SANDY, Utah – (Tuesday, September 22, 2020) – Real Salt Lake today announced the signing of RSL Academy Product Andrew Brody from Real Monarchs to a Homegrown contract, making him the 23rd product of the RSL Academy signed to the first team. He will remain with the Monarchs for the 2020 season and join RSL’s roster in 2021, the club announced today.
“Andrew is a great example of success in our development pipeline. He’s a player that came up through our Academy and had success in the Academy. He went to college and had success in college. He came in with the Monarchs and did well with the Monarchs,” RSL General Manager Elliot Fall said. “He was on fringe of playing at the MLS level and went to Austria for six months and was great. He took that next step in his development and came back a different player. He’s earned it and we are proud and excited to have his name on an RSL kit.”
Brody, 25, joins RSL after a standout career in the USL Championship from 2016-2020. With 99 regular season appearances, he is the Monarchs all-time games played leader and also made one playoff appearance in 2018. The Orlando, Florida native signed with the Monarchs prior to the 2016 season and his versatility helped cement him in the Monarchs starting lineup throughout his time with the team. In his rookie campaign, he registered 1,458 minutes played. To date, Brody has played 7,770 minutes and scored seven goals to go with seven assists, including one goal and one assist this season. In addition, he spent six months on loan at FC Pinzgau Saalfelden in Austria’s third division in 2019, earning valuable international experience.
“Ever since joining the Academy at 16 the goal was always to sign for the first team,” Brody said. “Although it took longer than I expected, I couldn’t be happier to finally achieve that goal. I’m excited to get going and show the team what I can do.”
Prior to joining the Monarchs, Brody became a standout at the RSL Arizona Academy before competing for the University of Louisville from 2013-2015. With the Cardinals, Brody registered 9 goals in 61 appearances.
“He always gives you 100% in training and in games. There have been opportunities here and there with some Open Cup games and international games and he didn’t seem out of his depth,” said RSL Head Coach Freddy Juarez, who coached Brody with the RSL Academy. “He raises the standards of training and he’s done everything through our RSL pathway and beyond and he’s earned the opportunity.”
Real Salt Lake currently has 11 RSL Academy products on its 2020 roster – goalkeeper David Ochoa; defenders Justen Glad, Aaron Herrera, Erik Holt and Donny Toia; midfielder Luis Arriaga; and forwards Corey Baird, Chris Garcia, Milan Iloski, Tate Schmitt and Julian Vazquez. In each of the last two seasons, RSL has led MLS in minutes played by its academy products totaling over 23,000 regular season minutes.
Player Information
Name: Andrew Brody
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 135
Age: 25
Hometown: Orlando, Florida
Last club: Real Monarchs
Transaction: Real Salt Lake signed Andrew Brody to a Homegrown contract for the 2021 season.
Real Salt Lake continues its 2020 season on Sunday on the road against Minnesota United FC. Kickoff is set for 6:00 p.m. MT and will be broadcast live on KMYU and the KSL TV app and on the radio on ESPN700.
