Nick Rimando

Nick Rimando

Rimando warming-up for D.C. United in 2006
Personal information
Full nameNicholas Paul Rimando[1]
Date of birthJune 17, 1979
Place of birthMontclair, California, United States
Height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Playing positionGoalkeeper
Club information
Current team
Real Salt Lake
Number18
Youth career
1997–1999UCLA Bruins
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2000–2001Miami Fusion47(0)
2000→ MLS Pro-40 (loan)2(0)
2002–2006D.C. United98(0)
2007–Real Salt Lake230(0)
National team‡
1998–1999United States U2031(0)
2002–United States21(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of April 24, 2015.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of April 16, 2015

Nicholas Paul "Nick" Rimando (born June 17, 1979) is an American soccer player who currently plays as a goalkeeper for Real Salt Lake in Major League Soccer and the United States national team. He is known for his sometimes unusual technique and for his remarkable reflex saves from short distances. He also holds the Major League Soccer record for career shutouts.

Career

College

Born in Montclair, California, Rimando attended Montclair High School, and played two years of college soccer at UCLA. As a freshman in 1997, he tended goal as the Bruins won the College Cup; after his sophomore year, he signed a Project-40 contract with MLS.

Professional

Rimando was selected 35th in the 2000 MLS SuperDraft by the Miami Fusion, and, to the surprise of many, quickly took the starting position from Jeff Cassar. He started 22 games as a rookie, and 25 as a sophomore, helping the Fusion to win the 2001 MLS Supporters' Shield. When the Fusion were contracted after the 2001 season, Rimando was selected third overall by D.C. United (his coach at Miami, Ray Hudson, was the new United boss) in the subsequent Allocation Draft.

For DC, Rimando played in every game in 2002 and in 25 games in 2003 until he missed the end of the season with an injury. In 2004, with Hudson gone, he lost his starting job to Troy Perkins, but regained it for the stretch run, backstopping DC to the MLS Cup. In 2005 he regained his everyday starter status, but was beaten out by Perkins again in 2006, playing only two games during the whole season.

On December 11, 2006, Rimando was traded along with Freddy Adu to Real Salt Lake.[2] He was then traded to New York Red Bulls on February 9,[3] only to be traded back to Real Salt Lake on February 23 following the sudden retirement of the latter team's first-choice keeper Scott Garlick.[4]

Rimando was RSL's first-choice keeper during the 2007 season. His team struggled constantly and never seriously contended for a playoff berth, but Rimando did a great job in the nets. He led MLS with 146 saves in 27 games, including heroic efforts against New England (13 saves in a 0-0 draw on June 2) and Toronto FC (12 saves in a 0-0 draw on September 15). His hard work was rewarded at the end of the season when he was named Real Salt Lake's 2007 Most Valuable Player.

Nick Rimando at a "Meet the Players" event, Aug 2010.

Rimando continued as Salt Lake's first-choice keeper in 2008 and 2009. He emerged as one of the top keepers in the league, as evidenced by his MLS Player of the Month award in July 2008.[5] His strong performance between the pipes, combined with his team's much-improved defensive play, carried the team to Western Conference Final in 2008 and even further in 2009. In the Eastern Conference Final against the Chicago Fire, RSL battled to a scoreless draw after 120 minutes. Rimando made several saves in regulation and overtime, then added three huge saves on penalty kicks, lifting his team to a 5-4 shootout victory. In the MLS Cup championship match, Rimando again found himself facing a shootout, and again he delivered. He made three saves, leading RSL to a victory over the Los Angeles Galaxy. For his efforts, he was named MLS Cup MVP, only the second goalkeeper to earn the honor (Tony Meola accomplished the feat in 2000).

In 2010, RSL took to the pitch with new confidence and emerged as possibly the greatest defensive team in the history of Major League Soccer. With Rimando as goalkeeper, Salt Lake set an MLS record for fewest goals allowed in a single season - just 20 in 30 matches. Rimando also set club records for most shutouts in a single season (14) and longest shutout streak (568 minutes). Additionally, the team set a league record for highest goal differential (+25), but they were upset by FC Dallas in the first round of the playoffs and couldn't defend their MLS Cup title from the previous season. Despite his stellar season - one of the greatest ever by a keeper in American professional soccer - Rimando did not receive the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year award. Instead, it was given to Donovan Ricketts of the L.A. Galaxy, which caused some controversy around the league.[6]

On February 4, 2011, Rimando signed a contract extension with RSL that will keep him with the club through the 2013 season.[7]

On March 3, 2013, Rimando became the 2nd MLS goalkeeper to earn 100 shutouts after a 2-0 win over the San Jose Earthquakes.

In December 2013, Real Salt Lake and Rimando traveled to Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kansas to face Sporting Kansas City for the MLS Championship Game. Rimando played well despite 10 degree temperatures. He made four major saves in the game. His third save was perhaps the best. Graham Zusi shot a high half volley, but Rimando tipped it over the crossbar. The game went on to penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw. Rimando saved a penalty kick from Matt Besler, but Real Salt Lake lost in sudden death. Sporting Kansas City keeper Jimmy Nielsen saved two penalty kicks, one at a vital point after SKC player Lawrence Olum missed his kick. Jimmy Nielsen was playing with three broken ribs. Despite the loss, Rimando played very well in that game.

On August 9, 2014, playing at home against his former club, D.C. United, Rimando secured the lead in career shutouts for an MLS goalkeeper in a 3-0 win.

International

Although mostly a backup to Tim Howard, Rimando played for the United States at the 1999 World Youth Championship in Nigeria. He earned his first cap with the senior team on November 17, 2002 against El Salvador. After that, he did not receive much attention from the national team until his outstanding play in the MLS in 2009 caught the attention of U.S. coach Bob Bradley. Rimando was invited to train with the senior team in 2010 in preparation for the World Cup, although he was not selected for the tournament. He has made some international appearances since then, including a standout performance in a friendly against Panama on January 25, 2012.[8] He has consistently been the third-choice keeper under current manager Jurgen Klinsmann, and was the first-choice keeper at the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup

On May 22, 2014 Rimando was named to the final 23-man roster for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.[9] The tournament was his first-ever World Cup Final roster, though he did not log any minutes in any of the USMNT's matches.

Personal life

Rimando's father is of Filipino descent and his mother is of Mexican descent.[10] In December 2005, Rimando married his longtime girlfriend, Jacqui Little. She played for the Washington Freedom in the now-defunct WUSA and is also from California. The wedding was performed by teammate Ben Olsen in Malibu, California.[11] Rimando and Little have two children, Jett Nicholas Rimando and Benny Rose Rimando.[12]

Honors

United States

Club

DC United
Real Salt Lake

Individual

See also

References

  1. ↑ "2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil: List of Players" (PDF). FIFA. June 11, 2014. p. 32. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
  2. ↑ http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/11/AR2006121100920.html
  3. ↑ http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=soccer&id=2760206
  4. ↑ http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=481&sid=923649
  5. ↑ "RSL goalie is MLS player of month" (REPRINT). Deseret News (Salt Lake City: Find Articles). August 1, 2008. Retrieved March 6, 2011.
  6. ↑ Real Salt Lake gives Rimando an extension
  7. ↑ "Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Nick Rimando signs contract extension". Our Sports Central. February 4, 2011. Retrieved February 4, 2011.
  8. ↑ ESPN Soccer: U.S. vs. Panama player grades
  9. ↑ Klinsmann Names USMNT's 23-Player Roster for 2014 FIFA World Cup
  10. ↑ Joaquin Henson (December 1, 2009). "Fil-Am thwarts Beckham's goal". PhilStar.com (The Philippine Star). Retrieved December 1, 2009.
  11. ↑ "Behind the Badge: Triple threat". DCUnited.com. December 15, 2005. Retrieved March 24, 2010.
  12. ↑ "KUTV 2News "Person 2 Person: Nick Rimando"". KUTV 2News Utah. June 9, 2013. Retrieved July 2, 2013.

External links