Matt Besler

Matthew Scott "Matt" Besler (/ˈbiːzlər/; born February 11, 1987) is an American professional soccer player who currently plays for MLS side Austin FC. A left-sided central defender with the ability to play left-back. Until December 9, 2020, he had spent his entire career with Sporting Kansas City. He has also been a regular with the United States national team, including at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Matt Besler
Besler with Sporting Kansas City in 2019
Personal information
Full name Matthew Scott Besler[1]
Date of birth (1987-02-11) February 11, 1987
Place of birth Overland Park, Kansas, United States
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Position(s) Defender
Club information
Current team
 Austin FC
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 294 (3)
2021– Austin FC 0 (0)
National team‡
2006 United States U20 1 (0)
2013–2017 United States 47 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of September 24, 2020
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of October 10, 2017

Club career

College and youth

Besler was a four-year All-Conference player at Blue Valley West High School in Overland Park, Kansas. He led Blue Valley West to the Kansas 5A State Championship as a senior, scoring 23 goals with 19 assists, and holds the season and career marks in total points (124), goals (40) and assists (44) at Blue Valley West. He was also a member of the KCFC Alliance club team and a key member of the Region II Olympic Developmental Program (ODP) which competed in the 2004 ESP All-Star game.

Besler played college soccer at the University of Notre Dame, playing in 90 games (73 starts) and scoring 5 goals during his college career. He received All-American and Academic All-American honors as a senior, was named the NSCAA 2008 Senior College Men's Scholar All-America Player of the Year, and was named to the All Big East Team three times. He helped Notre Dame gain four straight berths in the NCAA championship, including the program's first two trips to the quarterfinals in 2006 and 2007.

Professional

Besler was drafted in the first round (8th overall) in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft by the Kansas City Wizards. He made his professional debut on March 28, 2009, as an 87th-minute substitute during a 2–1 loss at the Colorado Rapids.[2] He scored his first professional goal on March 26, 2011, in a 3–2 loss to the Chicago Fire.[3] On July 10, 2011, Besler was added to the 2011 MLS All-Star team via the fan text message vote.[4] In 2012, Besler anchored the top defense in MLS with Sporting Kansas City and went on to help 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 2012 MLS Defender of the Year and named to MLS Best XI.[5]

On December 12, 2012, Besler re-signed with Sporting Kansas City on a three-year deal, passing up trial offers from Queens Park Rangers, Southampton and Birmingham City.[6]

U.S. teammates Michael Bradley and Besler vie for the ball in the 2013 MLS All-Star Game.

Besler was voted into the 2013 All-Star Fan XI.[7]

In July 2016, he was included in the roster for the 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 Davy Arnaud and Kerry Zavagnin for games played, games started and minutes played both in MLS play and in all competitions.

Kansas City opted not to renew Besler's contract following their 2020 season.[9]

On January 6, 2021, Besler signed as a free agent with Austin FC ahead of their inaugural season in MLS.[10]

International career

Besler became the regular starting left-center back for the United States under head coach Jürgen Klinsmann. He was rated the top performer[11] during the 2014 CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying matches.

Besler made his debut for United States on January 29, 2013 in a friendly match against Canada. Previously, on August 23, 2012, Besler was called up to the United States squad by head coach Jürgen Klinsmann for a friendly against Mexico, but he didn't feature in the match.

On March 26, 2013, Besler made his first World Cup qualifying appearance in a 0–0 draw at Mexico. On June 2, Besler started as the United States defeated Germany[12] 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.[13]

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 game, 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 first National team goal on September 2, 2016 with an assist from Sporting Kansas City teammate Graham Zusi. This was also the same day his first child was born.

Besler was a part of the U.S. National Team squad 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.[14]
NoDateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.September 2, 2016Arnos Vale Stadium, Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Saint Vincent and the Grenadines2–06–02018 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.[15] In April 2012, Besler was named W.O.R.K.S. Humanitarian of the month by Major League Soccer.[16]

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.[17]

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.[18]

Besler is Catholic. He was raised in a religious family; his father was Catholic and his mother converted from Methodism. Besler regularly attends church and is known to pray the rosary before each game. His favorite religious figures are Saint Christopher and Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati.[19][20] Besler married his wife, Amanda, at Visitation Catholic Church in December of 2013, just two weeks after Besler led Sporting KC to their second ever MLS Cup title.[21]

Career statistics
As of March 8, 2020
Club Season League Playoffs U.S. Open Cup CONCACAF Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Sporting Kansas City 2009 280001030320
2010 120000000120
2011 322304000392
2012 310205000380
2013 230500020300
2014 240100050300
2015 320105000380
2016 181101000201
2017 260103000300
2018 310401000360
2019 270000060330
2020 2000000020
Career total 28631802001603403

Honors

United States

Sporting Kansas City

Individual

References
  1. "2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil: List of Players" (PDF). FIFA. June 12, 2014. p. 32. Retrieved June 12, 2014.
  2. http://kc.wizards.mlsnet.com/scoreboard/game.jsp?match=03282009_KCCOL%5B%5D
  3. Fire outlast Kansas City after Bravo sees red Archived April 30, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  4. Kurt Austin (July 10, 2011). "Matt Besler voted 2011 MLS All-Star | Sporting Kansas City". Sportingkc.com. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  5. "Matt Besler - 2012 Defender of the Year". MLSsoccer.com. November 19, 2012. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  6. "Sporting Kansas City hero Matt Besler's breakout blur, and why he's staying in MLS". MLSsoccer.com. December 4, 2013. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  7. "All-Star: Tim Cahill, Robbie Keane, DeAndre Yedlin added to gameday roster; Landon Donovan left off". Major League Soccer. Retrieved July 15, 2013.
  8. "Villa, Pirlo and Kaka headline MLS All-Star squad to face Arsenal". FourFourTwo. July 17, 2016. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
  9. https://www.sportingkc.com/post/2020/12/09/sporting-kc-announces-roster-moves-ahead-2021-mls-season
  10. https://www.austinfc.com/post/2021/01/06/austin-fc-acquires-sporting-kansas-city-captain-matt-besler-free-agency
  11. "Besler leads player ratings through Day 5 06/17/2013". SoccerAmerica. June 17, 2013. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  12. "USMNT 4, Germany 3 | International Friendly Match Recap". Archived from the original on July 10, 2013. Retrieved July 9, 2013.
  13. "Gold Cup: Omar Gonzalez, Alan Gordon, Matt Besler, Eddie Johnson added to USMNT roster". Major League Soccer. Retrieved July 19, 2013.
  14. "Besler, Matt". National Football Teams. Retrieved February 4, 2017.
  15. "Matt Besler up for Man of the Year | Sporting Kansas City". Sportingkc.com. March 2, 2012. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  16. Steve Brisendine (April 9, 2012). "Sporting's Besler named W.O.R.K.S. Humanitarian for April". MLSsoccer.com. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  17. "Besler & Zusi Throw First Pitch at Royals Game". YouTube. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  18. "Libero Sports". Libero Sports. Libero Sports.
  19. "Major League Soccer Player Keeps His Trust in God". National Catholic Register. November 19, 2011. Retrieved June 23, 2014.
  20. Brian Kelly (November 21, 2011). "Pro Soccer Star Prays Rosary Before Every Game". catholicism.org. Retrieved June 23, 2014.
  21. "KANSAS CITY WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER: MATT & AMANDA BESLER".
  22. Wiebe, Andrew. "Sporting KC's Besler named 2012 Defender of the Year". MLS Soccer. Retrieved November 20, 2012.
  23. "Matt Besler named MLS Breakout Player of the Year | Sporting Kansas City". Sportingkc.com. December 21, 2012. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  24. "MLS reveals 2012 Best XI, headlined by Sporting KC quartet". MLSsoccer.com. November 26, 2012. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
Sporting positions
Preceded by
Jimmy Nielsen		 Sporting Kansas City captain
2014–present		 Incumbent
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