Real Salt Lake removed the interim tag and named Pablo Mastroeni as head coach on Monday.
Mastroeni guided the club to an 8-8-1 finish and a postseason appearance following the departure of Freddy Juarez in late August.
“I am excited to be joining Real Salt Lake on a permanent basis,” Mastroeni said in a team news release. “I love the direction this Club is moving in and I’m looking forward to working with all the resources and opportunities we have in front of us. We will implement an electric end-to-end style of play that brings our fans into the action and further solidifies the fortress that we call home. And we will continue to be a formidable foe on the road, just as we were during the end of our 2021 season.”
As a No. 7 seed, Real Salt Lake knocked off the second-seeded Seattle Sounders and No. 3 Sporting Kansas City to reach the Western Conference finals, where they lost 2-0 to the Portland Timbers.
“We are thrilled to have Pablo on board, long-term,” said RSL general manager Elliot Fall. “We expect success for years to come under his leadership. Pablo’s ability to build a culture and instill belief within the Club has resulted in the most tight-knit locker room seen in years. We are excited for him to instill that throughout our entire organization.”
Mastroeni, 45, joined Real Salt Lake as an assistant coach last February after two seasons as an assistant with the Houston Dynamo (2019-20).
He previously served as manager of the Rapids from 2014-17, compiling a 43-35-58 record.
Mastroeni, a defensive midfielder, played in the MLS with the Miami Fusion (1998-2001), Colorado Rapids (2002-13) and LA Galaxy (2013). He was named to the MLS Best XI in 2001 and had his jersey No. 25 retired by the Rapids in 2021.
–Field Level Media