Matthew Real
Real with Bethlehem Steel in 2018
Personal information
Full name Matthew Joseph Real[1]
Date of birth (1999-07-10) July 10, 1999 (age 24)
Place of birth Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania, United States
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[2]
Position(s) Left-back
Team information
Current team
 Philadelphia Union
Number 2
Youth career
2013–2016 Philadelphia Union
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2019 Bethlehem Steel 57 (2)
2018– Philadelphia Union 40 (2)
2022– Philadelphia Union II 10 (4)
International career
2017 United States U18 8 (0)
2018–2019 United States U20 11 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of April 9, 2023

Matthew Joseph Real (born July 10, 1999) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a left-back for the Philadelphia Union of Major League Soccer.[3]

Club career

Bethlehem Steel FC

Real signed an amateur deal to play with United Soccer League side Bethlehem Steel FC for their 2016 season. He had committed to play college soccer at Wake Forest University,[4] before opting to sign a professional contract with Bethlehem Steel FC on January 17, 2017.[5]

Philadelphia Union

Real signed a homegrown contract with Bethlehem Steel's MLS parent club Philadelphia Union on January 18, 2018.[6] Real made his MLS debut in the Union's 3–0 loss to the Colorado Rapids on March 31, 2018. Putting forth a solid 75-minute performance, saving a goal on the line to keep the Rapids scoreless heading into the half. In September 2020, Real scored his first goal for the Union as a substitute in a 3–0 victory over New York Red Bulls.[7]

Personal life

Real was born in the United States to a Brazilian father and an Italian American mother.[8]

Career statistics

As of match played November 21, 2021[9]
Club Season League National cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Bethlehem Steel 2016 USL Championship 2 0 — — 0 0 2 0
2017 18 1 — — 1[a] 0 19 1
2018 21 1 — — 1[a] 0 22 1
2019 18 0 — — 0 0 18 0
Total 59 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 61 2
Philadelphia Union 2018 Major League Soccer 3 0 1[b] 0 — 0 0 4 0
2019 3 0 1[b] 0 — 0 0 4 0
2020 15 1 — — 1[c] 0 16 1
2021 8 0 0 0 3[d] 0 0 0 11 0
Total 29 1 2 0 3 0 1 0 35 1
Career total 88 3 2 0 3 0 3 0 96 3
  1. ^ a b Appearances in USL Cup Playoffs
  2. ^ a b Appearances in U.S. Open Cup
  3. ^ Appearances in MLS is Back Tournament
  4. ^ Appearances in CONCACAF Champions League

Honors

Philadelphia Union

United States U20

References

  1. ^ "FIFA U-20 World Cup Poland 2019: List of Players: USA" (PDF). FIFA. June 13, 2019. p. 24. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 6, 2020.
  2. ^ "Matthew Real". Philadelphia Union. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  3. ^ "Matthew Real | Philadelphia Union Profile". philadelphiaunion.com. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
  4. ^ "Matthew Real verbally commits to Wake Forest". December 3, 2015.
  5. ^ "Bethlehem Steel FC signs defender Matthew Real | Philadelphia Union".
  6. ^ "Philadelphia Union Sign Homegrown Defender Matthew Real".
  7. ^ Matthew Ralph (September 7, 2020). "'Angry' about not starting, Matt Real chips in first MLS goal off the bench". Brotherly Game. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
  8. ^ "AAA Start Your Journey: Matt Real | Philadelphia Union". Archived from the original on November 22, 2018.
  9. ^ "Matthew Real". Soccerway. Playmaker Stats. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
  10. ^ Major League Soccer [@MLS] (November 8, 2020). "SUPPORTERS' SHIELD WINNERS @PhilaUnion win their first trophy in club history! #DOOP" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  11. ^ Sigal, Jonathan (November 5, 2022). "Hollywood ending! LAFC win legendary MLS Cup 2022 over Philadelphia Union". Major League Soccer. Retrieved April 27, 2023.

External links

Philadelphia Union – current squad
Categories