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Albert Rusnak | 24 Under 24

2017 24 Under 24 - No. 15 - Albert Rusnak

#15


Albert Rusnak


AGE: 23


COUNTRY: Slovakia


POSITION: Midfielder


CLUB: Real Salt Lake


YEARS PRO: 5

It's never easy replacing a legend, which exactly what has been asked of Slovakian international Albert Rusnak. Two months after Argentine talisman Javier Morales announced his departure from the club, Real Salt Lake signed the 23-year-old Slovakian as a young Designated Player to fill Morales' creative attacking role. While RSL sputtered out of the gate, Rusnak has found his footing over the course of the season and forged a promising relationship with fellow youngster Jefferson Savarino, who finished at No. 22 on this list, and Joao Plata. His 13 assists are tied for the fifth-most in MLS and his 3.27 chances created per 90 minutes is the second-highest average in the league.


What the technical staffers say:

"He’s really tidy with the ball, very good technique. He serves the ball well, and is a good one-on-one dribbler. He causes teams problems, gets them off balance when he runs at them."


"His timing of his runs off the ball are very good."


"I think Rusnak is a spectacular player. And the reason is he possesses something most attacking players don’t, and that’s patience to live between the lines."


"If you watch a lot of film, and you see the way [Real Salt Lake] is starting to go forward with the pieces around him…I think Rusnak is a star in the making. His better years are to come, and he’s someone we’ll be talking about next year and the year after."


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