Dec. 11, 2013 – Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis announces retirement

When Matt Reis joined MLS in 1998, there were few openings for starting goalkeepers. And, after four seasons playing mostly as a backup to Kevin Hartman with the Los Angeles Galaxy, Reis set up a deal that took him to the Revolution, one of the teams Reis reasoned would give him a chance to start. Reis turned out to be right, as an Adin Brown injury led to Reis becoming the Revolution’s first-choice ‘keeper for the next 10 years.

The combination of Reis’ mobility and skill, plus shot-stopping ability, allowed the Revolution to switch to a 3-5-2 alignment that coincided with the team’s run to their most successful regular season in 2005, three successive MLS Cup finals, and championships in the U.S. Open Cup (2007) and North American SuperLiga (’08).

Reis played at UCLA, along with Hartman, following a Bruin line that included current Revolution coach Brad Friedel and other U.S. national team ‘keepers such as former Revolution assistant coach David Vanole, Tim Harris, Nick Rimando, Zach Wells.

Reis was a member of the Galaxy team that defeated the Revolution, 2-1, in extra time in the 2001 U.S. Open Cup and by a 1-0 score in the 2002 MLS Cup at Gillette Stadium. Reis started for the Revolution in the 2005, ’06 and ’07 MLS Cup finals, plus the 2007 U.S. Open Cup final and 2008 and ‘10 SuperLiga finals. Reis, who played twice for the U.S., totaled 303 appearances in all competitions, second to Shalrie Joseph on the all-time Revolution list.

During the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, Reis helped save the life of his father in law, John Odom.

After retiring, Reis began his coaching career with the Galaxy, then went to the U.S. national team. Chris Aduama photo

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