Matthew Real
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_(cropped).jpg/1280px-CINvBST_2018-06-13_-_Matthew_Real_(31503736858)_(cropped).jpg) Real with Bethlehem Steel in 2018 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Matthew Joseph Real[1] | ||
| Date of birth | July 10, 1999 | ||
| Place of birth | Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania, United States | ||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[2] | ||
| Position | Left-back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Colorado Springs Switchbacks | ||
| Number | 6 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2013–2016 | Philadelphia Union | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2016–2019 | Bethlehem Steel | 57 | (2) |
| 2018–2024 | Philadelphia Union | 52 | (2) |
| 2022–2024 | Philadelphia Union II | 10 | (4) |
| 2024 | → Colorado Springs Switchbacks (loan) | 26 | (1) |
| 2025– | Colorado Springs Switchbacks | 22 | (1) |
| International career | |||
| 2017 | United States U18 | 8 | (0) |
| 2018–2019 | United States U20 | 11 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of October 27, 2025 | |||
Matthew Joseph Real (born July 10, 1999) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a left-back for Colorado Springs Switchbacks in the USL Championship.[3]
Club career
[edit]Bethlehem Steel FC
[edit]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
[edit]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]
In April 2024, Real joined USL Championship club Colorado Springs Switchbacks on loan for the 2024 season.[8]
Real signed with the Switchbacks on a permanent deal in January 2025.[9]
Personal life
[edit]Real was born in the United States to a Brazilian father and an Italian American mother.[10]
Career statistics
[edit]- As of match played November 21, 2021[11]
| 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 | ||
- ^ a b Appearances in USL Cup Playoffs
- ^ a b Appearances in U.S. Open Cup
- ^ Appearances in MLS is Back Tournament
- ^ Appearances in CONCACAF Champions League
Honors
[edit]Philadelphia Union
United States U20
References
[edit]- ^ "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.
- ^ "Matthew Real". Philadelphia Union. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
- ^ "Matthew Real | Philadelphia Union Profile". philadelphiaunion.com. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
- ^ "Matthew Real verbally commits to Wake Forest". December 3, 2015.
- ^ "Bethlehem Steel FC signs defender Matthew Real | Philadelphia Union".
- ^ "Philadelphia Union Sign Homegrown Defender Matthew Real".
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Switchbacks FC Acquire Defender Matt Real On Loan From Philadelphia Union For 2024". www.switchbacksfc.com. April 18, 2024. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
- ^ Purslow, Ashley. "Switchbacks FC Announce Matt Real's Signing for 2025 Season!". SwitchbacksFC.com. Colorado Springs Switchbacks. Retrieved January 9, 2025.
- ^ "AAA Start Your Journey: Matt Real | Philadelphia Union". Archived from the original on November 22, 2018.
- ^ "Matthew Real". Soccerway. Playmaker Stats. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
- ^ Major League Soccer [@MLS] (November 8, 2020). "SUPPORTERS' SHIELD WINNERS @PhilaUnion win their first trophy in club history! #DOOP" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ 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
[edit]
Media related to Matthew Real at Wikimedia Commons- Matthew Real at USL Championship
- Bethlehem Steel FC player profile
  | This biographical article related to association football in the United States, about a defender born in the 1990s, is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
- 1999 births
- Living people
- Sportspeople from Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania
- Soccer players from Delaware County, Pennsylvania
- American men's soccer players
- American people of Brazilian descent
- Sportspeople of Brazilian descent
- American people of Italian descent
- Men's association football defenders
- Philadelphia Union II players
- Philadelphia Union players
- Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC players
- USL Championship players
- Major League Soccer players
- MLS Next Pro players
- United States men's under-20 international soccer players
- Homegrown Players (MLS)
- 21st-century American sportsmen
- American soccer defender, 1990s birth stubs
Real with Bethlehem Steel in 2018 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Matthew Joseph Real[1] | ||
| Date of birth | July 10, 1999 | ||
| Place of birth | Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania, United States | ||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[2] | ||
| Position | Left-back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Colorado Springs Switchbacks | ||
| Number | 6 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2013–2016 | Philadelphia Union | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2016–2019 | Bethlehem Steel | 57 | (2) |
| 2018–2024 | Philadelphia Union | 52 | (2) |
| 2022–2024 | Philadelphia Union II | 10 | (4) |
| 2024 | → Colorado Springs Switchbacks (loan) | 26 | (1) |
| 2025– | Colorado Springs Switchbacks | 22 | (1) |
| International career | |||
| 2017 | United States U18 | 8 | (0) |
| 2018–2019 | United States U20 | 11 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of October 27, 2025 | |||
Matthew Joseph Real (born July 10, 1999) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a left-back for Colorado Springs Switchbacks in the USL Championship.[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]
In April 2024, Real joined USL Championship club Colorado Springs Switchbacks on loan for the 2024 season.[8]
Real signed with the Switchbacks on a permanent deal in January 2025.[9]
Personal life
Real was born in the United States to a Brazilian father and an Italian American mother.[10]
Career statistics
- As of match played November 21, 2021[11]
| 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 | ||
- ^ a b Appearances in USL Cup Playoffs
- ^ a b Appearances in U.S. Open Cup
- ^ Appearances in MLS is Back Tournament
- ^ Appearances in CONCACAF Champions League
Honors
Philadelphia Union
- Supporters' Shield: 2020[12]
- MLS Cup runner-up: 2022[13]
United States U20
References
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Matthew Real". Philadelphia Union. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
- ^ "Matthew Real | Philadelphia Union Profile". philadelphiaunion.com. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
- ^ "Matthew Real verbally commits to Wake Forest". December 3, 2015.
- ^ "Bethlehem Steel FC signs defender Matthew Real | Philadelphia Union".
- ^ "Philadelphia Union Sign Homegrown Defender Matthew Real".
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Switchbacks FC Acquire Defender Matt Real On Loan From Philadelphia Union For 2024". www.switchbacksfc.com. April 18, 2024. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
- ^ Purslow, Ashley. "Switchbacks FC Announce Matt Real's Signing for 2025 Season!". SwitchbacksFC.com. Colorado Springs Switchbacks. Retrieved January 9, 2025.
- ^ "AAA Start Your Journey: Matt Real | Philadelphia Union". Archived from the original on November 22, 2018.
- ^ "Matthew Real". Soccerway. Playmaker Stats. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
- ^ Major League Soccer [@MLS] (November 8, 2020). "SUPPORTERS' SHIELD WINNERS @PhilaUnion win their first trophy in club history! #DOOP" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ 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
- Media related to Matthew Real at Wikimedia Commons
- Matthew Real at USL Championship
- Bethlehem Steel FC player profile
_(cropped).jpg){kind=link}
  | This biographical article related to association football in the United States, about a defender born in the 1990s, is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |