By Todd McElwee

In only a short period of time, Kyle Beckerman’s soccer career has already been like a roller coaster. Last December he was informed he had been selected to play soccer for the U.S. Men’s National Team. Eight months later, the 25-year-old Crofton native experienced déjà vu when he found out he had been traded from Major League Soccer’s Colorado Rapids to archnemesis Real Salt Lake. 

Circumstances had changed, but Beckerman had not.

“I got it around Dec. 15 last year,” he said. “It was a really good feeling. As soon as I got the call, I was like, ‘All right, it’s time to get ready and get better.’ You just want to put your best foot forward and be running on all cylinders.”

Crofton native Kyle Beckerman of Real Salt Lake takes on his former team, the Colorado Rapids. (Real Salt Lake)

As a midfielder, Beckerman is never afforded the luxury of settling on one side of the field. His position, one of constant adaptation and movement, requires him to attack an adversary’s goal one moment and defend his own net at another. The past 12 months have been reflective of his slot on the field.

“It’s just been a weird year,” he said. “It seems like it’s ending on the up and up. I was in a place where I did not think I would ever get traded. I felt like it was my team. To get traded came out of nowhere.”

Before the professional level, Beckerman honed his skills for various area club teams and Arundel High. Looking back, he credits those formative years for much of his current success. 

“I think we have some of the best training ground for youth soccer in Maryland, Washington, D.C., and northern Virginia,” he said. “Growing up, there was a lot of competition and a lot of good teams in a little area. It totally helped me develop as a player.”

One player he saw a lot of was fellow national team member and current Belgian First Division star Oguchi “Gooch” Onyewu. Teammate Santino Quaranta is also from Baltimore. 

“Me and Gooch used to battle it out,” he said. “When we were 10, he would step all over on my toes. He was this tall skinny kid. As we got older we ended up getting on the same team. It was amazing playing with him.”

Beckerman signed with the Miami Fusion in June of 2000, made his MLS debut in July and scored his first goal two months later against D.C. United. Colorado picked him up in the 2002 expansion draft. Recognized as the Rapids’ most improved player in 2005, he tied for the club lead in scoring with seven goals in 2006 while also earning Colorado’s Leadership Award. After making nearly 150 appearances in a Rapids’ uniform, he was dealt to Real Salt Lake on July 16.

A 6-17-7 record relegated Salt Lake to the Western Division cellar and out of the playoffs, something that did not sit well with Beckerman.

“I would have liked more time with Salt Lake, because I feel we were heading somewhere and we just ran out of games to play,” he said.

Beckerman came up through the ranks of U.S. soccer. In 1998 as a member of the U-17 team, he banged home the game-winning goal in a historic triumph over Argentina, their first in 86 years. His men’s debut occurred in January during a 3-1 victory over Denmark in Carson, Calif. Later he played the entire game in a 1-0 shutout of Colombia during the Copa America tournament.

Like most soccer players, Beckerman is eager to act as a representative of the sport and improve its standing in the United States.

“It’s going to [develop],” he said. “It’s just going to take some time. Next year we’ll probably have another team in the league [MLS]. There’s going to be two all new soccer stadiums. It’s getting there. Our goal is we need to be that fourth sport.” 

Although he has ascended to the pinnacle of both American and international soccer, Beckerman is not satisfied. There’s still more to be accomplished, and he won’t slow down until he has fulfilled all of his goals. 

“I want to do it again,” he said. “I want to do it as many times as I can. It was a good feeling to play at that level, and you want to get back to it.”

Issue 2.48: November 29, 2007