Kyle Robert Beckerman (born April 23, 1982) is an
American soccer player, who currently plays holding
midfielder for Real Salt Lake of Major League
Soccer.
After playing for the United States in the 1999
Under-17 World Cup in New Zealand, Beckerman joined
the league in 2000, eschewing college to sign a Nike
Project-40 contract with the league. Beckerman
however had been involved with the league for the
previous few years, having been one of the initial
residents at the United States Soccer Federation's
Bradenton Academy, which also featured Landon
Donovan, DaMarcus Beasley, and Bobby Convey.
Two days after signing with the league, the Miami
Fusion claimed Beckerman. Beckerman hardly played in
his first two years, however, registering only 110
minutes his first year, and only 14 his second after
breaking his leg playing in the A-League.
After the Fusion were contracted at the end of the
2001 season, Beckerman was selected 11th overall in
the 2002 MLS Dispersal Draft by the Colorado Rapids.
In his first year with the Rapids, Beckerman again
saw limited time, playing 477 minutes and
registering one assist. In his second season,
however, he finally broke through, starting 24 games
and playing 2124 minutes, registering five assists,
as a central midfielder. Beckerman did much the same
in 2004, starting consistently, but rarely
impressing greatly. Beckerman remained a regular
starter through the 2005 and 2006 seasons, playing
an increasingly important role for the Rapids. He
was traded on July 16th of 2007 season to Salt Lake
for Mehdi Ballouchy.
He made his international debut for the United
States on January 20, 2007 against Denmark at the
Home Depot Center in Carson, California. Kyle was
named for the USA squad to play in the Copa America
Tournament in Venezuela.
