Real Salt Lake fans have surely called Johnny Russell a lot of things over the years, more than a few of them unprintable here.
In the history of the club’s rivalry with Sporting Kansas City, no player has scored more goals against RSL than KC’s former captain.
Now Russell hopes fans in Salt Lake will call him something else: one of their own.
The 35-year-old Scot signed a free-agent deal with RSL last week and could make his debut with his former rival this weekend.
“I understand with the whole rivalry thing that some people wouldn’t be best pleased,” Russell said. “But I think people will see very quickly that I’m somebody who plays for the badge no matter where I am. I’m hoping the people who don’t quite appreciate it right now will grow to love it.”
They likely will if Russell can do what he has done so many times during his seven seasons in Major League Soccer. The striker scored 67 goals during his time in Kansas City — seven of them against RSL.
In Salt Lake, Russell’s new club has been desperately searching for a scoring punch since selling Chicho Arango, the team’s top scorer a season ago, during the offseason.
It might be a stretch to imagine Russell filling that hole at this point in his career. But RSL coach Pablo Mastroeni believes the veteran will help.
“It’s amazing,” the coach said after one of Russell’s first days of training this week. “It feels a lot like when Chicho first came to the group. He hasn’t even contributed on the field yet, but his presence is palpable. … He just brings up the level with his presence.”
Russell’s leadership qualities aren’t in question.
“He cares about all the boys in the team,” said forward William Agada, who played with Russell in Kansas City before being traded to Salt Lake last week. “He always brings energy. You know, leadership by example. That’s Johnny. He will run and ask you to run with him. He’s not just going to tell you what to do.”
Russell said he was drawn to RSL’s talented youth who “maybe just need a little experience around, a little bit of help.”
“That’s what I’m here to do, on and off the field,” he said. “Hopefully, I can share some wisdom, share some of my experiences and help them in the right direction.”
He added: “If they need a little bit of a motivational push at times, I can give that. Or if they need an arm around their shoulder just to talk, I think I’ve got that balance.
I completely understand I’m not captain of the team anymore. But it’s still something I’d do whether I’m captain or not. It’s part of me as a person, me as a player.”
Russell hasn’t played in a match since October. But Mastroeni said RSL has been surprised by his readiness, saying Russell’s “physical metrics have been beyond what we expected.”
“I looked after myself extremely well in the offseason,” Russell said. “There’s a difference between being fit and being able to play a full 90. I know that. But I don’t think it’ll be too far away.”
RSL fans hope that means Russell’s goals won’t be too far away either.
That’s something few thought they’d be saying a year ago.
“I don’t think anyone would have thought that,” Russell said, taking in his new situation. It’s funny how the game works.”
