SANDY, Utah (ABC 4 Sports) - Major League Soccer today announced that Real Salt Lake midfielder Kyle Beckerman and defender Jamison Olave will be a part of the 22-man gameday roster for the 2011 MLS All-Star Game next Wednesday, July 27 at Red Bull Arena in New York City.
The RSL duo will join the league’s biggest names – including Thierry Henry, David Beckham and Landon Donovan – for Major League Soccer’s All-Star Game rematch against reigning English Premier League champion Manchester United.
This is Beckerman's fifth straight selection to the all-star game, while Olave will be making his second appearance.
All-Star Head Coach Hans Backe of the New York Red Bulls selected the roster. Because of the competitive format -- MLS vs. the World -- of the All-Star Game, MLS asked Backe to select from among all available players, and he constructed a dynamic, balanced roster loaded with the League’s top talent. Backe also has seen success against Manchester United, including two wins during the 2007-08 English Premier League season when he was assistant coach at Manchester City under then Head Coach Sven-Göran Eriksson.
Backe selected all eight of the original fan-voted All-Stars -- including AT&T Text voting winner Matt Besler of Sporting Kansas City -- who are available to play on July 27. Kasey Keller (Seattle Sounders FC) and Brek Shea (FC Dallas) are unavailable due to CONCACAF Champions League matches during the week of the All-Star Game. Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy) and Rafa Marquez (New York Red Bulls) are unavailable due to injuries.
