Matt Real

 

2018 (Philadelphia/Bethlehem): Real made three regular-season appearances (three starts) at leftback for Philadelphia. He made his club and league debut with a start at Colorado (March 31). Internationally, he earned a call-up to the United States Under-20 National Team for a training camp ahead of two friendlies in Honduras (May 17 and May 19). He came on as a substitute in the 2018 MLS Homegrown Game (July 31) and was named to the U.S. U-20 roster for the 2018 Concacaf U-20 Championship as the team's captain. In the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, Real made one appearance (one start) at leftback. For Bethlehem Steel FC, he made 20 regular-season appearances (20 starts) at leftback, scoring one goal as part of a 3-1 win vs. Richmond (May 6). He started Steel FC's postseason win at Pittsburgh (October 20).

 

2017 (Bethlehem): Real signed a USL deal with Steel FC on January 17, 2017. Over his first professional season, he scored one goal and added one assist in 17 appearances, all starts, seeing the field for 1,607 minutes. He made his season debut at leftback at Toronto FC II on May 13. He tallied his first professional assist against Tampa Bay on September 27 and scored his first goal in the regular season finale against Saint Louis FC on October 15. He also started in the club’s USL Eastern Conference Quarterfinal at Louisville City FC, playing the full 90 minutes. He made a pair of appearances with Steel FC as an amateur in 2016.

 

 

Real is a regular international for the United States Under-20 National Team. In late 2017, he was called up for the inaugural United States Youth National Team Summit Camp in Lakewood Ranch, Florida, where he was with the U-20s for the first time. He earned his first call-up as a professional ahead of a US U-20 training camp in Spain, with friendlies scheduled for March 21, March 23 and March 27, 2018. He started the first friendly, vs. France's U-21s.

 

Later in 2018, he was again called up ahead of a domestic training camp in Florida (May 9), ahead of two friendlies in Honduras (May 17 and May 19). He was again called up by the U-20s in September 2018 ahead of the Four Team International Tournament, but could not join the side due to injury. In late October, he was called up by the U-20s for an additional time, ahead of the 2018 Concacaf U-20 Championship, a tournament which he helped the U.S. win. He was named captain of the team and started each of their first three Group Stage matches, all victories. He started the first match of the qualification stage, vs. Costa Rica (November 16), in which the U.S. won and clinched a berth in the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup. He also started the final vs. Mexico, a 2-0 win (November 21).

 

Previously, he was with the U.S. U-18s, including for the 2017 U-18 Lisbon International Tournament, where he started all three matches against Japan, Norway and Portugal.

 

 

Real played for the Union Juniors and joined the Academy ahead of the 2013-14 season, appearing in 26 matches with the U-14s. He rose through the Union’s Academy system, appearing in 46 matches across the U-16 and U-18 teams. In his youth career, he also played for FC Delco and Lower Merion Soccer Club.

 

 

Signed by Philadelphia Union as a Homegrown Player on January 18, 2018