After Real Salt Lake’s up and down season, the club’s ownership is shaking up the front office and several coaching positions.
RSL announced Friday that Elliot Fall is no longer the team’s general manager, effective immediately, and that a global search for his replacement has begun. Kurt Schmid, the team’s technical director, will be elevated to sporting director and serve as interim chief soccer officer.
“First, I wish to express the utmost gratitude and appreciation for everything that Elliot accomplished during his 17 years with Real Salt Lake,” president John Kimball said in a news release. “Elliot’s enthusiasm, positivity, eagerness to learn and his overall love of the game imbued each of his various posts over the years with innovation and success. His stewardship of the team during his five years as general manager, steadily guiding us to the postseason despite change and volatility all around us, will never be forgotten.”
The team and Fall “remain in discussions regarding his future with the club,” per the release. He started at the organization as an intern in the communications department and worked his way up to the top job in the front office. He was named the general manager 2019.
Assistant general manager Tony Beltran will assume more responsibilities as a result of the moves.
Coach Pablo Mastroeni will remain with the team, but three of his assistants have been let go. Those assistants are Matt Taylor, Brett Jacobs and Ignacio “Nacho” Hernandez.
The Athletic reported Thursday that former RSL coach Jason Kreis is in advanced talks with the club about some kind of role, but not on Mastroeni’s coaching staff.
“Change is always difficult, but the growth and evolution of Real Salt Lake and all the teams that comprise our Club is necessary each and every day,” Kimball said. “As we enter our 20th season of existence, our ambitions demand a renewed approach as we pursue trophies and championships on the field, and seek to further deepen our connections off the pitch.”