Achieving what he called a “lifelong dream,” SMU defender Diogo de Almeida was selected in the second round of Major League Soccer’s SuperDraft by Real Salt Lake.

“I think Real Salt Lake is a great team for me,” de Almeida said. “The style of soccer they play is very attractive — they keep the ball on the ground and believe in passing and technical play, and they have a great coaching staff.”

SMU defender Diogo de Almeida was chosen 24th overall in the 2011 Major League Soccer SuperDraft (photo by SMU athletics).

“Real Salt Lake is, for me, one of the best playing and best passing teams in MLS,” SMU assistant head coach Phil Wolf said. “It’s a great organization, a class organization from top to bottom.

“Their coach (former FC Dallas star Jason Kreis) is one of the best young coaches in the league. In a league that doesn’t always play the most attractive brand of soccer, his teams do. They value passing, creativity and athleticism, and Diogo should be a great fit there.”

de Almeida, who was selected with the 24th overall selection in the SuperDraft, collected a slew of accolades in his final season on the Hilltop. He was named 2011 Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year, first-team all-conference, First-Team All-Midwest Region by the NSCAA (National Soccer Coaches Association of America) and Defensive Most Valuable Player of the C-USA Tournament (while helping to lead the Mustangs to the tournament title and another berth in the NCAA Tournament). The versatile senior from Piracicaba, Brazil, played forward, midfielder and defender during his four seasons with the Mustangs, collecting nine goals and three assists.

He was solid at forward and in the midfield, but it was after his move to the back that de Almeida became dominant. He said RSL coaches took note of his ability to play multiple positions, but said he will join his new team playing the same position at which he finished his college career: left back.

“I think Diogo is a left back at the next level, and those guys aren’t easy to find,” Wolf said. “He’s big and strong, and athletically, he’s a very good fit playing out wide. His challenge will be his positional sense in their defense, but that’s one reason that’s such a good team for him to go to. A team that good (RLS went 15-11-8 in 2011, finishing third in the Western Conference), they’re not looking for him to come in and start right away. He’ll be able to learn. Diogo really is the perfect player in the perfect place.”

“They definitely have very good players all over the field,” de Almeida said. “I’m in a good position. I’m going to learn everything I can while I try to earn a spot on the team.”

de Almeida admitted he never has been to Utah. He said he has seen pictures — “it looks really beautiful,” he said — and said he has been told it’s a nice place to live, although he also is aware that it can get colder and his new team plays at higher altitude.

“Diogo is never going to fail any fitness test,” Wolf said. “At that (left back) position, you have to be able to get forward, and one of his best qualities is his ability to get up and down (the field).

“The nice thing about Diogo — and he has a lot of really nice qualities — is that he has got an incredibly strong will to succeed. At that (professional) level, you have to have that. He’ll work and he’ll fight. He’ll do anything to stick.”