HERRIMAN, Utah (Friday, December 16, 2022) – Real Salt Lake and DF **Marcelo Silva** have agreed on a new multi-year contract for the 2023 Major League Soccer season and beyond, the Club announced today.
“I am very happy and excited to continue my career with this team and this city,” said Silva, just after signing his new deal upon his return from celebrating holidays with family in South America. “I look forward to continued success under Pablo’s guidance, and I cannot wait to kick off the new season in front of our amazing fans.”
The upcoming 2023 MLS campaign will mark the Uruguayan centerback’s seventh on the Wasatch Front, with Silva appearing in 119 games – making 114 starts – across MLS regular-season and MLS Cup Playoff action. Overall, in games started by Silva alongside RSL HG **Justen Glad**, RSL posted a record of 11W-5L-8T, allowing just 25 goals in nearly 2,500 minutes played together in predominately a back four, but also a back three at times. Together, the Silva/Glad duo helped RSL post nine clean sheets in front of GK **Zac MacMath**.
During RSL’s 2022 season, Silva served as the acting Captain in 30 games missed due to injury by M/F Damir Kreilach. Silva’s 32 appearances (all starts) and 2,895 minutes played marked new MLS career-highs for the 33-year-old defender, while his two goals scored in the most recent season match the pair he scored in 2019. Prior to the 2022 campaign, Silva had not started more than 20 games or played more than 1,710 minutes.
Silva originally signed with Real Salt Lake on July 3, 2017, after 134 professional appearances in Spain at both the La Liga and second division levels with AlmerĂa, Las Palmas, Valladolid and Zaragoza between 2010 and 2017. During the 2012 season, Silva made 11 appearances on loan to famed Peñarol side in his native Uruguay.
Player Information
#30 – Marcelo Silva
Pronunciation: mar – SELL – oh SILL – vuh
Position: Defender
Height: 6-1
Weight: 201
Place of Birth: Fray Bentos, Uruguay
Date of Birth: 21 March 1989 (33)
Nationality: Uruguayan
How Acquired: Signed via free agency on 3 July 2017; extended contract on 16 December 2022
Utah’s Major League Soccer side returns in early January, 2023, as RSL’s preseason preparations in California and Arizona advance the Club’s 19th regular-season kickoff on the weekend of Saturday, February 25 to kick off the 28th MLS campaign. Over the past two seasons, RSL has earned an 18W-7L-9T home record at what is now known as America First Field in Sandy, setting a new Club mark in 2022 with 17 sellout crowds in as many MLS contests at the 14-year-old venue.
2023 Season Tickets can be purchased at www.RSL.com/tickets, or by calling 844.Real.Tix.
