Luis Robles filled the New York Red Bulls record books. He also gave fans memories they won’t forget.
Ahead of the goalkeeper’s induction into the club’s new Legends Row, an honor for the most elite former players, let’s take a look back at some of his best moments.
The streak
Robles made his New York debut in a 4-1 win on September 29, 2012 against Toronto FC. It would be another six years before someone else would start an MLS game in goal for the Red Bulls.
He set the MLS consecutive complete games record (113) against the Colorado Rapids on April 16, 2016.
Weeks later, lost in the chaos of the Red Bulls’ 7-0 triumph over NYCFC at Yankee Stadium, Robles broke the record for consecutive starts (119).
He broke the MLS record for consecutive appearances (142) in a 1-0 shutout of the Rapids on March 11, 2017.
The streak finally came to an end at 183 matches on May 12, 2018, with Robles suffering a knee injury closing out another win over the Rapids.
He’d return three games later and play all but one of his 56 remaining MLS matches with the club – setting the club record for appearances in MLS (238) and total matches played (281).
2014 MLS Save of the Year
Robles made stunning stops year after year, but none earned the plaudits that his double save did in a route of Seattle back in his third season with the club.
A sellout crowd filtered into Red Bull Arena September 20, 2014 to catch Clint Dempsey and DeAndre Yedlin fresh off their World Cup showing, with New York earning a crucial three points toward its playoff chase with a 4-1 win.
Robles stole the show on the night, going back across his body in the 69th minute to deny a deflected blast from Marco Pappa, before recovering and denying a point-blank header from Dempsey.
Fans voted the play save of the year, marking the only time a Red Bull has come away with the honor.
2015 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year
Nine shutouts. Four MLS Save of the Week selections. The club’s second Supporters Shield title in three years.
Robles stellar 2015 season earned him the league’s top goalkeeper honor. He is the second player in club history to take the distinction after Tim Howard in 2001.
He nearly repeated his 2014 feat with a MLS Save of the Year candidate against Portland in September. In a similar fashion to the Seattle double save the year prior, Robles recovered after a deflection from a Diego Valeri free kick forced him to go back across his body to make the stop, then stuffed Nat Borchers on the rebound from point-blank range.
After the season, he earned his first call up to the U.S. national team in six-and-a-half years for a January camp win over Iceland.
Tijuana showcase
The Red Bulls kicked off a record 2018 season with a run to the CONCACAF Champions League semifinals.
Robles had his own record in the team’s road upset of Tijuana in the quarterfinals.
In the first leg, the Ironman had a career-best 13 saves to send New York home with a two-goal aggregate lead.
Save after save. From all angles. To keep a clean sheet.
Truly an all-timer man of the match performance.
Saves leader
He had countless Saves of the Week and the Save of the Year. He denied penalty kicks with the game on the line. He made saves fans will never forget.
In his final Red Bulls season, Robles finally became the club’s all-time saves leader.
Four saves against Philadelphia on June 8, 2019 helped Robles reach No. 630, which broke Tony Meola’s record for most MLS saves as a Red Bull.
He finished his time with the club with 680 saves.
Shutout after shutout
No Red Bull has as many shutouts as he does in MLS play (72).
No one in club history can match his 89 shutouts in all competitions.
And during a record year for the club, Robles made his own history with 14 shutouts in 2018 – the most any goalkeeper has recorded in a single season for New York.
All three of these stats are good to put Robles in the top 10 in league history for these categories.
