Colorado Rapids is a professional soccer club based in Denver, Colorado. They are one of the founding members of Major League Soccer (MLS), the top tier of men’s soccer in the United States and Canada. The Rapids have a passionate and loyal fan base, a rich and colorful history, and a competitive and exciting team.
The Rapids have a strong presence in the Colorado sports scene and a commitment to growing the game of soccer. They are involved in various community and youth programs, such as the Rapids Youth Soccer Club, the Special Olympics Unified Team, and the Colorado Rapids Foundation.
Let’s know more about this most loved and highly professional football club. Here, we will cover the players’ information, upcoming schedules, stats, standings, net worth, and more.
The History of Colorado Rapids
The Colorado Rapids were among the original ten clubs that formed the Major League Soccer (MLS), under the ownership and management of the Anschutz Corporation. The first season in 1996 was a dismal one for Colorado.
Even though they had seasoned players like Shaun Bartlett, Chris Henderson, Chris Woods, Roy Wegerle, and Marcelo Balboa, and head coach Bob Houghton, the team ended up at the bottom of the Western Conference with the league’s worst record. Balboa was the first-ever player to score for the club and also the first to register a goal at Mile High Stadium (in 1996).
The Colorado Rapids were the final remaining MLS club to secure a paid sponsorship deal on the front of their jerseys. In May 2014, the club revealed a five-year sponsorship deal with Ciao Telecom. In October 2014, the Rapids filed a lawsuit against Ciao for unpaid payments and quietly cut ties with the company. The club later struck a deal with Transamerica as a jersey sponsor in 2015.
The Rapids then renewed their contract with Transamerica and they would remain partners until the end of the 2020 season. In November 2022, the Rapids announced a partnership with UCHealth, ending two years of absence of a jersey sponsor. Under this contract, UCHealth will act as the team’s jersey sponsor until the end of the 2029 Major League Soccer season.
List of Colorado Rapids Players
Being one of the most successful football clubs in the US, Colorado Rapids has several prominent players and soccer stars around the world.
Here’s a complete Colorado Players list:
Name | Position | Age | Height | Weight | Nationality |
William Yarbrough | Goalkeeper | 34 | 6′ 2″ | 161 lbs | USA |
Marko Ilic | Goalkeeper | 25 | 6′ 3″ | 179 lbs | Serbia |
Abraham Rodriguez | Goalkeeper | 21 | 5′ 8″ | 163 lbs | USA |
Keegan Rosenberry | Defender | 30 | 5′ 8″ | 161 lbs | USA |
Danny Wilson | Defender | 31 | 6′ 2″ | 172 lbs | Scotland |
Andreas Maxsø | Defender | 29 | 6′ 3″ | 185 lbs | Denmark |
Lalas Abubakar | Defender | 28 | 6′ 1″ | 181 lbs | Ghana |
Gustavo Vallecilla | Defender | 24 | 6′ 1″ | 179 lbs | Ecuador |
Andrew Gutman | Defender | 27 | 5′ 10″ | 159 lbs | USA |
Alex Gersbach | Defender | 26 | 6′ 0″ | 161 lbs | Australia |
Sebastian Anderson | Defender | 21 | 5′ 8″ | 152 lbs | USA |
Aboubacar Keita | Defender | 23 | 6′ 2″ | 179 lbs | USA |
Steven Beitashour | Defender | 36 | 5′ 10″ | 172 lbs | Iran |
Michael Edwards | Defender | 23 | 6′ 4″ | 174 lbs | USA |
Moise Bombito | Defender | 23 | 6′ 3″ | 183 lbs | Canada |
Max | Midfielder | 22 | 5′ 9″ | 161 lbs | Brazil |
Sidnei Tavares | Midfielder | 22 | — | — | Portugal |
Daniel Leyva | Midfielder | 20 | 5′ 10″ | 150 lbs | USA |
Oliver Larraz | Midfielder | 22 | 5′ 10″ | 139 lbs | USA |
Jack Price | Midfielder | 30 | 5′ 7″ | 148 lbs | England |
Connor Ronan | Midfielder | 25 | 5′ 7″ | 152 lbs | Republic of Ireland |
Cole Bassett | Midfielder | 22 | 5′ 11″ | 150 lbs | USA |
Sam Nicholson | Midfielder | 28 | 5′ 9″ | 157 lbs | Scotland |
Brian Galván | Midfielder | 23 | 5′ 5″ | 139 lbs | Argentina |
Marlon Vargas | Midfielder | 22 | 5′ 5″ | 139 lbs | El Salvador |
Daouda Amadou | Midfielder | 21 | 5′ 3″ | — | Cameroon |
Ralph Priso-Mbongue | Midfielder | 21 | 5′ 9″ | 174 lbs | Canada |
Jonathan Lewis | Forward | 26 | 5′ 7″ | 150 lbs | USA |
Rafael Navarro | Forward | 23 | 6′ 0″ | 183 lbs | Brazil |
Diego Rubio | Forward | 30 | 5′ 11″ | 170 lbs | Chile |
Luis Díaz | Forward | 25 | 5′ 9″ | 159 lbs | Costa Rica |
Calvin Harris | Forward | 23 | 6′ 0″ | 161 lbs | England |
Yosuke Hanya | Forward | 24 | 5′ 8″ | — | Japan |
Rémi Cabral | Forward | 24 | 6′ 0″ | 172 lbs | France |
Darren Yapi | Forward | 19 | 6′ 1″ | 172 lbs | USA |
Kevin Cabral | Forward | 24 | 6′ 1″ | 150 lbs | France |
Coaching Staff of Colorado Rapids FC
The coaching staff of Colorado Rapids FC has some of the most prominent football figures onboarded. Below is a detail of Colorado Rapids coaching staff, including its head and assistant coach:
Head Coach | Chris Armas |
Assistant Coach | Chris Little |
Assistant Coach | Neil Emblen |
Assistant Coach | Wolde Harris |
Assistant Coach / Goalkeeper Coach | Chris Sharpe |
Team Analyst | Jase Kim |
Colorado Rapids Stadium and Homeground
The Rapids have been playing their home games at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park since 2007. The stadium offers a stunning view of the Rocky Mountains. However, the stadium isn’t their home ground from the start; the club has changed 3 stadiums so far.
Name | Years in use |
Mile High Stadium | 1996–2001 |
Invesco Field at Mile High | 2002-2006 |
North Area Athletic Complex | 2003; 1 game in the U.S. Open Cup |
Dick’s Sporting Goods Park | 2007–present |
Colorado Rapids Jersey Information
The team wears burgundy and blue color jerseys, inspired by the Colorado flag and the natural beauty of the state. The team’s mascot is Edson the Eagle, a tribute to the legendary Brazilian soccer player Pelé.
Colorado Rapids Stats (2018 – 2023)
As mentioned above, Colorado Rapids is one of the most successful football clubs, which is evident from their game stats below –
Season | League | Position | |||||
Played | Won | Lost | Drawn | Pts | Conf. | Overall | |
2018 | 34 | 8 | 19 | 7 | 31 | 11th | 21st |
2019 | 34 | 12 | 16 | 6 | 42 | 9th | 16th |
2020 | 18 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 28 | 5th | 10th |
2021 | 34 | 17 | 7 | 10 | 61 | 1st | 2nd |
2022 | 34 | 11 | 13 | 10 | 43 | 10th | 18th |
2023 | 34 | 5 | 17 | 12 | 27 | 14th | 28th |
Colorado Rapids Point Table
Here’s a Colorado Rapids standing for the 2023 season –
Position | Team | Matches | Won | Draw | Lost | Points |
1st | St. Louis | 34 | 17 | 5 | 12 | 56 |
2nd | Sounders | 34 | 14 | 11 | 9 | 53 |
3rd | Los Angeles | 34 | 14 | 10 | 10 | 52 |
4th | Houston | 34 | 14 | 9 | 11 | 51 |
5th | Salt Lake | 34 | 14 | 8 | 12 | 50 |
6th | Whitecaps | 34 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 48 |
7th | Dallas | 34 | 11 | 13 | 10 | 46 |
8th | Sporting KC | 34 | 12 | 8 | 14 | 44 |
9th | Earthquakes | 34 | 10 | 14 | 10 | 44 |
10th | Portland | 34 | 11 | 10 | 13 | 43 |
11th | Minnesota | 34 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 41 |
12th | Austin | 34 | 10 | 9 | 15 | 39 |
13th | Galaxy | 34 | 8 | 12 | 14 | 36 |
14th | Colorado Rapids | 34 | 5 | 12 | 17 | 27 |
Colorado Rapids Schedule
While the Colorado Rapids schedule 2024 is yet to be announced, let’s have a look at some of the prominent matches played in the Colorado Rapids schedule 2023.
Date | Against | Goals | Result |
28 Sept | WhiteCaps | 2-2 | Draw |
1 Oct | Austin | 1-0 | Won |
8 Oct | Houston | 5-1 | Lost |
15 Oct | Dallas | 1-1 | Draw |
22 Oct | North Carolina Courage | 1-1 | Draw |
Colorado Rapids Owner
The Colorado Rapids are owned by the Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, which also owns the Denver Nuggets of NBA, Colorado Mammoth of NLL, Colorado Avalanche of NHL, and other sports franchises beyond the borders of Colorado.
Colorado Rapids Net Worth
The estimated net worth of Colorado Rapids FC is around $370 million. The majority of the club’s earning comes from sponsorships.
Colorado Rapids Achievements and Honors
- MLS Cup Champions in 2010.
- Winner of MLS Reserve Division in 2006 and 2007.
- Winner of the Rocky Moutain Cup in 2005, 2006, 2013, 2015, and 2020.
FAQs
Have the Colorado Rapids Ever Won a Championship?
Yes, the Colorado Rapids won the MLS Cup in 2010, defeating FC Dallas 2-1 in extra time.
Who Sponsors the Colorado Rapids?
The Colorado Rapids are sponsored by Transamerica, a financial services company, whose logo appears on the front of their jerseys.
Who Plays for Colorado Rapids?
The Colorado Rapids have a roster of 28 players, including Ronan, Connor, Cabral, Kevin, Maxso, Andreas, Lewis, Jonathan, and Bassett, Cole.
Does Colorado have an MLS Team?
Yes, the Colorado Rapids are the only MLS team based in Colorado, and they play in the Western Conference.
Does Arsenal Own Colorado Rapids?
No, Arsenal does not own Colorado Rapids, but they have had a strategic partnership since 2006, which involves youth development, coaching, and marketing.
Who are the Rapids Rivals?
The Colorado Rapids have several rivals, but their main one is Real Salt Lake, with whom they contest the Rocky Mountain Cup every year.