Real Salt Lake has signed manager Mike Petke to a long-term contract extension, club owner Dell Loy Hansen announced Thursday.
The club refrained from revealing the exact lenght of the deal, though Petke expressed his expectation of being at the helm at least three more years.
“Loyalty is huge for me. I am ecstatic about Mr. Hansen coming to me and offering me this contract. I’m ecstatic at the prospect of being here at least three more years,” said Petke in a statement released by the club.
“And I’m excited and ecstatic about what I think we can accomplish together – Mr. Hansen, (General Manager) Craig Waibel, myself, the players … the whole organization. I’m on cloud nine because I have an owner who values me, likes what I’m doing and wants to reward me for that.”
Petke, 41, joined the organization as the manager of United Soccer League side and RSL affiliate Real Monarchs in December of 2016, before being appointed as boss of the first team in March of 2017.
“The arrival of Mike Petke into our organization over the last 10 months, first as head coach of the Monarchs and then in his seven months with RSL, has re-energized not only the fan base and the locker room, but myself and every single person involved,” said Hansen.
“I hope our fans share in this excitement and optimism for 2018 and beyond.”
Real Salt Lake missed the MLS playoffs in its first season under Petke, finishing in eight place in the Western Conference -one point behind the final playoff spot- with a record of 13 wins, 15 losses, six draws, and a goal differential of -6.