'I want to play for as long as I can': Highlights from a media availability celebrating Brad Stuver
Though Austin FC is focused on Saturday — and Wednesday — they also got to look to the future with a key contract extension announcement.
While there are immediate concerns for Austin FC over the next week — a match against Real Salt Lake on Saturday in which the team can clinch its second-ever trip to the playoffs, and a U.S. Open Cup final at home on Wednesday against Nashville SC — Thursday's media availability was largely about the future.
Namely, goalkeeper Brad Stuver's future.
Shortly before the press conference commenced, the club announced Stuver signed a two-year contract extension keeping him Verde through the end of the 2027 season, with an option for the 2028 season. Should he fully see that out, he'd be 37 when that contract expires, but age is just a number.
"My outlook is I want to play for as long as I can," Stuver said in his portion of the press conference. "And if that means one more contract, if that means more contracts after this one, that would be fantastic. But at the end of the day, all I can do is focus on this one. But ideally, I play here until I retire, and then I'm just part of the club afterwards."
Prompted by a question, he reflected a bit on his arrival five years ago — when he was expected by many to be Andrew Tarbell's backup before winning the starting spot in the club's opener at LAFC and never relinquishing it.
"Looking back ... I think my wife actually doesn't think I'm as crazy as I was, but when I had that feeling that Austin was going to be my chance, like I knew it in my core ... now, looking back, I know it was right, like everything kind of turned out the way I had hoped."
He's also on the cusp of a special record: Most saves for an MLS goalkeeper in a five-season span. Looking at regular season matches since 2021, the 2025 All-Star has 615 saves; six more will put him past Tony Meola for the record, and given how Real Salt Lake plays, it could very well come in Sandy on Saturday.
"Individually, I want to be at the very best that I can be, because I know when I'm at my very best, it helps the team be at their very best," he said. "For me, that record is just a testament to the work that I've put in over the last 13 years to make sure that I was ready when my time came, and what it was to do everything in my power to help my team.
"Setting that record is not something that's top of mind for me. I'm sure it'll take care of itself," he added, before admitting he looked up to Meola growing up, describing being tied to him through this record as "surreal." (He also mentioned looking up to longtime Revs goalkeeper Matt Reis, who once donned a wig to portray "new signing" Luis "El Lobo" Fangoso for an April Fool's Day joke. Stuver didn't mention that part; I just thought it was too good to not share.)
Rotation or not?
Though Austin FC head coach Nico Estévez said that they'll take an approach of "one day at a time first and then one game at a time," he also said that they're being "more conservative" with fullback Mikkel Desler, who left before halftime on Sunday's match against Seattle with tightness in his leg.
He also indicated that Guilherme Biro, dealing with a minor knee issue keeping him out of the previous match, is "ready to go," and in response to a question about Robert Taylor, declared he'd be part of the 20-man roster on Saturday.
From this, I'd expect Žan Kolmanič and Jon Gallagher to be the starting fullbacks in either a four-man or five-man backline against RSL (though I'd guess four for this one based on hints Estévez gave us Sunday night), with Desler staying home to be as right as possible for Wednesday.
"Open Cup is on our mind," Stuver said. "It's a chance to win the trophy. It's something that all of us are thinking about, but we do know how important this game is. This weekend, we have the ability to clinch playoffs and win that's something that we're hoping for. To clinch this early with some games left, that would be amazing ... add to the fuel for Wednesday. If you clinch playoffs this weekend, you're riding a high, you're going into a final at home, you can really ... carry that momentum into the game. So we're going to try and use this weekend to kind of keep that momentum, build that momentum, and not take this game lightly."
Estévez had compliments for Saturday's opponent, who are fighting for their playoff lives (but can't be eliminated on Saturday regardless of results).
"They're a very strong team, very aggressive. They press hard and high, they don't let you play comfortable, and they have quality to play," he noted.
Playoff-clinching scenarios
As it turns out, per MLS' math, Verde doesn't even need a win to officially punch their ticket to the postseason, though it is the most direct route to getting there — and, as we noted Tuesday, a win would vault them past the 45-point mark and keep them on pace to tie their best-ever point total (though that requires winning out).
The other routes to clinching include:
A draw against RSL, combined with Houston drawing or losing to Nashville; or
Colorado losing to Minnesota, San Jose drawing or losing to San Diego, and Houston drawing or losing to Nashville — even if Austin loses.
Verde All Day is a reader-supported online publication covering Austin FC. Additional support is provided by Austin Telco Federal Credit Union. You can comment here if you’re a subscriber, or reach out via Bluesky.
Austin FC let in a goal shortly before halftime, and then it got worse. Also, this team plays in a final in four days; they could do with some Taylor Swift advice.
While there are immediate concerns for Austin FC over the next week — a match against Real Salt Lake on Saturday in which the team can clinch its second-ever trip to the playoffs, and a U.S. Open Cup final at home on Wednesday against Nashville SC — Thursday's media availability was largely about the future.
Namely, goalkeeper Brad Stuver's future.
Shortly before the press conference commenced, the club announced Stuver signed a two-year contract extension keeping him Verde through the end of the 2027 season, with an option for the 2028 season. Should he fully see that out, he'd be 37 when that contract expires, but age is just a number.
"My outlook is I want to play for as long as I can," Stuver said in his portion of the press conference. "And if that means one more contract, if that means more contracts after this one, that would be fantastic. But at the end of the day, all I can do is focus on this one. But ideally, I play here until I retire, and then I'm just part of the club afterwards."
Prompted by a question, he reflected a bit on his arrival five years ago — when he was expected by many to be Andrew Tarbell's backup before winning the starting spot in the club's opener at LAFC and never relinquishing it.
"Looking back ... I think my wife actually doesn't think I'm as crazy as I was, but when I had that feeling that Austin was going to be my chance, like I knew it in my core ... now, looking back, I know it was right, like everything kind of turned out the way I had hoped."
He's also on the cusp of a special record: Most saves for an MLS goalkeeper in a five-season span. Looking at regular season matches since 2021, the 2025 All-Star has 615 saves; six more will put him past Tony Meola for the record, and given how Real Salt Lake plays, it could very well come in Sandy on Saturday.
"Individually, I want to be at the very best that I can be, because I know when I'm at my very best, it helps the team be at their very best," he said. "For me, that record is just a testament to the work that I've put in over the last 13 years to make sure that I was ready when my time came, and what it was to do everything in my power to help my team.
"Setting that record is not something that's top of mind for me. I'm sure it'll take care of itself," he added, before admitting he looked up to Meola growing up, describing being tied to him through this record as "surreal." (He also mentioned looking up to longtime Revs goalkeeper Matt Reis, who once donned a wig to portray "new signing" Luis "El Lobo" Fangoso for an April Fool's Day joke. Stuver didn't mention that part; I just thought it was too good to not share.)
Rotation or not?
Though Austin FC head coach Nico Estévez said that they'll take an approach of "one day at a time first and then one game at a time," he also said that they're being "more conservative" with fullback Mikkel Desler, who left before halftime on Sunday's match against Seattle with tightness in his leg.
He also indicated that Guilherme Biro, dealing with a minor knee issue keeping him out of the previous match, is "ready to go," and in response to a question about Robert Taylor, declared he'd be part of the 20-man roster on Saturday.
From this, I'd expect Žan Kolmanič and Jon Gallagher to be the starting fullbacks in either a four-man or five-man backline against RSL (though I'd guess four for this one based on hints Estévez gave us Sunday night), with Desler staying home to be as right as possible for Wednesday.
"Open Cup is on our mind," Stuver said. "It's a chance to win the trophy. It's something that all of us are thinking about, but we do know how important this game is. This weekend, we have the ability to clinch playoffs and win that's something that we're hoping for. To clinch this early with some games left, that would be amazing ... add to the fuel for Wednesday. If you clinch playoffs this weekend, you're riding a high, you're going into a final at home, you can really ... carry that momentum into the game. So we're going to try and use this weekend to kind of keep that momentum, build that momentum, and not take this game lightly."
Estévez had compliments for Saturday's opponent, who are fighting for their playoff lives (but can't be eliminated on Saturday regardless of results).
"They're a very strong team, very aggressive. They press hard and high, they don't let you play comfortable, and they have quality to play," he noted.
Playoff-clinching scenarios
As it turns out, per MLS' math, Verde doesn't even need a win to officially punch their ticket to the postseason, though it is the most direct route to getting there — and, as we noted Tuesday, a win would vault them past the 45-point mark and keep them on pace to tie their best-ever point total (though that requires winning out).
The other routes to clinching include:
None of these outcomes defy the imagination.
Verde All Day is a reader-supported online publication covering Austin FC. Additional support is provided by Austin Telco Federal Credit Union. You can comment here if you’re a subscriber, or reach out via Bluesky.
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