Jason Kreis
Encyclopedia
Jason Clarence Kreis is an American soccer coach and former player. He is currently the head coach
of Real Salt Lake
in Major League Soccer
.
Kreis spent the majority of his playing career in MLS in the United States, initially with Dallas Burn, and then with Real Salt Lake
. In total he made over 300 professional appearances, was Major League Soccer MVP in 1999, and is currently the third highest scorer in MLS regular season history. He also earned fourteen caps with the United States national team.
in Omaha, Kreis was selected First Team All-State. He remains the only freshman selected to the first team. Following his freshman year, Kreis and his family moved to Mandeville, Louisiana
, where he led Mandeville High School
to several Class 5A state soccer tournaments, but never won a state title, losing to Lafayette High
in the quarter finals his senior year. While at Mandeville, he was also a standout performer for the Baton Rouge United Jags, a U-19 Select team that finished as national runner-up in 1991 and won the prestigious Capital Cup tournament in Washington, D.C.
as the league prepared for its inaugural season. Kreis was drafted forty-third overall by the Dallas Burn in the fifth round of the MLS Inaugural Draft. He scored the first goal in Burn history. In 1999, Kreis was the first American-born player to be named league MVP after he led the league in points and goals
, and also registered the first 15-goal, 15-assist season in league history. The five-time all-star led his team in goals five times and in points four times.
On June 26, 2004, Kreis scored his eighty-ninth league goal against DC United, moving past Roy Lassiter
to the top of the league's all-time goal-scoring chart. Kreis remained the all time goalscoring leader for more than three years until Jaime Moreno
surpassed his record on August 22, 2007. He ended his ninth MLS season with career totals of 91 goals and 65 assists for 247 points, plus added four goals and two assists in the playoffs.
, becoming the first player in the club's history. He left Dallas as the franchise's all-time leader in games played (247), goals (91), assists (65), and points (247). Kreis scored the first goal in Salt Lake's history in its second match, a 3–1 loss to the Los Angeles Galaxy
. In doing so, he became the first player in league history to do so for two different teams, as he scored the inaugural goal for Dallas in 1996 as well. On August 13, 2005, he became the first player in MLS history to score 100 career league goals. He retired as a player early in the 2007 season, finishing with 108 career goals.
. He received his first cap
on August 30, 1996, against El Salvador
. Kreis scored his only international goal on September 8, 1999 in a 2-2 draw against Jamaica.
; at the time of his hire, Kreis became the youngest active head coach in MLS at 34 years and 127 days. He led Salt Lake to its first-post season playoff appearance in 2008 and in 2009 he coached the team to its first MLS Cup championship. He is the youngest coach in MLS history to win the MLS Cup. He has guided Real Salt Lake to the CONCACAF Champions League knockout round in the 2010-11 season by winning Group A.
Real Salt Lake signed Kreis to a contract extension on March 24, 2011 that will keep him at the RSL helm through the 2013 season. The club also announced that the RSL number 9 jersey from his playing days would be retired by the club on July 4
, 2011.
Kreis is known for his single-minded focus to soccer, admitting to being obsessive about game preparation. Real Salt Lake midfielder Kyle Beckerman
said about him in a 2011 interview, "I don't think he watches other sports. He just met Jimmer Fredette
the other day, and he didn't know who Jimmer was."
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Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
of Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake is an American professional soccer club based in Sandy, Utah, a suburb of Salt Lake City. The team competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. They currently play their home games at Rio Tinto Stadium. Real Salt Lake won...
in Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
.
Kreis spent the majority of his playing career in MLS in the United States, initially with Dallas Burn, and then with Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake is an American professional soccer club based in Sandy, Utah, a suburb of Salt Lake City. The team competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. They currently play their home games at Rio Tinto Stadium. Real Salt Lake won...
. In total he made over 300 professional appearances, was Major League Soccer MVP in 1999, and is currently the third highest scorer in MLS regular season history. He also earned fourteen caps with the United States national team.
Early life
Kreis played for the Gladiator Soccer Club in his hometown of Omaha, where his parents were among the pioneers who established this first premier/select club within the state. As a freshman at Burke High SchoolOmaha Burke High School
Harry A. Burke High School is a secondary school located in Omaha, Nebraska. The principal is Dr. Deborah Frison. The school's mascot is the Bulldogs.Each year in May, the Nebraska State Track Meet is held at the school...
in Omaha, Kreis was selected First Team All-State. He remains the only freshman selected to the first team. Following his freshman year, Kreis and his family moved to Mandeville, Louisiana
Mandeville, Louisiana
Mandeville is a city in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 12,421 in 2008. Mandeville is located on the North Shore of Lake Pontchartrain, south of Interstate 12. It is across the lake from the city of New Orleans and its southshore suburbs...
, where he led Mandeville High School
Mandeville High School
Mandeville High School is a Division 5A public high school, in Mandeville, Louisiana. It is located in Saint Tammany Parish, Louisiana and is part of the St. Tammany Parish Public Schools system. Mandeville is a suburban community within thirty miles commuting distance to the metropolitan area of...
to several Class 5A state soccer tournaments, but never won a state title, losing to Lafayette High
Lafayette High School (Louisiana)
Lafayette High School is a public four-year high school located in Lafayette, Louisiana.With an enrollment of 2279 students, Lafayette High is one of the largest schools in the state of Louisiana...
in the quarter finals his senior year. While at Mandeville, he was also a standout performer for the Baton Rouge United Jags, a U-19 Select team that finished as national runner-up in 1991 and won the prestigious Capital Cup tournament in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
Minor leagues
In 1993, Kreis played during the summer for the Raleigh Flyers of the USISL. In the summer of 1994, he returned to Louisiana to play for the New Orleans Riverboat Gamblers, also of the USISL. After finishing his collegiate eligibility in 1994, Kreis signed his first professional contract with the Raleigh Flyers in the spring of 1995.Dallas Burn
On August 1, 1995, Kreis signed a contract with Major League SoccerMajor League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
as the league prepared for its inaugural season. Kreis was drafted forty-third overall by the Dallas Burn in the fifth round of the MLS Inaugural Draft. He scored the first goal in Burn history. In 1999, Kreis was the first American-born player to be named league MVP after he led the league in points and goals
MLS Golden Boot
The MLS Golden Boot has been awarded since the 2005 season to Major League Soccer's regular season leading scorer...
, and also registered the first 15-goal, 15-assist season in league history. The five-time all-star led his team in goals five times and in points four times.
On June 26, 2004, Kreis scored his eighty-ninth league goal against DC United, moving past Roy Lassiter
Roy Lassiter
Roy Lassiter is a retired American soccer striker, and Major League Soccer's record holder for goals scored in a season, with 27 in 1996.-Early life:...
to the top of the league's all-time goal-scoring chart. Kreis remained the all time goalscoring leader for more than three years until Jaime Moreno
Jaime Moreno
Jaime Moreno Morales is a former Bolivian footballer now serving as Youth Academy Technical Training Coach for D.C. United in Major League Soccer, and as the head coach of D.C. United's U-23 side....
surpassed his record on August 22, 2007. He ended his ninth MLS season with career totals of 91 goals and 65 assists for 247 points, plus added four goals and two assists in the playoffs.
Real Salt Lake
On November 17, 2004, Kreis was traded to Real Salt LakeReal Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake is an American professional soccer club based in Sandy, Utah, a suburb of Salt Lake City. The team competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. They currently play their home games at Rio Tinto Stadium. Real Salt Lake won...
, becoming the first player in the club's history. He left Dallas as the franchise's all-time leader in games played (247), goals (91), assists (65), and points (247). Kreis scored the first goal in Salt Lake's history in its second match, a 3–1 loss to the Los Angeles Galaxy
Los Angeles Galaxy
The Los Angeles Galaxy are an American professional soccer team, based in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson, California, which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, and the league's second...
. In doing so, he became the first player in league history to do so for two different teams, as he scored the inaugural goal for Dallas in 1996 as well. On August 13, 2005, he became the first player in MLS history to score 100 career league goals. He retired as a player early in the 2007 season, finishing with 108 career goals.
International
With only 14 international appearances, Kreis was never able to translate his club success into one with the U.S. national teamUnited States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
. He received his first cap
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
on August 30, 1996, against El Salvador
El Salvador national football team
El Salvador's national football team represents El Salvador in international football and is sanctioned by the Federación Salvadoreña de Fútbol . In 1899, Santa Ana and San Salvador met for the first hosted football game in El Salvador...
. Kreis scored his only international goal on September 8, 1999 in a 2-2 draw against Jamaica.
Coaching career
On May 3, 2007, Kreis retired from professional competition, and was announced as the new head coach of Real Salt Lake, retiring as a player and taking over the coaching reins from John EllingerJohn Ellinger
John Ellinger is a former American soccer coach of the Under-17 United States men's national soccer team, and former head coach of Real Salt Lake of Major League Soccer....
; at the time of his hire, Kreis became the youngest active head coach in MLS at 34 years and 127 days. He led Salt Lake to its first-post season playoff appearance in 2008 and in 2009 he coached the team to its first MLS Cup championship. He is the youngest coach in MLS history to win the MLS Cup. He has guided Real Salt Lake to the CONCACAF Champions League knockout round in the 2010-11 season by winning Group A.
Real Salt Lake signed Kreis to a contract extension on March 24, 2011 that will keep him at the RSL helm through the 2013 season. The club also announced that the RSL number 9 jersey from his playing days would be retired by the club on July 4
Independence Day (United States)
Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain...
, 2011.
Kreis is known for his single-minded focus to soccer, admitting to being obsessive about game preparation. Real Salt Lake midfielder Kyle Beckerman
Kyle Beckerman
Kyle Beckerman is an American soccer player who currently plays for Real Salt Lake in Major League Soccer and the United States national team. He is a holding midfielder and also serves as team captain for Real Salt Lake.-Youth:Beckerman began his career participating in various youth leagues in...
said about him in a 2011 interview, "I don't think he watches other sports. He just met Jimmer Fredette
Jimmer Fredette
James Taft "Jimmer" Fredette is an American professional basketball player with the Sacramento Kings of the National Basketball Association...
the other day, and he didn't know who Jimmer was."
Career statistics
http://www.mlssoccer.com/players/jason-kreis|-
|1996||rowspan="9"|Dallas Burn
FC Dallas
FC Dallas is an American professional soccer club based in the Dallas suburb of Frisco, Texas which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada...
||rowspan="12"|Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
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|2005||rowspan="3"|Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake is an American professional soccer club based in Sandy, Utah, a suburb of Salt Lake City. The team competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. They currently play their home games at Rio Tinto Stadium. Real Salt Lake won...
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|2007
2007 Major League Soccer season
The 2007 Major League Soccer season was the 12th season in league history. The season began on April 7 and concluded with MLS Cup 2007 on November 18, 2007 at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium in Washington, D.C.....
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