Pope bids farewell to RSL home fans

Real Salt Lake officials labeled it, "Fan Appreciation Night," but there was little doubt about whom was really being appreciated.

No matter what you called it, on this occasion, it was Eddie Pope night.

Since the creation of Major League Soccer 12 years ago, the 33-year-old retiring defender has been a mainstay in American soccer.

During those 12 densely-filled seasons, Pope, generally regarded as the greatest defender in U.S. soccer history, won three MLS championships with D.C. United, played for the United States in three World Cups and won a host of major awards along the way.

Monday evening during RSL's final 2007 home game, a 1-0 loss to Houston, Pope — and Salt Lake fans — bade farewell to one another.

His teammates wore "Pope' No. 23 jerseys on their way out to midfield beforehand, and the 6-foot-1 defender was honored in a ceremony featuring a video and remarks by Salt Lake owner Dave Checketts prior to kickoff.

Whether in Salt Lake or in any MLS city, it's not very hard to find people willing to speak glowingly about him.

"He deserved every moment of the pregame celebration and then some," said Houston midfielder Richard Mulrooney, a nine-year MLS veteran. "When I look at U.S. soccer, I think of Eddie Pope ... Without him, we maybe don't qualify for one of those World Cups (or) we don't go as far. And then obviously in MLS, to have the success D.C. had, he's a total package in what MLS is all about."

Added Houston coach Dominic Kinnear: He is "a player who I think will be talked about for years to come."

Pope was an original member of Real Salt Lake and has played his final three professional seasons in an RSL uniform. Real has struggled mightily during that period, but Pope spoke positively about the experience he's had in Salt Lake.

And of playing before the crowds at Rice-Eccles Stadium.

"I think it certainly became a place that I was fond of playing in, and I think the fans were a big part of that," Pope said of Rice-Eccles. "I've said it over and over again, this city has some of the best fans that I've seen around this league."

That evidenced itself throughout Monday's match, as Real fans cheered Pope from start to finish.

In the 57th minute, Houston attempted to play forward Joseph Ngwenya behind RSL's defense on the right side.

However, Pope read what Ngwenya was attempting to do, slid over and cleanly tackled the ball away.

It was hardly an extraordinary moment, but it was the type of flawless play Pope has made thousands of times at the club level and for the U.S. National team.

Pope has said that he is interested in joining RSL's front office and said in the post-game press conference Monday that he would likely make a decision regarding that possibility "in the next 3-4 weeks."

"It will be good," said Mulrooney, "to see him be a voice in this league, if he decides to do that, because I think he knows what this league is about and where it needs to go."

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E-mail: drasmussen@desnews.com