Johnny Russell Transforms from Rival to Teammate at Real Salt Lake

SALT LAKE CITY — Johnny Russell, once seen as the villain for Real Salt Lake fans while playing for Sporting Kansas City, has turned a new page in his career by signing as a free agent with RSL.

“I’ve had experiences here in the past where it’s not been so pleasant,” said Russell, now an RSL forward. “It’s actually been pretty good so far.” The shift in dynamics has come as a surprise to many, including Russell himself.

After training with his new teammates this week, Russell found himself engaging in high-fives and camaraderie he never anticipated during his previous encounters with the team. “Probably not,” he chuckled when asked if he thought he would ever be here. “It’s funny how the game works. It’s been a little bit of an adjustment for everyone, but I’m just excited to be here.”

Russell missed RSL’s recent game against San Diego but is expected to play this Saturday in Vancouver following a week of intensive training. RSL head coach Pablo Mastroeni expressed optimism about Russell’s potential contributions, stating, “He hasn’t even contributed on the field yet, but his presence is palpable. His physical matrix has been beyond what we expected, so there’s a great chance he’s going to contribute to this game at the weekend.”

The 35-year-old veteran has been evaluating many teams this year in search of the right fit. He believes he has found it with RSL. “I think at this stage of my career, the project that they’ve got going on here, an exciting young team, extremely talented young guys who maybe just need a little bit of experience around, a little bit of help, that’s what I’m here to do, on and off the field,” Russell stated. “Help as much as I can. It’s exciting times ahead.”