Name: Matt Besler
Born: February 11, 1987, in Overland Park, Kansas
Position: Defender
Pro club: Sporting KC
Soccer Central podcast: SPORTSNET.CA’s Soccer Central podcast, hosted by John Molinaro and James Sharman, takes an in-depth look at the beautiful game and offers timely and thoughtful analysis on the sport’s biggest issues. To listen and subscribe to the podcast, CLICK HERE.
Why is he in the news?
Because, like LeBron James, he recently re-signed with his home-state club despite the fact that he had other options, and did so with a heartfelt letter. OK, maybe that comparison is a slight reach, but the 27-year-old Overland Park native did re-up with Sporting KC in MLS even though at least 10 Euro clubs (including Sunderland and one from the Bundesliga) had come calling. Besler is also fresh off playing an integral role in the U.S. national team’s fine World Cup performance. So let’s just go ahead and call him King Matt or the Other Chosen One.
He’s special because
Beyond loyalty (this is actually the second time Besler’s turned down overtures from abroad as he did so in December 2012 as well…), Besler is considered one of the finest overall players in MLS. He won the league’s defender of the year award in 2012, and the Sporting KC defence he anchors is currently giving up just 0.9 goals per game, fewest in MLS. He’s also just been elected to his third MLS all-star team.
Club career
Having played collegiately at Notre Dame, Besler was drafted eighth overall in the 2009 MLS Superdraft—back when Sporting KC was known as the Kansas City Wizards. The team failed to make the playoffs in his first two years in baby blue, but have made the playoffs in first or second in the East in each of the three years since. Named team captain just this March, Besler helped lead the team to a U.S. Open Cup in 2012 in an MLS Championship in 2013, which they won on penalty kicks.
For what it’s worth, his teammates seem to really like him. A lot:
International career
Besler has been on board Jurgen Klinsmann’s U.S. men’s national team since 2013 and was one of the team’s most highly rated performers in CONCACAF World Cup qualifying. Among his 21 international caps are his four starts in Brazil, in which he played in every possible minute and completed a whopping 87.8 percent of his passes. Despite sitting in the Group of Death with Germany and Portugal, his defensive unit allowed only five goals in four games.
His most famous moment
You could say it was the penalty kick he actually missed in last year’s MLS final, but it’s more likely the accumulated multitude of things happening off the field right now, what with his notoriety blowing up as a result of World Cup play and his re-signing with KC. But that doesn’t lend itself to a highlight, does it? So here’s a video of the best throw-in ever:
Here’s an interesting fact
In his open letter to Sporting KC fans, Besler says he grew up idolizing Kansas City sports figures. He admired George Brett so much he learned to swing a bat left-handed, even though he does everything else right-handed.
(Also, it’s pronounced “BEEZ-ler,” not “BEZ-ler.”)
He said it
“To be the first men’s player to represent the state of Kansas on the national team, it feels amazing, and that’s something I still carry with me. I’ll carry it with me every day of my life.”
What they’re saying about him
“He’s good on the ball. He’s very calm on the ball and he plays very simple. He don’t take any stupid risk in the back. He don’t mind to just kick it out for a throw-in if he’s in trouble. He’s that kind of defender you love to have on your team.” – Jimmy Nielsen, recently retired Sporting KC goaltender