Matt Besler played his college soccer at the University of Notre Dame. In the 2009 MLS SuperDraft, the Kansas City Wizards selected the center back with the No. 8 overall pick. Born in Kansas, Besler joined his hometown team, and the rest was history. From 2009-2013. Besler made 124 appearances for SKC. In 2012, he won MLS Defender of the Year and the Breakout Player of the Year. In both 2012 and 2013, he made the Best XI. He was named an MLS All-Star in 2011 and 2013. He also won the US Open Cup in 2012 and MLS Cup in 2013. On top of all of that, he participated in the 2013 USA Gold Cup victory. To say the least, it was a flying start of a career for the Kansas native.
In 2014, it was another All-Star season for Matt Besler. He held 7 clean sheets at the back for the fifth-placed team in the Eastern Conference. In the summer, Besler was a fixture at the 2014 World Cup for the United States. He started all four matches against Ghana, Portugal, Germany and Belgium, going the distance in three of those. In the first game after the WC, Besler used his absolute weapon of a long throw-in to earn an assist on a Dom Dwyer header. Sporting ended up losing 2-1 to the New York Red Bulls in the knockout round of the postseason.
Matt Besler made his third consecutive All-Star Team for his performances in 2015. He helped hold 11 clean sheets at the back. He also assisted 3 goals on the year. In March, Besler showed off his rocket throw once again, throwing an alley-oop for Ike Opara up top. In the very next match, he assisted a stoppage time match-winner against the Philadelphia Union with a flick header off a corner kick. In the Open Cup, he assisted an important Benny Feilhaber goal to beat Houston in the Quarters. He also assisted a Graham Zusi screamer in Columbus. In September, SKC defeated Philadelphia in the US Open Cup Final, winning the trophy. He placed a penalty into the top right corner in the effort to win the shootout. They went the wrong way in their next penalty kick shootout, falling to Portland in the playoffs.
In 2016, Besler kept 5 clean sheets, playing less minutes due to injury. Despite being selected for the MLS All-Star Team once again, he was forced to miss the contest due to health. Though, he did score his only MLS goal since 2014, and the last of his career. His header at the back post against Columbus won the game very late on. In 2017, he got back into defensive form by keeping 11 clean sheets. He also assisted 4 goals. His first was a whiffed shot attempt that fell to Latif Blessing. Besler played a normal pass to his CB mate Ike Opara, who lunged up and did it himself. He lobbed one over the top for an Ike Opara bicycle kick for his next helper. A long free kick gave Cristian Lobato his first MLS goal. SKC finished fifth, before losing to Houston in the postseason. Once again, Sporting Kansas City claimed the US Open Cup, Besler's third.
In 2018, Besler had his career-high of 12 clean sheets, while adding another 3 assists. In April, he picked out Johnny Russell for a perfect chip. He also earned a secondary assist on a Diego Rubio goal. His last assist of the year, and his last ever MLS goal contribution, was an assist via cross for Yohan Croizet in Vancouver. Sporting won the Western Conference regular season. After defeating Real Salt Lake in round one, Portland sent them home.
Matt Besler played his last full season of 2,000+ minutes in 2019. His back line had 5 shutouts. Sporting had their first truly bad year with Besler at the back, as they finished in eleventh place in the West. His twelfth and last season with Kansas City took place in 2020, his final match for the club being played against Real Salt Lake on November 8, 2020.
Ahead of 2021, Matt Besler signed a one-year deal with Austin FC ahead of their inaugural MLS season. It was his first time at a new club, and the last. He played just one season in Austin, clock 1,752 total minutes and keeping 4 clean sheets. After one year away from home, Besler called it quits. He announced his retirement on November 10, 2021. It was quite the 13-year career, winning numerous individual awards and team trophies. Besler has remained involved with the SKC organization post-retirement. His successes in the last ten years earns him the #31 slot.
YEAR | CLUB | MINUTES | GOALS | ASSISTS | CS |
2021 | ATX | 1,752 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
2020 | SKC | 810 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
2019 | SKC | 2,115 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
2018 | SKC | 2,745 | 0 | 3 | 12 |
2017 | SKC | 2,339 | 0 | 4 | 11 |
2016 | SKC | 1,546 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
2015 | SKC | 2,830 | 0 | 3 | 11 |
2014 | SKC | 2,145 | 0 | 1 | 7 |
Comments