YEAR IN REVIEW: Luis Robles

Goalkeeper Luis Robles extended his consecutive MLS regular season starts and full 90 minutes played streak this season to 208, a streak which began in 2012.

In his 34 MLS starts this season, Robles kept 10 clean sheets while making 99 saves.

Though Robles is in his sixth season with the team, this season proved to be one filled with new challenges. Not only did the Red Bulls have a younger squad this season, but Robles found himself playing with his feet more than in previous seasons.

“It became very obvious that we were playing with a higher back line,” Robles stated. “That meant my involvement as a ‘keeper off his line was going to get greater, was going to be even more influential to the way that we want to play. In the same way as a leader, coming out of my comfort zone as a keeper, I need to come out of my 18 my ‘comfort zone’ and play very high.

“Sometimes it worked to great effect, and sometimes it caused nervy moments. I know going into the next year if this is the way we want to continue playing, I have to improve just with my feet, be comfortable with my feet in a way that I might have never been before so that it instills a sort of confidence in our group… that we have a more than capable goalkeeper that’s going to cover that space and know that we got this.”

Along with commanding a young back line, Robles earned the Red Bulls’ Humanitarian of the Year award this season for his efforts off the field. Robles was also a finalist for the MLS Humanitarian of the Year, his second straight nomination.

Robles is spokesman for Tackle Kids Cancer, and hosted a dinner that raised over $105,000 with all of the funds donated to cancer research.

Heading into next season, Robles stated his goal for next season: winning an MLS Cup for the fans.

“I hope more than anything to reward this bewildered, committed and just really an interesting fan base,” Robles stated. “Meaning that they’ve been here from the very beginning, they’ve experienced some highs and some really low lows. You just want to reward them; you want to give them an opportunity to experience what it’s like to be MLS Cup champions, to give them that sense of pride and I hope more than anything I can be a part of that group, and I hope it’s next year.”