Time spent in Europe aids Real Salt Lake's domestic players

LEHI — Around Utah, it is not that uncommon for a young man to leave home, go overseas for a couple of years and return home as an older, wiser, more experienced version of himself.

No, that is not talking about the LDS mission program, but rather, what has been happening with Real Salt Lake.

With the addition of its newest member — 21-year-old striker Will Johnson, who signed with the team last week — RSL now has five members of its team that spent time in Europe playing either this season or last. Nat Borchers, Ian Joy, Robbie Russell, Clint Mathis and Johnson all were recently plying their trade for euros rather than dollars.

"I think that any player that can go over into that type of pressure-packed environment and perform is only going to get better," said Real head coach Jason Kreis. "It just means so much more over there. When you have to step out on the field and play well not only so you can earn a spot in the starting 11, but so that you don't get hit with rocks during the week, you learn to step up your performance."

The allure of going to a continent that is passionate about its soccer is obvious. The game has been king for generations, and the world's best players are spread throughout the different European leagues.

"As a little kid you always dream about going over to play with the best in the world," Russell said. "MLS has been playing what, 13 years now? The game is just in its more-advanced stages there and that is where everyone thinks of when you talk about playing pro soccer."

It isn't always a player's first choice, however, to leave home to play abroad.

"If I wanted to keep going with my soccer career, that is where I had to go," Johnson said. "My contract was up with Chicago, and they basically gave me an offer that was a joke and made it impossible for any other team to sign me.

"I decided I was just going to go over there and go to trial after trial until someone picked me up, and after my first trial with Heerenveen (Netherlands), they picked me up and I went from there."

The competition for spots is intense when playing the No. 1 sport in a country. Children growing up overseas don't usually dream about the NBA or NFL. They think about becoming the next Christiano Ronaldo or Mikael Ballack. But players from America that spend time in a foreign country learn more than just soccer.

"I think one of the best aspects of it was just getting to know the people and the culture," said Borchers, who speaks fluent Norwegian because of his time spent playing for Odd Grenland in Norway's pro league. "It was an eye-opener to get away from America and get out and experience a different country."

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