timing (bad or other) plays its role randomly in the life of a footballer. SA should do a piece on untimely injuries sidetracking careers. It's happened a few times in the lives of MNT players...Chris Armas, Conor Casey, Cory Gibbs...
Nice little story. Before 2018 - this path does not exist. USL still Div3 or whatever and NASL would be his destination D2 pathway. Still - he makes a leap from USL Championship to MLS - a path few players have been able to traverse - to an RSL team in a bit of disarray - but you gotta take your chances and find your way! At RSL young man is gonna get a chance to play in some of the best facilities in the US. Their indoor set-up and stadium are top class. Keep it going!