Matthew Real

Matthew Real

Real with Bethlehem Steel in 2018
Personal information
Full name	Matthew Joseph Real [1]
Date of birth	(1999-07-10) July 10, 1999 (age 25)
Place of birth	Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania, United States
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) [2]
Position(s)	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	0	(0)
International career
2017	United States U18	8	(0)
2018–2019	United States U20	11	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of January 9, 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

1. Appearances in USL Cup Playoffs
2. Appearances in U.S. Open Cup
3. Appearances in MLS is Back Tournament
4. Appearances in CONCACAF Champions League

Honors

Philadelphia Union

• Supporters' Shield: 2020 ^[12]
• MLS Cup runner-up: 2022 ^[13]

United States U20

• CONCACAF U-20 Championship: 2018

References

1. "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.
2. "Matthew Real". Philadelphia Union. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
3. "Matthew Real | Philadelphia Union Profile". philadelphiaunion.com. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
4. "Matthew Real verbally commits to Wake Forest". December 3, 2015.
5. "Bethlehem Steel FC signs defender Matthew Real | Philadelphia Union".
6. "Philadelphia Union Sign Homegrown Defender Matthew Real".
7. 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.
8. "Switchbacks FC Acquire Defender Matt Real On Loan From Philadelphia Union For 2024". www.switchbacksfc.com. April 18, 2024. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
9. Purslow, Ashley. "Switchbacks FC Announce Matt Real's Signing for 2025 Season!". SwitchbacksFC.com. Colorado Springs Switchbacks . Retrieved January 9, 2025.
10. "AAA Start Your Journey: Matt Real | Philadelphia Union". Archived from the original on November 22, 2018.
11. "Matthew Real". Soccerway. Playmaker Stats. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
12. Major League Soccer [@MLS] (November 8, 2020). "SUPPORTERS' SHIELD WINNERS @PhilaUnion win their first trophy in club history! #DOOP" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
13. 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