Albert Rusnak burst onto the MLS scene in 2017, but it wasn't much of a surprise coming from a former Manchester City academy member. He spent 2010-2013 with City's reserve side, before making multiple loan trips across Europe. When his contract there expired in 2015, Rusnak joined Dutch club FC Groningen. On January 6th of 2017, Albert Rusnak made the transfer to Real Salt Lake.
In the Slovak winger's first MLS season, he showed up in a big way for RSL. Rusnak's first MLS goal against Vancouver on April 8th of his first season came in a very MLS fashion. The match started with a green field, and by the time he slotted his first goal into the bottom left corner, the pitch had a slippery snowy cover. He must've enjoyed playing those conditions because he added two assists later in the match as well. Rusnak introduced himself to Real Salt Lake's tradition of playing on July 4th with a first half goal against LA Galaxy. He assisted two goals in that match as well, a 6-2 win. On August 23rd, he once again scored, and once again assisted two goals in a game in which he scored. At the end of the 2017 season, Rusnak finished third in MLS in assists with 14, and won Real Salt Lake's golden boot with 7 goals.
Albert Rusnak stayed productive in 2018, swapping some of his playmaking for more goal scoring. Half of his 10 goals came in a three-game span between August 18th and September 1st. In the first match of the trio, Rusnak showcased pure class. He came on a sub in the match against Houston. RSL was down 1-0 in minute 93'. Rusnak received the pass at the top of the D, cut back onto his left foot, before unleashing an absolute missile off the right post and in to equalize. He wasn't done there, as Houston conceded a 97' penalty in a +6. With almost 100 minutes on the clock, Rusnak sent Joe Willis the wrong way and let the crowd know. The next weekend, his side absolutely embarrassed the Colorado Rapids. Rusnak tapped home his goal against 9 men to finish off the 6-0 victory. Salt Lake poured 6 more goals on the following weekend as well, Rusnak scored two of them. The Galaxy struck within the opening seconds, but it was a quick response after a clean turn from the man of the hour. Rusnak later added a scrumptious first time volley with some velocity during a 6-2 win. In the Western Conference Semis against SKC, he scored a rather similar goal after a perfectly timed one-two with Damir Kreilach. Unfortunately, the bigger story was Rusnak's yellow card, which saw him suspended for a leg two loss and elimination.
In 2019, Albert Rusnak hit double digit goals for the second consecutive season. Forty minutes into the fresh slate, he found his first of the season. He followed it on matchday two, with as pretty a penalty one can take. Rusnak's most productive match of 2019 was an away match in Cincinnati on April 19th. He slammed home a rebound and added a penalty kick on top of it. In the playoffs, he played 90 against Portland and Seattle, getting eliminated in a loss against the latter. We all know that 2020 was just a weird year for everyone, especially athletes trying to play as if everything is normal. Rusnak scored 3 goals and assisted 2 in the shortened season. It was the third consecutive year he score more than he assisted, despite having double the amount of assists as goals in his first campaign.
In 2021, Real Salt Lake's star returned to his form. Rusnak set a career-high in goals with 11, adding 11 assists for an even season of production. He also started in all 34 matches. He scored four goals in the final four matches of the season, including a brace against San Jose on October 30th. He combined with Kreilach on a one-two, something that became quite normal, before opening the match's scoring. His later goal was one of consolation, as they lost 4-3. For the playoffs, Albert Rusnak caught Covid-19, but his team showed up for him and continued winning games as the seventh seed. His team defeated the second seeded Seattle and third seeded SKC. Rusnak returned to play against Portland in the Western Conference Finals, but RSL's luck ran out in a 2-0 loss.
Rusnak began a new era in 2022 when he signed for the Seattle Sounders as a Designated Player and effectively had his position changed. Previously playing at the #10 and on the wing, the Sounders saw him in a different way, especially due to injuries. Rusnak was placed into the center of midfield, primarily playing in a double pivot in a 4-2-3-1. Obviously, his goal contribution numbers dipped drastically. In 2022, he scored just 3 goals along with 2 assists, matching his stats of the shortened 2020. The MLS season itself was disappointing, but he played a massive role in winning the CONCACAF Champions League with Seattle. Rusnak played the entire match at CM, earning a yellow card and a CCL trophy, the first MLS team to win it. He also played every single minute of their run to the title.
In 2023 thus far, Rusnak has played a mixture of CM and attacking midfield. His first goal of the season against Minnesota back in April showed shades of his old self. Rusnak stepped up with no hesitation, hitting a low volley into the bottom corner to claim all three points. It seems that Rusnak has always stepped up and scored in big moments when the team needs a goal. On the first of July, he scored the goal against Houston to snatch another win. His most recent goal came on the 30th of August, would anyone be surprised if I said it was another late match winner? Rusnak's 90th minute match-winning volley against Austin means that all three of his goals this season have won Seattle the respective match. Last week against Portland, Rusnak also provided a secondary assist off a corner kick. Rusnak has seen more appearances at CAM and on the wing as of late, with Joao Paulo and either Josh Atencio or Obed Vargas able to man the double pivot. Perhaps we could see Rusnak continue this streak of goal contributions and turn the clock back to his RSL days? His impressive, yet still growing resume lands him at #93.
YEAR | CLUB | MINUTES | GOALS | ASSISTS |
2023 | SEA | 2,303* | 3* | 4* |
2022 | SEA | 2,614 | 3 | 2 |
2021 | RSL | 3,045 | 11 | 11 |
2020 | RSL | 1,291 | 3 | 2 |
2019 | RSL | 2,456 | 10 | 5 |
2018 | RSL | 2,592 | 10 | 7 |
2017 | RSL | 2,579 | 7 | 14 |
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