Last year’s Real Salt Lake Iron Man Zac MacMath continues to show off his durability and consistency, making his 200th Major League Soccer appearance yesterday in a 0-0 draw against the Portland Timbers.
MacMath’s first 100 appearances came within his first four seasons after being selected fifth overall in the MLS SuperDraft by the Philadelphia Union. The next 100 however, were less straightforward.
His career in Philadelphia started earlier than expected due to an injury, but the young keeper impressed and took the starting position with both hands. He then became a mainstay between the sticks for the Union, emerging as one of MLS’s bright young goalkeeping talents.
However in 2015, Philadelphia opted to go in a different direction, and loaned MacMath out to the Colorado Rapids where he played sparingly. This began a journeyman career, where he played the role of a veteran backup that took him from the Rapids, to Vancouver and then eventually to Real Salt Lake.
The MLS journeyman joined the Claret-and-Cobalt in 2020 and during his first two years with RSL, MacMath appeared in 13 total matches in league play, primarily in a backup role.
In 2022 after an injury and a handful of roster moves left the starting goalkeeper position open for the taking, MacMath stepped up.
In the most productive season of his career to date, MacMath started in all 34 MLS matches, playing for all 3,060 minutes of the regular season. En route to becoming the Club’s first ever player to play in every minute in a 34-match season, the Florida native recorded a career-high 102 saves and kept 10 clean sheets, two less than his highest total in 2013.
As another Iron Man once said, sometimes you have to run before you can walk.
MacMath’s success and ability to perform when called upon helped lead RSL to a second-consecutive Playoff berth last year. His leadership and experience gained from over nearly a decade and a half of playing in MLS has also been helpful in the development of younger talent like Gavin Beavers, Fernando Delgado, and Blake Kelly.
“I had a conversation with Zac MacMath [before my debut], and he was super helpful from beginning to end of this whole thing, just making sure I got everything I needed,” said Beavers.
“The standard of Blake, Fernando, Tomás, and Zac is incredibly high. Being able to have that group to train with, it’s a testament to everyone here,” added Beavers.
Now eleven starts into the 2023 season, MacMath is on pace to match if not break his personal saves record from last year. 200 appearances down, and the rest of a career to go, MacMath still has a lot left in the tank.
“It came down to showing that I am who I have always been, I have always been this player,” MacMath said. “Having an opportunity and taking it and then working to keep it, I just finally had the opportunity to show what I’ve always been capable of.”
