View source for Nick Rimando

{{Short description|American soccer player (born 1979)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2015}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2017}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Nick Rimando
| image = Nick Rimando.jpg
| caption = Rimando with [[Real Salt Lake]] in 2010
| fullname = Nicholas Paul Rimando<ref>{{cite news|title=2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil: List of Players|url=http://www.fifadata.com/document/fwc/2014/pdf/fwc_2014_squadlists.pdf| publisher = FIFA| page = 32| date = June 11, 2014| access-date = June 11, 2014| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190404045541/http://www.fifadata.com/document/fwc/2014/pdf/fwc_2014_squadlists.pdf| archive-date = April 4, 2019}}</ref>
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1979|6|17}}
| birth_place = [[Montclair, California]], United States
| height = {{height|ft=5|in=9}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/nick-rimando|title=Nick Rimando MLS}}</ref>
| position = [[Goalkeeper (association football)|Goalkeeper]]
| currentclub = 
| collegeyears1 = 1997–1999 
| college1 = [[UCLA Bruins men's soccer|UCLA Bruins]] 
| collegecaps1 = 48
| collegegoals1 = 0
| years1 = 2000–2001
| clubs1 = [[Miami Fusion F.C.|Miami Fusion]]
| caps1 = 47
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2000
| clubs2 = → [[MLS Pro-40]] (loan)
| caps2 = 2
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2002–2006
| clubs3 = [[D.C. United]]
| caps3 = 98
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2007–2019
| clubs4 = [[Real Salt Lake]]
| caps4 = 369
| goals4 = 0
| totalcaps = 516
| totalgoals = 0
| nationalyears1 = 1998–1999
| nationalteam1 = [[United States men's national under-20 soccer team|United States U20]]
| nationalcaps1 = 31
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2002–2017
| nationalteam2 = [[United States men's national soccer team|United States]]
| nationalcaps2 = 22
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| medaltemplates =
{{MedalSport|Men's [[Association football|Soccer]]}}
{{MedalCountry|{{fb|USA}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[CONCACAF Gold Cup]]}}
{{Medal|W|[[2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup|2013 United States]]|}}
{{Medal|RU|[[2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup|2011 United States]]|}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[CONCACAF Cup]]}}
{{Medal|RU|[[CONCACAF Cup|2015 United States]]|}}
}}

'''Nicholas Paul Rimando''' (born June 17, 1979) is an American former professional [[Association football|soccer]] player who played as a [[Goalkeeper (association football)|goalkeeper]]. Having spent his entire career in [[Major League Soccer]], he holds the records for career wins, clean sheets, saves, and overall appearances.<ref>[http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2016/08/26/real-salt-lakes-nick-rimando-kyle-beckerman-set-all-time-mls-records "Real Salt Lake's Nick Rimando, Kyle Beckerman set all-time MLS records"], MLSsoccer.com, August 26, 2016.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsl.com/post/2014/12/17/rsl-inks-beckerman-and-rimando-extensions|title=Rimando RSL}}</ref> He also played for the [[United States men's national soccer team|United States national team]].

==Youth and college==
Rimando was born in [[Montclair, California]], and attended [[Montclair High School (California)|Montclair High School]]. He played two years of [[College soccer in the United States|college soccer]] at [[UCLA]].  As a freshman in 1997, he tended goal as the Bruins won the [[NCAA Division I men's soccer tournament|College Cup]]; after his sophomore year, he signed a [[Project-40]] contract with MLS.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/nick-rimando/|title=Nick Rimando|website=worldfootball.net|date=May 23, 2014 |language=en|access-date=2020-01-31}}</ref>

==Professional career ==

===Miami and D.C.===
Rimando was selected 35th in the third round of the [[2000 MLS SuperDraft]] by the [[Miami Fusion]], and quickly took the starting position from [[Jeff Cassar]], starting 22 games as a rookie. He started 25 games the following season, helping the Fusion to win the 2001 [[MLS Supporters' Shield]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rsl.com/es/post/2010/09/07/rimando-williams-rsl-may-be-best-ever|title=Rimando: This RSL may be best ever.}}</ref>

When the Fusion were contracted after the 2001 season, Rimando was selected third overall by [[D.C. United]] (his coach at Miami, [[Ray Hudson]], was the new United boss) in the subsequent [[2002 MLS Allocation Draft|Allocation Draft]].
For DC, Rimando played in every game in 2002 and in 25 games in 2003 until he missed the end of the season with an injury. In 2004, with Hudson gone, he lost his starting job to [[Troy Perkins]], but regained it for the stretch run, backstopping DC to the [[MLS Cup]].  In 2005, he regained his everyday starter status, but was beaten out by Perkins again in 2006, playing only two games during the whole season.

===Real Salt Lake===
On December 11, 2006, Rimando was traded along with [[Freddy Adu]] to [[Real Salt Lake]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/11/AR2006121100920.html|title=Adu Is Headed West in A Trade|first=Steven|last=Goff|date=December 12, 2006|website=www.washingtonpost.com}}</ref> He was then traded to [[New York Red Bulls]] on February 9,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/wire?section=soccer&id=2760206|title=Red Bulls acquire goalie Rimando}}</ref> only to be traded back to Real Salt Lake on February 23 following the sudden retirement of the latter team's first-choice keeper [[Scott Garlick]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=481&sid=923649|title=ksl.com - Real Salt Lake Re-acquires gk Nick Rimando|website=www.ksl.com}}</ref>

Rimando was RSL's first-choice keeper during the 2007 season.  His team struggled constantly and never seriously contended for a playoff berth, but Rimando led MLS with 146 saves in 27 games, including efforts against [[New England Revolution|New England]] (13 saves in a 0–0 draw on June 2) and [[Toronto FC]] (12 saves in a 0–0 draw on September 15).  His hard work was rewarded at the end of the season when he was named Real Salt Lake's 2007 [[Most Valuable Player]].

Rimando continued as Salt Lake's first-choice keeper in 2008 and 2009.  He emerged as one of the top keepers in the league, as evidenced by his MLS Player of the Month award in July 2008.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4188/is_20080801/ai_n27980720/ | title = RSL goalie is MLS player of month | format = reprint | work = Deseret News | location = Salt Lake City | publisher = Find Articles | date = August 1, 2008 | access-date = March 6, 2011}}</ref>  His strong performance between the pipes, combined with his team's much-improved defensive play, carried the team to Western Conference Final in 2008 and even further in 2009.  In the Eastern Conference Final against the [[Chicago Fire S.C.|Chicago Fire]], RSL battled to a scoreless draw after 120 minutes.  Rimando made several saves in regulation and overtime, then added three saves on penalty kicks, lifting his team to a 5–4 shootout victory.  In the MLS Cup championship match, Rimando again found himself facing a shootout, and again he delivered.  He made three saves, leading RSL to a victory over the [[Los Angeles Galaxy]].  For his efforts, he was named MLS Cup MVP, only the second goalkeeper to earn the honor ([[Tony Meola]] accomplished the feat in 2000).

In 2010, RSL emerged as possibly the greatest defensive team in the history of Major League Soccer. With Rimando as goalkeeper, Salt Lake set an MLS record for fewest goals allowed in a single season - just 20 in 30 matches. Rimando also set club records for most shutouts in a single season (14) and longest shutout streak (568 minutes).  Additionally, the team set a league record for highest goal differential (+25), but they were upset by [[FC Dallas]] in the first round of the playoffs and couldn't defend their MLS Cup title from the previous season.  Despite his stellar season - one of the greatest ever by a keeper in American professional soccer - Rimando did not receive the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year award. Instead, it was given to [[Donovan Ricketts]] of the [[L.A. Galaxy]], which caused some controversy around the league.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700107309/Real-Salt-Lake-gives-goalie-Nick-Rimando-extension.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110212130705/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700107309/Real-Salt-Lake-gives-goalie-Nick-Rimando-extension.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 12, 2011|title=Real Salt Lake gives goalie Nick Rimando extension|first=James|last=Edward|website=[[Deseret News]] |date=February 4, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2012/03/14/climbing-ladder-mls-player-heights-first-kick-xis|title=MLS player heights}}</ref>

On February 4, 2011, Rimando signed a contract extension with RSL that kept him with the club through the 2013 season.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=4149364 | title = Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Nick Rimando signs contract extension | publisher = Our Sports Central | date = February 4, 2011 | access-date = February 4, 2011}}</ref>

On March 3, 2013, Rimando became the 2nd MLS goalkeeper to earn 100 shutouts after a 2–0 win over the San Jose Earthquakes.

In December 2013, Real Salt Lake and Rimando traveled to Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kansas to face Sporting Kansas City for the MLS Championship Game. Rimando played well despite 10 degree temperatures. He made four major saves in the game.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sltrib.com/sports/2019/09/28/rsls-nick-rimando-is/|title=RSL's Nick Rimando is retiring after this season. Here's how he became the greatest goalkeeper in MLS history — and how Utah became home.|website=The Salt Lake Tribune|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-16}}</ref> His third save was perhaps the best. Graham Zusi shot a high half volley, but Rimando tipped it over the crossbar. The game went on to penalty kicks after a 1–1 draw. Rimando saved a penalty kick from Matt Besler, but Real Salt Lake lost in sudden death.

On August 9, 2014, playing at home against his former club, [[D.C. United]], Rimando secured the lead in career shutouts for an MLS goalkeeper in a 3–0 win.

On March 1, 2019, Rimando announced he would be retiring following the 2019 season.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bogert |first=Tom |date=March 1, 2019 |title=Real Salt Lake's Nick Rimando to retire after 2019 |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/real-salt-lakes-nick-rimando-retire-after-2019 |work=MLSsoccer.com |accessdate=December 6, 2023}}</ref> He played his final match on October 23, 2019, in a [[2019 MLS Cup Playoffs|MLS Cup Playoffs]] match against [[Seattle Sounders FC]] at [[CenturyLink Field]] in Seattle, Washington. Rimando played with an injured left shoulder and made seven saves as Real Salt Lake lost 2–0 and were eliminated from the playoffs.<ref name="Deseret-Final">{{cite news |last=Wood |first=Terry |date=October 23, 2019 |title=Sounders silence RSL 2-0 in playoff contest, Nick Rimando's final game |url=https://www.deseret.com/2019/10/23/20929094/rsl-season-ends-with-2-0-loss-to-sounders-in-western-conference-semifinals |work=[[Deseret News]] |accessdate=December 6, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Pyzdrowski |first=Matt |date=November 4, 2019 |title=How Nick Rimando's final match highlighted his brilliance one last time |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/1349519/2019/11/04/how-nick-rimandos-final-match-highlighted-his-brilliance-once-last-time/ |work=[[The Athletic]] |url-access=subscription |access-date=December 6, 2023}}</ref> He finished his MLS career with the league record in appearances (515), wins (223), saves (1,712), and shutouts (154).<ref name="Deseret-Final"/>

==International career==
Although mostly a backup to [[Tim Howard]], Rimando played for the [[United States men's national soccer team|United States]] at the [[1999 FIFA World Youth Championship|1999 World Youth Championship]] in [[Nigeria]]. He earned his first senior team cap on November 17, 2002, against [[El Salvador national football team|El Salvador]]. After that, he did not receive much attention from the national team until his outstanding play in MLS in 2009 caught the attention of U.S. coach [[Bob Bradley]]. Rimando was invited to train with the senior team in 2010 in preparation for the [[2010 FIFA World Cup|World Cup]], although he was not selected for the tournament. He has made some international appearances since then, including a standout performance in a friendly against [[Panama national football team|Panama]] on January 25, 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/sports/soccer/story/_/id/7504490/us-vs-panama-player-grades-leander-schaerlaeckens|title=ESPN Soccer: U.S. vs. Panama player grades|date=January 26, 2012 }}</ref>  He was consistently the third-choice keeper under former manager Jurgen Klinsmann, and was the first-choice keeper at the [[2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup]].

On May 22, 2014, Rimando was named to the final 23-man roster for the [[2014 FIFA World Cup]] in Brazil.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2014/05/22/16/35/140522-mnt-roster|title=Klinsmann Names U.S. MNT's 23-Player Roster for 2014 FIFA World Cup|website=www.ussoccer.com}}</ref> The tournament was his first-ever World Cup finals roster, though he did not log any minutes in any of the USMNT's matches.

==Personal life==
Rimando's father is of Filipino descent and his mother is of Mexican descent.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=528375&publicationSubCategoryId=69 | title = Fil-Am thwarts Beckham's goal | work = PhilStar.com | publisher = [[The Philippine Star]] | author = Joaquin Henson | date = December 1, 2009 | access-date = December 1, 2009 | archive-url = https://archive.today/20120525163901/http://www.philstar.com/thedeanscorner/articlescontent.aspx?articleid=528375&publicationsubcategoryid=69 | archive-date = May 25, 2012 | url-status = dead | df = mdy-all }}</ref> In December 2005, Rimando married his longtime girlfriend, [[Jacqui Little]]. She played for the [[Washington Freedom (soccer)|Washington Freedom]] in the now-defunct [[Women's United Soccer Association|WUSA]] and is also from California. The wedding was performed by teammate [[Ben Olsen]] in Malibu, California.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://web.mlsnet.com/news/team_news.jsp?ymd=20051215&content_id=49510&vkey=news_dcu&fext=.jsp&team=dcu |title=Behind the Badge: Triple threat |publisher=DCUnited.com |date=December 15, 2005 |access-date=March 24, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061025141854/http://web.mlsnet.com/news/team_news.jsp?ymd=20051215&content_id=49510&vkey=news_dcu&fext=.jsp&team=dcu |archive-date=October 25, 2006 }}</ref> Rimando and Little have two children, Jett Nicholas Rimando and Benny Rose Rimando. They have since divorced.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.kutv.com/news/features/person-2-person/stories/vid_3.shtml |title=KUTV 2News "Person 2 Person: Nick Rimando" |date=June 9, 2013 |work=[[KUTV 2News Utah]] |access-date=July 2, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130807220723/http://kutv.com/news/features/person-2-person/stories/vid_3.shtml |archive-date=August 7, 2013 }}</ref>

==Career statistics==
===Club===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/nick-rimando|title=Player bio |publisher=Major League Soccer}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/nick-rimando/7404/|title=N. Rimando|website=Soccerway}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rsl.com/player-registry/all-competitions |title=Registry |publisher=Real Salt Lake|date=January 23, 2014 }}</ref>
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="2"|[[Major League Soccer|MLS]]
!colspan="2"|[[MLS Cup playoffs]]
!colspan="2"|[[U.S. Open Cup]]
!colspan="2"|[[CONCACAF]]
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[Miami Fusion]]
|[[2000 Major League Soccer season|2000]]
|22||0||0||0||3||0||0||0||25||0
|-
|[[2001 Miami Fusion season|2001]]
|25||0||6||0||0||0||0||0||31||0
|-
!Total
!47!!0!!6!!0!!3!!0!!0!!0!!56!!0
|-
|rowspan="6"|[[D.C. United]]
|[[2002 D.C. United season|2002]]
|28||0||0||0||0||0||2||0||30||0
|-
|[[2003 D.C. United season|2003]]
|25||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||25||0
|-
|[[2004 D.C. United season|2004]]
|13||0||4||0||1||0||0||0||18||0
|-
|[[2005 D.C. United season|2005]]
|30||0||2||0||0||0||6||0||38||0
|-
|[[2006 D.C. United season|2006]]
|2||0||0||0||2||0||0||0||4||0
|-
!Total
!98!!0!!6!!0!!3!!0!!8!!0!!115!!0
|-
|rowspan="14"|[[Real Salt Lake]]
|[[2007 Real Salt Lake season|2007]]
|27||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||27||0
|-
|[[2008 Real Salt Lake season|2008]]
|30||0||3||0||1||0||0||0||33||0
|-
|[[2009 Real Salt Lake season|2009]]
|26||0||4||0||0||0||0||0||30||0
|-
|[[2010 Real Salt Lake season|2010]]
|27||0||2||0||0||0||5||0||34||0
|-
|[[2011 Real Salt Lake season|2011]]
|33||0||3||0||0||0||6||0||42||0
|-
|[[2012 Real Salt Lake season|2012]]
|31||0||2||0||0||0||4||0||37||0
|-
|[[2013 Real Salt Lake season|2013]]
|27||0||5||0||2||0||0||0||34||0
|-
|[[2014 Real Salt Lake season|2014]]
|24||0||2||0||0||0||0||0||26||0
|-
|[[2015 Real Salt Lake season|2015]]
|24||0||0||0||1||0||2||0||27||0
|-
|[[2016 Real Salt Lake season|2016]]
|30||0||1||0||0||0||2||0||33||0
|-
|[[2017 Real Salt Lake season|2017]]
|28||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||28||0
|-
|[[2018 Real Salt Lake season|2018]]
|33||0||3||0||0||0||0||0||36||0
|-
|[[2019 Real Salt Lake season|2019]]
|29||0||2||0||1||0||1||0||33||0
|-
!Total
!369!!0!!27!!0!!5!!0!!20!!0!!421!!0
|-
!colspan="2"|Career total
!514!!0!!39!!0!!11!!0!!28!!0!!592!!0
|}

===International===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year<ref>{{NFT|7123}}</ref>
!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="9"|[[United States men's national soccer team|United States]]
|2002||1||0
|-
|2003||2||0
|-
|2010||1||0
|-
|2011||1||0
|-
|2012||1||0
|-
|2013||6||0
|-
|2014||4||0
|-
|2015||5||0
|-
|2017||1||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total!!22!!0
|}

==Honors==
*[[CONCACAF Gold Cup]]: [[2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup|2013]]<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/jul/28/usa-panama-live-gold-cup-final|title= USA 1–0 Panama – as it happened|date=July 28, 2013|work=Guardian UK|access-date=July 5, 2023 }}</ref>

'''Individual'''
*[[National Soccer Hall of Fame]]: 2025<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-12-03 |title=Nick Rimando Elected to National Soccer Hall of Fame {{!}} National Soccer Hall of Fame |url=http://www.nationalsoccerhof.com/news/2024/12/nick-rimando-elected-to-hall-of-fame.html |access-date=2025-11-14 |website=Nick Rimando Elected to National Soccer Hall of Fame {{!}} National Soccer Hall of Fame |language=en}}</ref>
*[[MLS All-Star Game|MLS All-Star]]: [[2010 MLS All-Star Game|2010]], [[2011 MLS All-Star Game|2011]], [[2013 MLS All-Star Game|2013]], [[2014 MLS All-Star Game|2014]], [[2014 MLS All-Star Game|2015]], [[2019 MLS All-Star Game|2019]]<ref>{{cite web |title=2019 MLS All-Star Roster |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/all-star/2019/rosters/mls-all-star-team |website=[[Major League Soccer]] |access-date=14 July 2019 |archive-date=July 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190715014938/https://www.mlssoccer.com/all-star/2019/rosters/mls-all-star-team |url-status=dead }}</ref>
*[[MLS Save of the Year Award|MLS Save of the Year]]: [[2012 Major League Soccer season|2012]], [[2013 Major League Soccer season|2013]], [[2019 Major League Soccer season|2019]]<ref>{{cite web |last=Rodriguez |first=Alicia |title=Nick Rimando wins MLS Save of the Year presented by Allstate |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/save-of-the-year/2019 |website=[[Major League Soccer]] |access-date=October 24, 2019 |date=October 24, 2019}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{MLS player|nick-rimando}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110902061408/http://www.ussoccer.com/Teams/MNT/R/Nick-Rimando.aspx Nick Rimando] at U.S. Soccer (archived)
* {{NFT player|7123}}
* {{Soccerway|nick-rimando/7404}}
* [https://www.rsl.com/players/nick-rimando Nick Rimando] at [[Real Salt Lake]]
* {{AS.com|rimando/15456}}
* {{WorldFootball.net|nick-rimando}}

{{National Soccer Hall of Fame members}}
{{MLS Cup MVP}}
{{Navboxes
|title= United States squads
|bg= white
|fg= #002868
|bordercolor= #BF0A30
|list1=
{{United States squad 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup}}
{{United States squad 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup}}
{{United States squad 2014 FIFA World Cup}}
{{United States squad 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup}}
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rimando, Nick}}
[[Category:1979 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American men's soccer players]]
[[Category:American people of Filipino descent]]
[[Category:Sportspeople of Filipino descent]]
[[Category:American people of Mexican descent]]
[[Category:Sportspeople of Mexican descent]]
[[Category:Men's association football goalkeepers]]
[[Category:UCLA Bruins men's soccer players]]
[[Category:Miami Fusion players]]
[[Category:MLS Pro-40 players]]
[[Category:D.C. United players]]
[[Category:Real Salt Lake players]]
[[Category:People from Montclair, California]]
[[Category:Soccer players from San Bernardino County, California]]
[[Category:2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup players]]
[[Category:2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup players]]
[[Category:2014 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup players]]
[[Category:CONCACAF Gold Cup–winning players]]
[[Category:Major League Soccer players]]
[[Category:Major League Soccer All-Stars]]
[[Category:A-League (1995–2004) players]]
[[Category:Miami Fusion draft picks]]
[[Category:United States men's under-20 international soccer players]]
[[Category:United States men's international soccer players]]
[[Category:National Soccer Hall of Fame members]]