Revolution sign keeper Matt Turner to a contract extension

New England Revolution coach Bruce Arena has enjoyed a proactive off-season team building for the 2021 campaign with outside acquisitions.

Arena changed direction on Tuesday afternoon when he finalized the definitive in-house transaction of the winter break. The Revolution tendered goalkeeper Matt Turner, 26, an extension to the contract he signed on Aug. 21, 2019.

The terms of the contract were not released, but Turner warranted a significant pay raise with incentives for his stellar performances in the Revolution’s run to the MLS Cup Eastern Conference final. Turner was selected team MVP by the players and the fans and finished second in the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year voting.

Turner completed his fifth season with the Revolution and is 24-21-23 with 16 shutouts. Turner set a club record with a 1.09 goals against average in 2020 and a career-best six shutouts.

There was speculation that Turner was weighing offers in Europe, but his signing displayed a good faith commitment to the Revolution and MLS.

“At the end of the day, the last contract I signed was for four years so I still had three years on that contract,” said Turner during a Zoom conference.

“For me it was an easy decision to want to stay and continue to prove myself in this league. Bruce showed me that I played well and that I deserved more money and he wanted me to commit more years to this team. I think it is a good example for guys on the team that there is a reward for doing well here in New England.”

Turner is currently training with the U.S. Men’s National team in Bradenton, Fla. Turner is in contention for a spot on the U.S. team at the Concacaf Nations League, Final Four, the Gold Cup and the start of the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying. Turner is using his time with the national team to build his international profile while enhancing his skills and conditioning for the start of Revolution training camp.

“I think this it is huge advantage because every time you step on the field, for me anyway, I try to get better,” said Turner. “It helps me get sharper being around players at the highest level, at the national team level.

“That helps me to become a better goalkeeper because of it. I’m playing in a style I’m not completely comfortable with. But I’m getting better and better at it and that is just going to add to my arsenal to bring onto the field with the Revolution.

“I’m also playing with other guys from MLS so that when the time comes and we see them in the regular season, you can pick up a habit or two and you might be able to tell where they are going on a shot.”

Turner is from New Jersey and played collegiately at Fairfield in Connecticut, but he has aligned himself with the Boston sports scene. He recently purchased a home in South Boston and he burns to help bring the MLS Cup to the city.

“For awhile I always said I wanted to get back to Jersey, that I always felt that was my home,” said Turner. “I have learned you can find home elsewhere and for me a lot changed in 2020 personally with my play on the field and the pandemic.

“It put a lot of things in perspective and I am grateful to live in a great city like Boston.”

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/39IrN1Q