On February 7th, 2018, Damir Kreilach joined Real Salt Lake from a then second division German side called Union Berlin. The Croatian attacking midfielder joined MLS at the age of 28, after making over 300 appearances across his two clubs, HNK Rijeka and Union Berlin.
On April 21st, he registered his first goal for RSL, setting the ball and smashing it into the bottom corner. In August, he bagged a brace in a 2-1 victory over the Chicago Fire. In first half stoppage time, he netted a powerful header, something RSL fans have come to expect from him. Kreilach's second of the evening came about on a back post run to finish off a Joao Plata cross. On the opening day of September, Kreilach put on a show against the LA Galaxy during a 6-2 win. After facing a 1-0 deficit, RSL turned it on. Kreilach masterfully chipped David Bingham and headed home his own touch for his first. After Bingham spilled a Rusnak shot, he crossed it to Kreilach for a tap in. It became a hat trick when Kreilach used his body position to steer home another low cross. RSL made the playoffs by a single point. In the knockout round against LAFC, Kreilach volleyed home the opener, before astonishingly karate kicking an equalizer later on. He scored a consolation goal in the game in which SKC eliminated them from the playoffs. Kreilach won the team's golden boot, scoring 15 goals across the regular season and playoffs in his first season.
In 2019, Kreilach did not find the same production, but he was still a massive piece of RSL's third place finish. He changed his number from 6 to 8 in his second season, the number he still dons to this day. Kreilach dished out 6 goals, while adding 5 assists. On Decision Day, Kreilach popped up in the box on a Donny Toia cross, heading it home going into the playoffs. Things started out great in leg one versus Portland, as Kreilach scored another header and his team won 2-1. The Timbers would show up in the second leg, winning the aggregate series and knocking out RSL in the first round.
Damir Kreilach was one of the limited MLS players that scored before the league shutdown at the start of 2020. In stoppage time, it was of course another power header to steal a point at Red Bull Arena. In the opening match of the MLS is Back Tournament, Kreilach placed an inch-perfect worm-burner into the bottom left corner against Colorado. Upon the return to the normal regular season, Kreilach terrorized the Rapids yet again with an absolute bazooka into the upper 90. In the following match against Portland, Kreilach scored his second karate kick goal of his MLS career, which is two more than just about everyone. He finished the shortened season with 8 goals, which was one of the better seasons around the league. Though, RSL missed the playoffs with just 22 points.
In 2021, it was Damir Kreilach's year. The league was already on notice of his abilities, but he took his game to new heights during the season. The party got started early, as Kreilach scored his first of many headers on the season, while adding two assists in the second game of the year. A few games later, he started a three-game stretch in which he scored 4 goals. He stole a point from FC Dallas in the 86th minute with another headed finish. In the next one, he scored a hockey-esque tip in front of goal. The June 18th match versus Vancouver contained a Kreilach brace, including a deflected strike from outside the box and a dagger diving header. In a five-match span between September 18th and October 16th, Kreilach scored one goal in each. He was named a 2021 MLS All-Star for his contributions. Despite all this, it took a Decision Day miracle to qualify for the playoffs.
Entering the final matchday of 2021, LA Galaxy held the seventh and last playoff spot with 47 points, while Real Salt Lake sat in eighth with 45 points. In minute 75 of the Galaxy's match with Minnesota, Chicharito tied the match at three. This means that they had 48 points, compared to RSL's 45. Real Salt Lake would have to score a goal and break the 0-0 tie against Sporting Kansas City to make the playoffs. And Damir Kreilach did. With less than thirty seconds left in their season, Kreilach smashed home a 95' winner to send RSL to the playoffs. RSL and LA ended up with 48 points a piece, but Salt Lake had more wins and took the tiebreaker. The magic continued, as the #7 seed team defeated the #2 Seattle Sounders in penalties. Then, they put down the #3 SKC that let them in the playoffs in the first place. The incredible story had to come to an end in the Western Conference Final, in a 2-0 loss at Portland.
In 2022, Damir Kreilach was missing in action. He played in the first five matches of the season, scoring his lone goal of the season against Toronto FC. Real Salt Lake's captain underwent lower back surgery, ending his season. He returned with a bang in 2023, scoring a match-winner in Vancouver in the first match of the season. Kreilach's most recent pair of goals came in a June match against St. Louis. He finished off a beautiful run of play with his team, then later added a first-time capper against the West's top team. As it stands, Kreilach has four goals and an assist in 2023. RSL sit in second place in the Western Conference with just three matches to go, but virtually anything can still happen with how close the West is at the moment. Damir Kreilach has been an incredible presence for Real Salt Lake since arriving in 2018, placing him at #67 on the list.
YEAR | CLUB | MINUTES | GOALS | ASSISTS |
2023 | RSL | 1,256* | 4* | 1* |
2022 | RSL | 298 | 1 | 0 |
2021 | RSL | 2,875 | 16 | 9 |
2020 | RSL | 1,770 | 8 | 1 |
2019 | RSL | 2,666 | 6 | 5 |
2018 | RSL | 2,784 | 12 | 8 |
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