Real Salt Lake and veteran midfielder Damir Kreilach are parting ways. The MLS side announced Kreilach’s departure in a social media post on Wednesday.
Kreilach, who served as the team’s captain for the past two years, saw his 2024 club option decline at the end of the last season.
Kreilach joined Real Salt Lake in 2018 and quickly established himself as an indispensable player for the club. He had his best season with the club in 2021, when he scored 16 goals and added nine assists en route to an All-Star appearance.
However, a back injury held Kreilach out of action for the entire 2022 season, and he hasn’t looked the same once he returned to the field. The 35-year-old player played 27 games in 2023 but managed only four goals and one assist.
“It’s impossible to put into words what Damir has meant to our club during the last six years,” said Real Salt Lake’s sporting director Kurt Schmid in a statement. “Damir is the consummate professional, a true gentleman, and an unequivocal leader who holds himself and his teammates to the highest of standards.”
Kreilach isn’t expected to retire and will instead look for a new club. He previously played with Rijeka in his native Croatia and had a stint with Germany’s Union Berlin before joining Real Salt Lake.
