Colorado Rapids
Encyclopedia
The Colorado Rapids are an American professional soccer club based in the Denver
suburb of Commerce City, Colorado
which competes in Major League Soccer
(MLS), the top professional soccer league in the United States
and Canada
. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league since its inception.
Colorado won the MLS Cup
for the first time in 2010. The Rapids reached the final once before, in 1997, which it lost to D.C. United
; they also reached the final of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
in 1999.
Colorado played its home games at the Mile High Stadium
in Denver from 1996–2001, and then at Invesco Field at Mile High
in 2002, before moving to their current home – Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City – prior to the beginning of the 2007 season.
, owned and operated by the Anschutz Corporation (later AEG). The inaugural 1996 season was a forgettable one for Colorado. Despite fielding experienced players like Shaun Bartlett
, Chris Henderson, Chris Woods
, Roy Wegerle and Marcelo Balboa
, and English Head Coach Bobby Houghton, the team finished dead last in the Western Conference with the worst record in the league. Balboa went down in history as the first player ever to score for the club and also the first ever player to record a goal at their home of Mile High Stadium in their first home match in 1996.
The complexion of the team changed dramatically for the following season with new head coach Glenn Myernick
and a new General Manager, Dan Counce. Myernick and Counce brought new faces to the squad including Paul Bravo
, Wolde Harris
, Ross Paule
, and keeper Marcus Hahnemann
. The team struggled early on, but rallied to grab a postseason spot. The Rapids pulled off two major upsets and advanced to the 1997 MLS Cup
final. Chris Henderson
scored a mid-air volley past Dallas keeper Mark Dodd
in the 87th minute in the Western Conference final, ensuring Colorado's place in the MLS Cup
final. They scored in the Cup thanks to a goal by Adrian Paz but lost the final 2–1 to D.C. United
.
Colorado continued on a roller coaster of success, but mostly disappointment: Myernick brought in more new players including Anders Limpar
and Marcus Hahnemann
and the club made it to the 1999 US Open Cup final, only to be upset 2–0 by the Rochester Raging Rhinos
.
The 2000 season boasted two of the more memorable moments in Rapids history. The first was Marcelo Balboa's
famous bicycle kick which garnered the Goal of the Year
. The second was clinching a playoff spot in the final game of the season against the Los Angeles Galaxy
, with Paul Bravo scoring in the 97th minute.
In 2001 Tim Hankinson
took the reins as Colorado's new head coach. Scottish striker John Spencer
also joined the club that year. While Hankinson did bring effective players like Mark Chung
, Chris Henderson
, Carlos Valderrama, and Joe Cannon
to the squad—and made the playoffs every year—Hankinson also signed a number of expensive and unsuccessful players including ZiZi Roberts
and Darryl Powell
. During his coaching stint, the club also traded away club legend Marcelo Balboa, whose career was nearing its end....he played 1 game with New York before retiring.
2002 was a banner year for the Rapids, and they started off their new year at their new home of Invesco Field at Mile High by acquiring two powerhouses and future stars for the team, Pablo Mastroeni and Kyle Beckerman from the defunct Miami Fusion F.C. Chris Henderson went down in history as the first player ever to score a goal in the brand-new stadium. Mark Chung posted record numbers on the season, and Mastroeni shone for the US Men's National Team in that year's World Cup. The club advanced to the MLS Cup Playoffs Semifinals, and although they didn't advance to the MLS Cup, the Rapids did clean up at the MLS postseason awards ceremonies. General Manager Dan Counce was named MLS Executive of the Year and 4 other Rapids front office staff were named as the best at their positions in MLS that year. Mark Chung was named to the League Best XI squad and also took home the MLS Fair Play Award. Finally, the Rapids ticket sales staff was named worst in the league after the Rapids ended dead last in MLS average home attendance for the first time ever with an average home crowd of under 2,000 fans per home game.
2003 saw the club change their identity, with a rebranding that brought in the new team identity and color scheme of black and blue. Mark Chung and forward John Spencer had banner years. Spencer, the Rapids' team captain, set a new team record by scoring in six consecutive games and tied his own team record with 14 goals on the season. He finished the season third in MLS with 33 points, was a finalist for Honda MVP and was named to the MLS Pepsi Best XI. Joining him on the Best XI was Chung, who tied his career high of a year prior with 11 goals and was second on the team with 28 points. This was Chung’s second consecutive appearance on the MLS Best XI and it marked the first time in league history that two Rapids had been so honored in the same season.
The Rapids set a new MLS record for the lowest home Goals Against Average over an entire season with at 0.53 by only allowing eight goals in 15 matches at Invesco Field during the season, and never more than one in a single game. After Kansas City broke the Rapids’ MLS record 16 game home undefeated streak on June 9, the Black & Blue reeled off 11 more undefeated home games. On the year Colorado was undefeated when scoring more than one goal, a credit to the play of goalkeeper Joe Cannon and the suffocating defense.
Kroenke Sports Enterprises purchased the club in late 2004 and made several changes before the 2005 season. In the front office, KSE replaced long-time executive GM Dan Counce with Charlie Wright, who appointed Fernando Clavijo
as the new head coach.
Clavijo and Wright brought in many new additions to the squad including Jeff Cunningham
, Terry Cooke
, and David "Dedi" Ben Dayan
. The team saw steady improvement over the course of the 2005 season. The season's success was highlighted by a dramatic playoff victory over FC Dallas
in a penalty shootout, and their claiming of the brand new Rocky Mountain Cup in the tournament's inaugural year.
Colorado's 2006 season seemed to parallel trends from previous years. Clavijo's squad performed inconsistently and only secured a playoff spot at the very last instant. Lightning managed to strike twice as they duplicated their 2005 playoff run by again beating FC Dallas
in penalties only to crash out of the Western Conference
Final by a two goal deficit. Other highlights from the final black and blue season include securing the Rocky Mountain Cup
for the second consecutive year and winning the MLS Reserve Division
.
of the English Premier League and Pachuca of Mexico, and ushering in a new era of optimism.
The Rapids business-wise enjoyed a fantastic inaugural year at Dick's Sporting Goods Park, hosting numerous international exhibitions, tournaments on the stadium's 24-field complex, and the 2007 MLS All-Star Game; on the pitch though the team's performance was less than ideal.
The team started out strong with a series of good results, including a fantastic 2–1 victory over DC United in frigid conditions on MLS First Kick and the first-ever event in the newest soccer stadium in America. Herculez Gomez went down in history as the first-ever player to score in the Rapids' brand new shining jewel of a stadium. However as the season progressed, the team endured a long winless streak that saw them sink in the standings. Colorado struggled with inconsistent results at the end of the season and ultimately finished just shy of a playoff spot. The major low points in the season included an embarrassing 5–0 loss to the Seattle Sounders
in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, and a crushing defeat to Real Salt Lake
that saw them lose both a playoff berth and the possession of the Rocky Mountain Cup for the first time ever in the last game of the regular season. One of the club's few consolations of the season on the pitch was winning the MLS Reserve Division Championship for the second consecutive year.
Despite underachieving on the field the previous year and protests from the fans, the Rapids elected to honor Fernando Clavijo's contract, which ran through the 2008 season.
Heading into 2008, Rapids GM Charlie Wright and the front office staff bolstered the roster by adding depth to the midfield and defense. Major signings included Christian Gómez
and Jose Burciaga Jr. The 2008 season saw a resurgent Rapids side, which started off the season with a complete thrashing of David Beckham and the LA Galaxy by a 4–0 score on Opening Day to launch the season. However, an inconsistent mid-season stretch where, for 13 games, the Rapids could not win 2 games in a row or lose 2 in a row, saw Clavijo resign from the Head Coach position for personal reasons, and saw Gary Smith
, an assistant coach who came from the Arsenal F.C.
system, take over on an interim basis with 11 games left in the season. Under Smith's direction, the Rapids surged back into the playoff race, including two key away wins, only to fall short of the playoffs in the last game of the season, against rivals Real Salt Lake. Salt Lake tied the Rapids 1–1 in the 90th minute of that game to eliminate the Rapids from playoff contention. Because of the signs of improvement shown in the last 11 games, Smith was hired as the head coach.
The 2009 campaign featured head coach Gary Smith
in his first full season. Smith took over the reins from Fernando Clavijo as interim manager after Clavijo resigned for personal reasons. Smiths first appointment was Steve Guppy
ex England International as his assistant, Guppy had spent the previous successful season at USL1 team Rochester Rhinos as their Player Assistant Coach. Shortly after, Rapids veteran midfielder Pablo Mastroeni
re-signed with the club for four years after mulling potential offers from Europe. The Rapids also signed new four-year contracts with midfielders Colin Clark and Nick LaBrocca and defenders Jordan Harvey and Kosuke Kimura. The Colorado Rapids did acquire former QPR and Chicago Fire goalkeeper Matt Pickens
to replace fan-favorite Senegalese goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul. The other major roster move included the arrival of Ivan Guerrero from DC United in exchange for midfielder Christian Gomez and backup goalkeeper Mike Graczyk. The media criticized the Rapids for not making more roster moves to improve the team for the 2009 season. However, the core of the team remained intact.
The 2010 campaign featured many roster moves that saw the likes of Danny Earls
, Jeff Larentowicz
, Claudio Lopez, Quincy Amarikwa
, Ian Joyce
, and Wells Thompson
join the club. The offseason also included a new contract for star forward Conor Casey
. The Colorado Rapids also excited many of the ultras
supporter groups by the creation and construction of a unique supporters terrace within Dick's Sporting Goods Park. During the summer transfer window, the Colorado Rapids signed academy youth player Davy Armstrong
, and brought in defender Anthony Wallace
from FC Dallas
. Colorado also sent Mehdi Ballouchy
to New York Red Bulls in exchange for Macoumba Kandji
and acquired Brian Mullan
from Houston Dynamo in exchange for Colin Clark
. With these changes, Colorado qualified for the MLS Cup playoffs and defeated Columbus Crew in the first round. On November 13, Colorado hosted the San Jose Earthquakes in the MLS Eastern Conference Championship and won by a scoreline of 1-0. This was Colorado's first trip to MLS Cup since 1997. In the final, the Rapids trailed 1–0 at half time. Conor Casey equalized in the 2nd half to send the game to extra time. Macoumba Kandji
helped set up the game-winner that went off FC Dallas defender George John. Colorado won the 2011 MLS Cup 2-1 after extra time. The was Colorado's first MLS Cup championship and also the first major trophy in the club's history.
The 2011 campaign led to minimal roster changes, as the Rapids retained every starter from the 2010 MLS Cup Final on the roster. However, Sanna Nyassi
and Tyrone Marshall
were signed from Seattle Sounders FC. Joseph Nane and Josh Janniere
were additions from Toronto FC. Local product Steven Emory
was signed after an open tryout during preseason. Emory played collegiate soccer at nearby Metro State in downtown Denver. The Rapids made the headlines when Irish International and former Hull City
striker Caleb Folan
signed with the club. The primary departure was defender Julian Baudet. Since Colorado won the 2011 MLS Cup, they automatically qualified for the group stages of the 2011–2012 CONCACAF Champions League. On September 9th, Colorado signed versatile defender Miguel Comminges
. The Guadeloupe International can play at either Left or Right back. On September 13, Comminges made his debut for Colorado as a substitute in a 4-1 home loss to Club Santos Laguna in the CONCACAF Champions League.
The Rapids' image has evolved a great deal since their inaugural year. The team has undergone two complete re-brandings. Originally using green as the primary kit color, the team changed to black and blue for the 2003 season.
As Colorado were preparing to move into Dick's Sporting Goods Park for the 2007 season, the club re-invented themselves again to more closely align with the DNA and color scheme of other KSE teams, changing their colors to burgundy and blue, and creating a brand new shield logo to fit in with more traditional global soccer marks.
Colorado has had three logos in their history. They originally first used the "river" logo as their primary crest with the "circular" logo as a secondary one. In 2002, the two logos would switch, with the "circular" one becoming the primary. For the 2007 re-branding, the Rapids created the new shield-style logo, which is the one that is currently used today.
The original look of the Rapids sported a predominantly white kit with green trim, when the club's kit supplier was Puma. Other minor colors such as gold and blue were occasionally incorporated, with the club's association with Reebok. Eventually black became more heavily used and eventually overtook white as the more dominant color that accompanied the green, when the club switched to Kappa.
The Rapids underwent a more dramatic image change prior to the 2003 season. Following the club's switch to Atletica, the kit colors switched to black and blue vertical stripes, similar to the uniforms worn by Italian Serie A
club Internazionale
. The blue and black vertical stripes remained almost unchanged when MLS adopted Adidas as their league wide kit sponsor.
The kits underwent one last dramatic change for the 2007 season. The Rapids now sport burgundy and sky blue as their primary colors. The Colorado Rapids also have a brand new third kit, consisting of a white shirt, white socks and burgundy shorts.
The Rapids are one of five MLS clubs in 2011 (out of 18 clubs) not to have sponsorships on the front of their jerseys.
The Rapids play their home games at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado
(approximately 8 miles north of downtown Denver). The stadium capacity is 19,680 and cost $131 million to construct. It is also referred to as a soccer-specific stadium
, since it was constructed for the Colorado Rapids. The soccer stadium opened on April 7, 2007. The stadium complex includes youth soccer fields and various retail establishments, and is owned and operated by Kroenke Sports Enterprises (KSE) which also owns the Colorado Avalanche
, Denver Nuggets
, Colorado Crush
and Colorado Mammoth
sports franchises, and is a co-owner of English Premier League club Arsenal
.
Prior to moving to DSG Park in 2007, Colorado Rapids shared Mile High Stadium
and then Invesco Field at Mile High
with the Denver Broncos
American football
franchise.
became the second team in the Rocky Mountain region and the Rapids' closest neighbor. The supporters of the two clubs created a regular-season competition between the two sides to foster and memorialize this budding rivalry. Each season, the Rocky Mountain Cup is determined by the winner of the head-to-head fixtures within league play. Real Salt Lake and Colorado Rapids are one of the best rivalries in Major League Soccer and the matches are also referred to as the Rocky Mountain Derby.
or ultras
. A handful of formally organized groups have come and gone. While there have been several groups both large and small, the most notable of these were the Jolly Green Men, the River Ratz, and Ultra Azul. Reasons for the failures of these groups include lack of growth, leadership from within the supporters clubs, and tensions between them and Invesco Field stadium security. After the River Ratz become defunct, there was a period of several years where there was no real supporters group.
In 2005 and 2006, two organized supporters groups
emerged. The Centennial Firm (C-Firm) was the latest group trying to establish an ultras scene with flags, banners, and drums. Class VI was established in late 2005 to provide an alternative to the traditional standing environment. They are an organized body known as a seating club, focused on passion for the game, premium viewing location, and a focus on gameplay and is open to any fan (including both season ticket holders and single-game fans). After the close of the 2006 MLS season, the Rapids announced a new area (and official supporters' club) in Dick's Sporting Goods Park that would specifically house fans interested in an ultras experience. This section was called The Front Range and was located in section 114 then moved to sections 101 and 102. In 2007 the NCC (North Corner Council) was started up as an extreme supporters group within the supporters section. Class VI, C-Firm and the NCC were the main three supporters groups up until 2010.
2010 marked a groundbreaking year for Colorado Rapids supporter groups. Before the 2010 season, the Colorado Rapids unveiled plans for a unique European-style supporters terrace for the north end of Dick's Sporting Goods Park. Currently, the Colorado Rapids boasts two major supporter groups that fill the terraces. These include the Bulldog Supporters Group and the Pid Army. The Bulldog Supporters Group (also referred to as "BSG" or "the Bobbies") formed out of the British Bulldog Pub in downtown Denver in 2010. The Pid Army grew out of the merging of the C-Firm and the NCC in 2010. The Pid Army is geared more toward the Ultras
, DIY and Punk Rock
culture. Both supporter groups fill the terraces in the north end of the stadium and create a passionate atmosphere for the Colorado Rapids.
For the 2011-2012 Edition of the CONCACAF Champions League, CONCACAF regulations require "all-seater" stadiums. The Supporters Terrace was officially closed for these matches, due to the fact that the terraces are standing-only areas with no stadium seating. CONCACAF group stage fixtures have seen the Pid Army and the Bulldog Supporters Group relocated to either midfield in the East stands (Isidro Metapán) or directly behind the South goal in sections 117 and 118 (Club Santos Laguna, Real España).
, which is owned by Kroenke Sports Entertainment
as are the Colorado Avalanche
and Denver Nuggets
. Major League Soccer
determined in 2007 that every game must be televised, either through a regional (or local) TV station, or a national channel.
All games are broadcast on television by Altitude, the official television partner of the Rapids, or else via nationally-available channels, including ESPN-2, Fox Soccer Channel
, and Telefutura
, or the MLS Direct Kick package.
To start the 2010 season, KWGN-Denver CW Affiliate Channel 2 (the Deuce) has partnered with the Colorado Rapids to broadcast 25 Rapids games over the season.
The 2011 season features the Rapids back on Altitude Sports and Entertainment.
games, but are not part of the senior roster.
Junior Agogo
(2000–2001) Marcelo Balboa
(1996–2001) Shaun Bartlett
(1996–1997) Kyle Beckerman
(2002–2007) Dedi Ben Dayan
(2005–2006) Nat Borchers
(2003–2005) Paul Bravo
(1997–2001) José Cancela
(2007–2008) Joe Cannon
(2003–2006) Mark Chung
(2002–2005) Colin Clark
(2006–2010) Terry Cooke
(2005–2009) Bouna Coundoul
(2005–2009) Jorge Dely Valdes
(1999–2000) Robin Fraser
(2001–2003) Cory Gibbs
(2008–2010)
Marcus Hahnemann
(1997–1999) Chris Henderson
(1996–1998), (2002–2005) Ugo Ihemelu
(2006–2009) Aitor Karanka (2006) Jovan Kirovski
(2005–2008) Anders Limpar
(1999–2000) Clint Mathis
(2006) Alain Nkong
(2005–2006) Daniel Osorno
(2007) Raúl Palacios
(2002) Adrian Paz
(1997–1998) Jacob Peterson
(2006–2009) John Spencer
(2001–2004) Steve Trittschuh
(1996–1999) Carlos Valderrama (2001–2002) Chris Woods
(1996)
(1996), (Interim) Glenn Myernick
(1997–2000) Tim Hankinson
(2001–2004) Fernando Clavijo
(2005–2008) Gary Smith
(2008–2011)
#17 Marcelo Balboa
(inducted 2004) #9 Paul Bravo
(inducted 2004) #19 Chris Henderson
(inducted 2007) #7 John Spencer
(inducted 2009)
Note: MLS did not allow ties prior to the 2000 season as games were decided by shootout when tied at full time.
Finish 3rd in Group B
Players in bold are active Rapids players
Last Updated November 7th, 2011
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
suburb of Commerce City, Colorado
Commerce City, Colorado
The city of Commerce City is a Home Rule Municipality located in Adams County, Colorado, United States. Commerce City is a northern suburb of Denver and now the 18th most populous municipality in the state of Colorado...
which competes in Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
(MLS), the top professional soccer league in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league since its inception.
Colorado won the MLS Cup
MLS Cup
The MLS Cup is the championship match of Major League Soccer, the highest tier of professional soccer in the United States and Canada. As the final match of the MLS Cup playoffs, the winner is crowned the season champion in the same manner as other North American sports leagues...
for the first time in 2010. The Rapids reached the final once before, in 1997, which it lost to D.C. United
D.C. United
D.C. United is an American professional soccer club based in Washington, D.C. which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league since its inception, in 1996.Over the...
; they also reached the final of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is a knockout tournament in American soccer. The tournament is the oldest ongoing American soccer competition and is presently open to all United States Soccer Federation affiliated teams, from amateur adult club teams to the professional clubs of Major League...
in 1999.
Colorado played its home games at the Mile High Stadium
Mile High Stadium
Mile High Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, that stood in Denver, Colorado, from 1948 until 2001.It hosted the Denver Broncos, of the AFL and the NFL, from 1960-2000, the Colorado Rockies, of the National League, of the MLB, from 1993-1994, the Colorado Rapids, of MLS, from 1996-2001, the...
in Denver from 1996–2001, and then at Invesco Field at Mile High
INVESCO Field at Mile High
Sports Authority Field at Mile High, previously known as Invesco Field at Mile High, and commonly known as Mile High, is a multi-purpose stadium, in Denver, Colorado. It replaced the identically sized, but commercially obsolete Mile High Stadium in 2001...
in 2002, before moving to their current home – Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City – prior to the beginning of the 2007 season.
The First Decade (1996–2006)
The Colorado Rapids were one of the ten founding clubs of Major League SoccerMajor League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
, owned and operated by the Anschutz Corporation (later AEG). The inaugural 1996 season was a forgettable one for Colorado. Despite fielding experienced players like Shaun Bartlett
Shaun Bartlett
Shaun Bartlett is a retired South African football striker who last played for Bloemfontein Celtic.-Early life:...
, Chris Henderson, Chris Woods
Chris Woods
Christopher 'Chris' Charles Eric Woods is a former England international football goalkeeper, who played in the Football League and Premier League for Queens Park Rangers, Norwich City, Sheffield Wednesday, Reading, Southampton and Burnley, in the Scottish Football League for Rangers, and in Major...
, Roy Wegerle and Marcelo Balboa
Marcelo Balboa
Marcelo Balboa is an American former soccer defender who played in the 1990s for the U.S. national team, becoming its captain. After retiring from playing, he has worked as a commentator for ESPN and ABC and MLS games on HDNet and Altitude...
, and English Head Coach Bobby Houghton, the team finished dead last in the Western Conference with the worst record in the league. Balboa went down in history as the first player ever to score for the club and also the first ever player to record a goal at their home of Mile High Stadium in their first home match in 1996.
The complexion of the team changed dramatically for the following season with new head coach Glenn Myernick
Glenn Myernick
Glenn "Mooch" Myernick was an American soccer player and coach. He won the 1976 Hermann Trophy as that year’s outstanding collegiate player. He then spent eight seasons in the North American Soccer League and one in Major Indoor Soccer League. Myernick also earned 10 caps with the U.S. national...
and a new General Manager, Dan Counce. Myernick and Counce brought new faces to the squad including Paul Bravo
Paul Bravo
Paul Bravo is a former American soccer midfielder and forward who played six seasons in Major League Soccer, two in the American Professional Soccer League and two in the USISL. He also earned four caps, scoring one goal, with the United States men's national soccer team...
, Wolde Harris
Wolde Harris
Wolde Sealassie Harris is a Jamaican football striker who played professionally in Major League Soccer and was the 1996 A-League Rookie of the Year...
, Ross Paule
Ross Paule
Ross Paule is a former American soccer midfielder, who last played for the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer....
, and keeper Marcus Hahnemann
Marcus Hahnemann
Marcus Stephen Hahnemann is an American international soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Everton.Graduating out of Seattle Pacific University, he played for the Seattle Sounders between 1994 and 1996. Between 1997 and 1999 he turned out for the Colorado Rapids, signing with English club...
. The team struggled early on, but rallied to grab a postseason spot. The Rapids pulled off two major upsets and advanced to the 1997 MLS Cup
MLS Cup
The MLS Cup is the championship match of Major League Soccer, the highest tier of professional soccer in the United States and Canada. As the final match of the MLS Cup playoffs, the winner is crowned the season champion in the same manner as other North American sports leagues...
final. Chris Henderson
Chris Henderson
Christopher "Chris" Henderson is a former American soccer midfielder who earned 79 caps with the U.S. national team. He was part of the U.S...
scored a mid-air volley past Dallas keeper Mark Dodd
Mark Dodd
Mark Dodd is a former U.S. soccer goalkeeper. He spent one season in the Major Indoor Soccer League, six in the American Professional Soccer League and four in Major League Soccer with the Dallas Burn. He also earned fifteen caps with the U.S. national team.-High school and college:Dodd attended...
in the 87th minute in the Western Conference final, ensuring Colorado's place in the MLS Cup
MLS Cup
The MLS Cup is the championship match of Major League Soccer, the highest tier of professional soccer in the United States and Canada. As the final match of the MLS Cup playoffs, the winner is crowned the season champion in the same manner as other North American sports leagues...
final. They scored in the Cup thanks to a goal by Adrian Paz but lost the final 2–1 to D.C. United
D.C. United
D.C. United is an American professional soccer club based in Washington, D.C. which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league since its inception, in 1996.Over the...
.
Colorado continued on a roller coaster of success, but mostly disappointment: Myernick brought in more new players including Anders Limpar
Anders Limpar
Anders Erik Limpar is a Swedish former footballer of Hungarian origin, who played as a winger...
and Marcus Hahnemann
Marcus Hahnemann
Marcus Stephen Hahnemann is an American international soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Everton.Graduating out of Seattle Pacific University, he played for the Seattle Sounders between 1994 and 1996. Between 1997 and 1999 he turned out for the Colorado Rapids, signing with English club...
and the club made it to the 1999 US Open Cup final, only to be upset 2–0 by the Rochester Raging Rhinos
Rochester Raging Rhinos
The Rochester Rhinos are an American professional soccer team based in Rochester, New York, United States. Founded in 1996, the team plays in the National Division of the new USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, having self-relegated from the USSF D2 Pro League...
.
The 2000 season boasted two of the more memorable moments in Rapids history. The first was Marcelo Balboa's
Marcelo Balboa
Marcelo Balboa is an American former soccer defender who played in the 1990s for the U.S. national team, becoming its captain. After retiring from playing, he has worked as a commentator for ESPN and ABC and MLS games on HDNet and Altitude...
famous bicycle kick which garnered the Goal of the Year
MLS Goal of the Year Award
In the United States, Major League Soccer has handed out a Goal of the Year Award since its inception in 1996. It is selected from the season's Goal of the Week Award winners by fans' online vote. Here is a list of the past winners:...
. The second was clinching a playoff spot in the final game of the season against the Los Angeles Galaxy
Los Angeles Galaxy
The Los Angeles Galaxy are an American professional soccer team, based in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson, California, which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, and the league's second...
, with Paul Bravo scoring in the 97th minute.
Tim Hankinson
Tim Hankinson is a well-traveled American soccer coach who is currently head coach of NASL side San Antonio Scorpions in San Antonio, Texas.- Player :...
took the reins as Colorado's new head coach. Scottish striker John Spencer
John Spencer (footballer)
John Spencer is the head coach for Portland Timbers of Major League Soccer. Spencer is a former professional football player, who represented Scotland at international level...
also joined the club that year. While Hankinson did bring effective players like Mark Chung
Mark Chung
Mark Chung is a former American soccer midfielder who, after a season in the Continental Indoor Soccer League, played ten seasons in Major League Soccer. He also earned twenty-four caps, scoring two goals, with the U.S. national team.-Youth and college:Chung was born in Toronto to Chinese...
, Chris Henderson
Chris Henderson
Christopher "Chris" Henderson is a former American soccer midfielder who earned 79 caps with the U.S. national team. He was part of the U.S...
, Carlos Valderrama, and Joe Cannon
Joe Cannon (soccer)
Joe Cannon is an American soccer player who currently plays for Vancouver Whitecaps FC in Major League Soccer.-Professional:...
to the squad—and made the playoffs every year—Hankinson also signed a number of expensive and unsuccessful players including ZiZi Roberts
Zizi Roberts
Kolubah "Zizi" Roberts is a former Liberian football player.Roberts began his professional career in 1996 at the age of 17 and has since played for eight different teams in Liberia, Switzerland, Greece, and Italy. At one time, he was on the books of A.C...
and Darryl Powell
Darryl Powell
Darryl Anthony Powell is an English-born former professional footballer who made more than 350 appearances in the Football League and Premier League and played international football for the Jamaican national team...
. During his coaching stint, the club also traded away club legend Marcelo Balboa, whose career was nearing its end....he played 1 game with New York before retiring.
2002 was a banner year for the Rapids, and they started off their new year at their new home of Invesco Field at Mile High by acquiring two powerhouses and future stars for the team, Pablo Mastroeni and Kyle Beckerman from the defunct Miami Fusion F.C. Chris Henderson went down in history as the first player ever to score a goal in the brand-new stadium. Mark Chung posted record numbers on the season, and Mastroeni shone for the US Men's National Team in that year's World Cup. The club advanced to the MLS Cup Playoffs Semifinals, and although they didn't advance to the MLS Cup, the Rapids did clean up at the MLS postseason awards ceremonies. General Manager Dan Counce was named MLS Executive of the Year and 4 other Rapids front office staff were named as the best at their positions in MLS that year. Mark Chung was named to the League Best XI squad and also took home the MLS Fair Play Award. Finally, the Rapids ticket sales staff was named worst in the league after the Rapids ended dead last in MLS average home attendance for the first time ever with an average home crowd of under 2,000 fans per home game.
2003 saw the club change their identity, with a rebranding that brought in the new team identity and color scheme of black and blue. Mark Chung and forward John Spencer had banner years. Spencer, the Rapids' team captain, set a new team record by scoring in six consecutive games and tied his own team record with 14 goals on the season. He finished the season third in MLS with 33 points, was a finalist for Honda MVP and was named to the MLS Pepsi Best XI. Joining him on the Best XI was Chung, who tied his career high of a year prior with 11 goals and was second on the team with 28 points. This was Chung’s second consecutive appearance on the MLS Best XI and it marked the first time in league history that two Rapids had been so honored in the same season.
The Rapids set a new MLS record for the lowest home Goals Against Average over an entire season with at 0.53 by only allowing eight goals in 15 matches at Invesco Field during the season, and never more than one in a single game. After Kansas City broke the Rapids’ MLS record 16 game home undefeated streak on June 9, the Black & Blue reeled off 11 more undefeated home games. On the year Colorado was undefeated when scoring more than one goal, a credit to the play of goalkeeper Joe Cannon and the suffocating defense.
Kroenke Sports Enterprises purchased the club in late 2004 and made several changes before the 2005 season. In the front office, KSE replaced long-time executive GM Dan Counce with Charlie Wright, who appointed Fernando Clavijo
Fernando Clavijo
Fernando Clavijo is a retired American soccer football defender and former head coach of the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer. He played three seasons in the American Soccer League, two in the North American Soccer League and ten in the Major Indoor Soccer League...
as the new head coach.
Clavijo and Wright brought in many new additions to the squad including Jeff Cunningham
Jeff Cunningham
Jeff Cunningham is a Jamaican-born American soccer player who played on multiple Major League Soccer teams. He is the MLS all-time leader in goals scored with 134.-College:...
, Terry Cooke
Terry Cooke
Terence John "Terry" Cooke is an English footballer, currently without a club. He began his career with Manchester United, but struggled to break into the first team and had loan spells with Sunderland, Birmingham City and Wrexham before moving to United's local rivals Manchester City in 1999...
, and David "Dedi" Ben Dayan
David Ben Dayan
David "Dedi" Ben Dayan is an Israeli football defender, who last played for Hapoel Tel Aviv in Israel. He is known for his good tackling, and also speed and his ability to join the attack.- Playing career :...
. The team saw steady improvement over the course of the 2005 season. The season's success was highlighted by a dramatic playoff victory over FC Dallas
FC Dallas
FC Dallas is an American professional soccer club based in the Dallas suburb of Frisco, Texas which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada...
in a penalty shootout, and their claiming of the brand new Rocky Mountain Cup in the tournament's inaugural year.
Colorado's 2006 season seemed to parallel trends from previous years. Clavijo's squad performed inconsistently and only secured a playoff spot at the very last instant. Lightning managed to strike twice as they duplicated their 2005 playoff run by again beating FC Dallas
FC Dallas
FC Dallas is an American professional soccer club based in the Dallas suburb of Frisco, Texas which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada...
in penalties only to crash out of the Western Conference
MLS Western Conference
The Western Conference is one of Major League Soccer's two conferences.-Current members:*Chivas USA*Colorado Rapids*FC Dallas*Los Angeles Galaxy*Portland Timbers*Real Salt Lake*San Jose Earthquakes*Seattle Sounders FC*Vancouver Whitecaps FC...
Final by a two goal deficit. Other highlights from the final black and blue season include securing the Rocky Mountain Cup
Rocky Mountain Cup
The Rocky Mountain Cup is a soccer trophy awarded to the fans of the yearly winner of the rivalry between the Real Salt Lake and Colorado Rapids Major League Soccer teams. The Cup is awarded by the Committee of 10, the fans who run the competition, to the team with the most points in games played...
for the second consecutive year and winning the MLS Reserve Division
MLS Reserve Division
The MLS Reserve Division is an USA soccer league for the reserve teams of Major League Soccer.It was inaugurated on April 9, 2005, with the first official reserve game being a 2-0 victory by Chivas USA over the host San Jose Earthquakes, and disbanded after the 2008 season.The reserve division...
.
The Modern Era (2007–present)
New head executive Jeff Plush had taken over the business responsibilities of the club when he was named Managing Director in January 2006. One of his main initiatives was to re-invent the club with new colors that meshed with the DNA of other KSE clubs, in the form of burgundy and blue, leading the way towards constructing the world's largest and most state of the art professional soccer stadium and fields complex, Dick's Sporting Goods Park, formulating club-to-club relationships with ArsenalArsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
of the English Premier League and Pachuca of Mexico, and ushering in a new era of optimism.
The Rapids business-wise enjoyed a fantastic inaugural year at Dick's Sporting Goods Park, hosting numerous international exhibitions, tournaments on the stadium's 24-field complex, and the 2007 MLS All-Star Game; on the pitch though the team's performance was less than ideal.
The team started out strong with a series of good results, including a fantastic 2–1 victory over DC United in frigid conditions on MLS First Kick and the first-ever event in the newest soccer stadium in America. Herculez Gomez went down in history as the first-ever player to score in the Rapids' brand new shining jewel of a stadium. However as the season progressed, the team endured a long winless streak that saw them sink in the standings. Colorado struggled with inconsistent results at the end of the season and ultimately finished just shy of a playoff spot. The major low points in the season included an embarrassing 5–0 loss to the Seattle Sounders
Seattle Sounders (USL)
Seattle Sounders was an American professional soccer team founded in 1994 as a member of the American Professional Soccer League. In 1997, the team became a member of the USL First Division, the second tier of the United States soccer pyramid, until 2008, after which the majority of the team's...
in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, and a crushing defeat to Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake is an American professional soccer club based in Sandy, Utah, a suburb of Salt Lake City. The team competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. They currently play their home games at Rio Tinto Stadium. Real Salt Lake won...
that saw them lose both a playoff berth and the possession of the Rocky Mountain Cup for the first time ever in the last game of the regular season. One of the club's few consolations of the season on the pitch was winning the MLS Reserve Division Championship for the second consecutive year.
Despite underachieving on the field the previous year and protests from the fans, the Rapids elected to honor Fernando Clavijo's contract, which ran through the 2008 season.
Heading into 2008, Rapids GM Charlie Wright and the front office staff bolstered the roster by adding depth to the midfield and defense. Major signings included Christian Gómez
Christian Gómez
Christian Gómez is an Argentine footballer currently playing for Nueva Chicago.-Argentina:Gómez began playing professional soccer at the age of 17 with Argentine club Nueva Chicago, which was at the time playing in the second division. He played with the team from 1991 to 1996, appearing in 155...
and Jose Burciaga Jr. The 2008 season saw a resurgent Rapids side, which started off the season with a complete thrashing of David Beckham and the LA Galaxy by a 4–0 score on Opening Day to launch the season. However, an inconsistent mid-season stretch where, for 13 games, the Rapids could not win 2 games in a row or lose 2 in a row, saw Clavijo resign from the Head Coach position for personal reasons, and saw Gary Smith
Gary Smith (footballer born 1968)
Gary Smith is an English former football player.-Playing career:A midfielder with a "hard man" reputation, Smith spent several years playing professionally in the lower divisions of the English Football League with Fulham, Colchester United and Barnet, and several seasons playing non-League...
, an assistant coach who came from the Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
system, take over on an interim basis with 11 games left in the season. Under Smith's direction, the Rapids surged back into the playoff race, including two key away wins, only to fall short of the playoffs in the last game of the season, against rivals Real Salt Lake. Salt Lake tied the Rapids 1–1 in the 90th minute of that game to eliminate the Rapids from playoff contention. Because of the signs of improvement shown in the last 11 games, Smith was hired as the head coach.
The 2009 campaign featured head coach Gary Smith
Gary Smith (footballer born 1968)
Gary Smith is an English former football player.-Playing career:A midfielder with a "hard man" reputation, Smith spent several years playing professionally in the lower divisions of the English Football League with Fulham, Colchester United and Barnet, and several seasons playing non-League...
in his first full season. Smith took over the reins from Fernando Clavijo as interim manager after Clavijo resigned for personal reasons. Smiths first appointment was Steve Guppy
Steve Guppy
Stephen Andrew "Steve" Guppy is a retired English international football winger, who now works as assistant coach at Colorado Rapids....
ex England International as his assistant, Guppy had spent the previous successful season at USL1 team Rochester Rhinos as their Player Assistant Coach. Shortly after, Rapids veteran midfielder Pablo Mastroeni
Pablo Mastroeni
Pablo Mastroeni is an Argentine-born American soccer player who currently plays for Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer, and for the United States national soccer team.-Youth:...
re-signed with the club for four years after mulling potential offers from Europe. The Rapids also signed new four-year contracts with midfielders Colin Clark and Nick LaBrocca and defenders Jordan Harvey and Kosuke Kimura. The Colorado Rapids did acquire former QPR and Chicago Fire goalkeeper Matt Pickens
Matt Pickens
Matt Pickens is an American soccer player who currently plays for Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer.-Youth and Amateur:...
to replace fan-favorite Senegalese goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul. The other major roster move included the arrival of Ivan Guerrero from DC United in exchange for midfielder Christian Gomez and backup goalkeeper Mike Graczyk. The media criticized the Rapids for not making more roster moves to improve the team for the 2009 season. However, the core of the team remained intact.
The 2010 campaign featured many roster moves that saw the likes of Danny Earls
Danny Earls
Danny Earls is an Irish footballer who is currently playing for Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer.-Europe:...
, Jeff Larentowicz
Jeff Larentowicz
Jeffery Adam Larentowicz is an American soccer player who currently plays for Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer.-College:...
, Claudio Lopez, Quincy Amarikwa
Quincy Amarikwa
Quincy Amarikwa is an American soccer player who currently plays for Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer.-College and Amateur:...
, Ian Joyce
Ian Joyce
Ian Joyce is an American soccer player who plays for Major League Soccer club Colorado Rapids. He is eligible to play in countries within the European Union as he holds an Italian passport.-Football career:...
, and Wells Thompson
Wells Thompson
Thomas Wells Thompson is an American soccer player who currently plays for Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer.-High school and College:...
join the club. The offseason also included a new contract for star forward Conor Casey
Conor Casey
Conor Casey is an American soccer player who currently plays for the Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer.-Youth and College:...
. The Colorado Rapids also excited many of the ultras
Ultras
Ultras are a type of sports fans renowned for their fanatical support and elaborate displays. They are predominantly European followers of football teams...
supporter groups by the creation and construction of a unique supporters terrace within Dick's Sporting Goods Park. During the summer transfer window, the Colorado Rapids signed academy youth player Davy Armstrong
Davy Armstrong
Davy Armstrong is an American soccer player who currently plays for Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer.-Youth:...
, and brought in defender Anthony Wallace
Anthony Wallace (soccer)
Anthony Wallace is an American soccer player who currently plays for Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer.-Youth and College:...
from FC Dallas
FC Dallas
FC Dallas is an American professional soccer club based in the Dallas suburb of Frisco, Texas which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada...
. Colorado also sent Mehdi Ballouchy
Mehdi Ballouchy
Mehdi Ballouchy is a Moroccan footballer. He currently plays for the New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer.-Youth and College:...
to New York Red Bulls in exchange for Macoumba Kandji
Macoumba Kandji
Macoumba Kandji is a Senegalese footballer who currently plays for the Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer.-Early Life and College:Kandji was born in Senegal, raised in The Gambia, and came to the United States in 2003...
and acquired Brian Mullan
Brian Mullan
Brian Mullan is an American soccer player who plays for Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer. He has previously played for Wisconsin Rebels, Colorado Comets, Los Angeles Galaxy, San Jose Earthquakes and Houston Dynamo. He is one of only two players to have won MLS Cup five times, the other being...
from Houston Dynamo in exchange for Colin Clark
Colin Clark
Colin Grant Clark was a British and Australian economist and statistician who worked in both the United Kingdom and Australia. He pioneered the use of the gross national product as the basis for studying national economies.-Biography:Colin Clark was born in London in 1905 and was educated at the...
. With these changes, Colorado qualified for the MLS Cup playoffs and defeated Columbus Crew in the first round. On November 13, Colorado hosted the San Jose Earthquakes in the MLS Eastern Conference Championship and won by a scoreline of 1-0. This was Colorado's first trip to MLS Cup since 1997. In the final, the Rapids trailed 1–0 at half time. Conor Casey equalized in the 2nd half to send the game to extra time. Macoumba Kandji
Macoumba Kandji
Macoumba Kandji is a Senegalese footballer who currently plays for the Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer.-Early Life and College:Kandji was born in Senegal, raised in The Gambia, and came to the United States in 2003...
helped set up the game-winner that went off FC Dallas defender George John. Colorado won the 2011 MLS Cup 2-1 after extra time. The was Colorado's first MLS Cup championship and also the first major trophy in the club's history.
The 2011 campaign led to minimal roster changes, as the Rapids retained every starter from the 2010 MLS Cup Final on the roster. However, Sanna Nyassi
Sanna Nyassi
Sanna Nyassi is a Gambian footballer who currently plays for Montreal Impact in Major League Soccer.-Professional:Nyassi began his professional career in 2004 with Gambia Ports Authority of the GFA League First Division...
and Tyrone Marshall
Tyrone Marshall
Tyrone Marshall is a Jamaican footballer who currently plays for Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer.-Youth and College:Marshall moved to the Fort Lauderdale, Florida area when he was twelve years old...
were signed from Seattle Sounders FC. Joseph Nane and Josh Janniere
Josh Janniere
Josh Janniere is a Canadian soccer player who currently plays for Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer.-Youth:...
were additions from Toronto FC. Local product Steven Emory
Steven Emory
Steven Emory is an American soccer player who currently plays for Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer.-Youth, College and Amateur:...
was signed after an open tryout during preseason. Emory played collegiate soccer at nearby Metro State in downtown Denver. The Rapids made the headlines when Irish International and former Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
striker Caleb Folan
Caleb Folan
Caleb Colman Folan is an Irish footballer who plays for Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer as a striker. He qualifies to play for the Republic of Ireland through his grandfather, who was from Inis Mór, and his grandmother, from Galway.-Early career:Born in Leeds, West Yorkshire, Folan started...
signed with the club. The primary departure was defender Julian Baudet. Since Colorado won the 2011 MLS Cup, they automatically qualified for the group stages of the 2011–2012 CONCACAF Champions League. On September 9th, Colorado signed versatile defender Miguel Comminges
Miguel Comminges
Miguel Comminges is a football defender from Guadeloupe currently playing for Major League Soccer club Colorado Rapids...
. The Guadeloupe International can play at either Left or Right back. On September 13, Comminges made his debut for Colorado as a substitute in a 4-1 home loss to Club Santos Laguna in the CONCACAF Champions League.
Colors and badge
As Colorado were preparing to move into Dick's Sporting Goods Park for the 2007 season, the club re-invented themselves again to more closely align with the DNA and color scheme of other KSE teams, changing their colors to burgundy and blue, and creating a brand new shield logo to fit in with more traditional global soccer marks.
Colorado has had three logos in their history. They originally first used the "river" logo as their primary crest with the "circular" logo as a secondary one. In 2002, the two logos would switch, with the "circular" one becoming the primary. For the 2007 re-branding, the Rapids created the new shield-style logo, which is the one that is currently used today.
The original look of the Rapids sported a predominantly white kit with green trim, when the club's kit supplier was Puma. Other minor colors such as gold and blue were occasionally incorporated, with the club's association with Reebok. Eventually black became more heavily used and eventually overtook white as the more dominant color that accompanied the green, when the club switched to Kappa.
The Rapids underwent a more dramatic image change prior to the 2003 season. Following the club's switch to Atletica, the kit colors switched to black and blue vertical stripes, similar to the uniforms worn by Italian Serie A
Serie A
Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
club Internazionale
F.C. Internazionale Milano
Football Club Internazionale Milano, often referred to as Internazionale or simply Inter, is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Italy. Outside Italy, the club is often called Inter Milan. They are the reigning FIFA Club World champions and Coppa Italia holders.Inter have always...
. The blue and black vertical stripes remained almost unchanged when MLS adopted Adidas as their league wide kit sponsor.
The kits underwent one last dramatic change for the 2007 season. The Rapids now sport burgundy and sky blue as their primary colors. The Colorado Rapids also have a brand new third kit, consisting of a white shirt, white socks and burgundy shorts.
The Rapids are one of five MLS clubs in 2011 (out of 18 clubs) not to have sponsorships on the front of their jerseys.
Stadium
- Mile High StadiumMile High StadiumMile High Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, that stood in Denver, Colorado, from 1948 until 2001.It hosted the Denver Broncos, of the AFL and the NFL, from 1960-2000, the Colorado Rockies, of the National League, of the MLB, from 1993-1994, the Colorado Rapids, of MLS, from 1996-2001, the...
; Denver, ColoradoDenver, ColoradoThe City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
(1996–2001) - Invesco Field at Mile HighINVESCO Field at Mile HighSports Authority Field at Mile High, previously known as Invesco Field at Mile High, and commonly known as Mile High, is a multi-purpose stadium, in Denver, Colorado. It replaced the identically sized, but commercially obsolete Mile High Stadium in 2001...
; Denver, ColoradoDenver, ColoradoThe City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
(2002–2006) - North Area Athletic Complex; Arvada, ColoradoArvada, ColoradoThe City of Arvada is a Home Rule Municipality located in Jefferson and Adams counties in the Denver metropolitan area of the U.S. State of Colorado. Olde Town Arvada is located northwest of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver...
(2003) 1 game in US Open Cup - Dick's Sporting Goods Park; Commerce City, ColoradoCommerce City, ColoradoThe city of Commerce City is a Home Rule Municipality located in Adams County, Colorado, United States. Commerce City is a northern suburb of Denver and now the 18th most populous municipality in the state of Colorado...
(2007–present)
The Rapids play their home games at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado
Commerce City, Colorado
The city of Commerce City is a Home Rule Municipality located in Adams County, Colorado, United States. Commerce City is a northern suburb of Denver and now the 18th most populous municipality in the state of Colorado...
(approximately 8 miles north of downtown Denver). The stadium capacity is 19,680 and cost $131 million to construct. It is also referred to as a soccer-specific stadium
Soccer-specific stadium
Soccer-specific stadium is a term used mainly in the United States, Canada, Australia and South Korea coined by Lamar Hunt, to refer to a sports stadium either purpose built or fundamentally redesigned for soccer and whose primary function is to host soccer matches, as opposed to a multipurpose...
, since it was constructed for the Colorado Rapids. The soccer stadium opened on April 7, 2007. The stadium complex includes youth soccer fields and various retail establishments, and is owned and operated by Kroenke Sports Enterprises (KSE) which also owns the Colorado Avalanche
Colorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Avalanche have won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1995–96 and 2000–01. The franchise...
, Denver Nuggets
Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Basketball Association . They were founded as the Denver Rockets in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, and became one of that league's more successful teams...
, Colorado Crush
Colorado Crush
Colorado Crush were an Arena Football League team that began play as a 2003 expansion team. The Crush played in the Central Division of the American Conference until the Arena Football League suspended operations in 2009...
and Colorado Mammoth
Colorado Mammoth
The Colorado Mammoth are a member of the National Lacrosse League. They have played at Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado, United States, since the 2003 season....
sports franchises, and is a co-owner of English Premier League club Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
.
Prior to moving to DSG Park in 2007, Colorado Rapids shared Mile High Stadium
Mile High Stadium
Mile High Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, that stood in Denver, Colorado, from 1948 until 2001.It hosted the Denver Broncos, of the AFL and the NFL, from 1960-2000, the Colorado Rockies, of the National League, of the MLB, from 1993-1994, the Colorado Rapids, of MLS, from 1996-2001, the...
and then Invesco Field at Mile High
INVESCO Field at Mile High
Sports Authority Field at Mile High, previously known as Invesco Field at Mile High, and commonly known as Mile High, is a multi-purpose stadium, in Denver, Colorado. It replaced the identically sized, but commercially obsolete Mile High Stadium in 2001...
with the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
franchise.
The Rocky Mountain Cup
With Major League Soccer's expansion in 2005, Real Salt LakeReal Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake is an American professional soccer club based in Sandy, Utah, a suburb of Salt Lake City. The team competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. They currently play their home games at Rio Tinto Stadium. Real Salt Lake won...
became the second team in the Rocky Mountain region and the Rapids' closest neighbor. The supporters of the two clubs created a regular-season competition between the two sides to foster and memorialize this budding rivalry. Each season, the Rocky Mountain Cup is determined by the winner of the head-to-head fixtures within league play. Real Salt Lake and Colorado Rapids are one of the best rivalries in Major League Soccer and the matches are also referred to as the Rocky Mountain Derby.
Supporters
While the Rapids had, until recent years, always have been among the top teams in the league in average fan attendance, including leading the league in average fans per game in 2002, the club has had a fairly rocky history when it comes to supporters groupsSupporters groups
Supporters groups or supporters clubs are independent fan clubs in association football, particularly in English speaking counties.Supporters groups in Europe are generally known as Ultras which derives from the Latin word deriving from ultrā, meaning beyond in English, with the implication that...
or ultras
Ultras
Ultras are a type of sports fans renowned for their fanatical support and elaborate displays. They are predominantly European followers of football teams...
. A handful of formally organized groups have come and gone. While there have been several groups both large and small, the most notable of these were the Jolly Green Men, the River Ratz, and Ultra Azul. Reasons for the failures of these groups include lack of growth, leadership from within the supporters clubs, and tensions between them and Invesco Field stadium security. After the River Ratz become defunct, there was a period of several years where there was no real supporters group.
In 2005 and 2006, two organized supporters groups
Supporters groups
Supporters groups or supporters clubs are independent fan clubs in association football, particularly in English speaking counties.Supporters groups in Europe are generally known as Ultras which derives from the Latin word deriving from ultrā, meaning beyond in English, with the implication that...
emerged. The Centennial Firm (C-Firm) was the latest group trying to establish an ultras scene with flags, banners, and drums. Class VI was established in late 2005 to provide an alternative to the traditional standing environment. They are an organized body known as a seating club, focused on passion for the game, premium viewing location, and a focus on gameplay and is open to any fan (including both season ticket holders and single-game fans). After the close of the 2006 MLS season, the Rapids announced a new area (and official supporters' club) in Dick's Sporting Goods Park that would specifically house fans interested in an ultras experience. This section was called The Front Range and was located in section 114 then moved to sections 101 and 102. In 2007 the NCC (North Corner Council) was started up as an extreme supporters group within the supporters section. Class VI, C-Firm and the NCC were the main three supporters groups up until 2010.
2010 marked a groundbreaking year for Colorado Rapids supporter groups. Before the 2010 season, the Colorado Rapids unveiled plans for a unique European-style supporters terrace for the north end of Dick's Sporting Goods Park. Currently, the Colorado Rapids boasts two major supporter groups that fill the terraces. These include the Bulldog Supporters Group and the Pid Army. The Bulldog Supporters Group (also referred to as "BSG" or "the Bobbies") formed out of the British Bulldog Pub in downtown Denver in 2010. The Pid Army grew out of the merging of the C-Firm and the NCC in 2010. The Pid Army is geared more toward the Ultras
Ultras
Ultras are a type of sports fans renowned for their fanatical support and elaborate displays. They are predominantly European followers of football teams...
, DIY and Punk Rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
culture. Both supporter groups fill the terraces in the north end of the stadium and create a passionate atmosphere for the Colorado Rapids.
For the 2011-2012 Edition of the CONCACAF Champions League, CONCACAF regulations require "all-seater" stadiums. The Supporters Terrace was officially closed for these matches, due to the fact that the terraces are standing-only areas with no stadium seating. CONCACAF group stage fixtures have seen the Pid Army and the Bulldog Supporters Group relocated to either midfield in the East stands (Isidro Metapán) or directly behind the South goal in sections 117 and 118 (Club Santos Laguna, Real España).
Broadcasting
Rapids matches appear on several channels including Altitude TelevisionAltitude Sports and Entertainment
Altitude Sports and Entertainment is a regional sports network that serves the Rocky Mountain region, specifically Denver. It officially launched on Sept...
, which is owned by Kroenke Sports Entertainment
E. Stanley Kroenke
Enos Stanley "Stan" Kroenke is an American business entrepreneur. His wife, Ann Walton Kroenke, is the daughter of Wal-Mart cofounder Bud Walton. Kroenke is also the owner of Kroenke Sports Enterprises, which includes the Denver Nuggets of the NBA, Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer, Colorado...
as are the Colorado Avalanche
Colorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Avalanche have won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1995–96 and 2000–01. The franchise...
and Denver Nuggets
Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Basketball Association . They were founded as the Denver Rockets in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, and became one of that league's more successful teams...
. Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
determined in 2007 that every game must be televised, either through a regional (or local) TV station, or a national channel.
All games are broadcast on television by Altitude, the official television partner of the Rapids, or else via nationally-available channels, including ESPN-2, Fox Soccer Channel
Fox Soccer Channel
Fox Soccer is an American television specialty channel, owned by News Corporation's Fox Entertainment Group, that specializes in soccer. It formerly broadcast rugby and Australian rules football, but is now dedicated strictly to soccer...
, and Telefutura
TeleFutura
TeleFutura is a U.S. Spanish-language broadcast television network owned by Univision with headquarters in Miami, Florida.-Overview:TeleFutura Is America’s #2 Spanish-Language Network in prime time...
, or the MLS Direct Kick package.
To start the 2010 season, KWGN-Denver CW Affiliate Channel 2 (the Deuce) has partnered with the Colorado Rapids to broadcast 25 Rapids games over the season.
The 2011 season features the Rapids back on Altitude Sports and Entertainment.
Current roster
As of September 9th, 2011.Reserve Team Players
This list shows players who have played for the team in official 2011 MLS Reserve Division2011 MLS Reserve Division
The new MLS Reserve League was resurrected for the 2011 season, after not having played since 2008. Each team will play 10 games against divisional opponenets, with clubs being allowed schedule additional games against non-MLS opponents. The schedule begins March 20 and tentatively concludes Oct...
games, but are not part of the senior roster.
Notable former players
This list of former players includes those who received international caps while playing for the team, made significant contributions to the team in terms of appearances or goals while playing for the team, or who made significant contributions to the sport either before they played for the team, or after they left. It is clearly not yet complete and all inclusive, and additions and refinements will continue to be made over time.Junior Agogo
Junior Agogo
Manuel "Junior" Agogo is a Ghanaian professional footballer. He is a striker and currently plays for Scottish Premier League side Hibernian. He has spent most of his career in England, as well as spells in the United States, Egypt and most recently Cyprus. He attended St...
(2000–2001) Marcelo Balboa
Marcelo Balboa
Marcelo Balboa is an American former soccer defender who played in the 1990s for the U.S. national team, becoming its captain. After retiring from playing, he has worked as a commentator for ESPN and ABC and MLS games on HDNet and Altitude...
(1996–2001) Shaun Bartlett
Shaun Bartlett
Shaun Bartlett is a retired South African football striker who last played for Bloemfontein Celtic.-Early life:...
(1996–1997) Kyle Beckerman
Kyle Beckerman
Kyle Beckerman is an American soccer player who currently plays for Real Salt Lake in Major League Soccer and the United States national team. He is a holding midfielder and also serves as team captain for Real Salt Lake.-Youth:Beckerman began his career participating in various youth leagues in...
(2002–2007) Dedi Ben Dayan
David Ben Dayan
David "Dedi" Ben Dayan is an Israeli football defender, who last played for Hapoel Tel Aviv in Israel. He is known for his good tackling, and also speed and his ability to join the attack.- Playing career :...
(2005–2006) Nat Borchers
Nat Borchers
Nat Borchers is an American soccer player who currently plays for Real Salt Lake in Major League Soccer.-Youth and College:...
(2003–2005) Paul Bravo
Paul Bravo
Paul Bravo is a former American soccer midfielder and forward who played six seasons in Major League Soccer, two in the American Professional Soccer League and two in the USISL. He also earned four caps, scoring one goal, with the United States men's national soccer team...
(1997–2001) José Cancela
José Cancela
José Carlos Cancela Durán is a Uruguayan soccer player who plays attacking midfielder for Herediano in Costa Rica. He is nicknamed "Pepe"....
(2007–2008) Joe Cannon
Joe Cannon (soccer)
Joe Cannon is an American soccer player who currently plays for Vancouver Whitecaps FC in Major League Soccer.-Professional:...
(2003–2006) Mark Chung
Mark Chung
Mark Chung is a former American soccer midfielder who, after a season in the Continental Indoor Soccer League, played ten seasons in Major League Soccer. He also earned twenty-four caps, scoring two goals, with the U.S. national team.-Youth and college:Chung was born in Toronto to Chinese...
(2002–2005) Colin Clark
Colin Clark (soccer)
Colin Clark is an American soccer player who currently plays for Houston Dynamo in Major League Soccer.-College and Amateur:...
(2006–2010) Terry Cooke
Terry Cooke
Terence John "Terry" Cooke is an English footballer, currently without a club. He began his career with Manchester United, but struggled to break into the first team and had loan spells with Sunderland, Birmingham City and Wrexham before moving to United's local rivals Manchester City in 1999...
(2005–2009) Bouna Coundoul
Bouna Coundoul
Bouna Coundoul is a Senegalese footballer who most recently played for New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer, and for the Senegal national football team.-College:...
(2005–2009) Jorge Dely Valdes
Jorge Dely Valdés
Jorge Luis Dely Valdés is a Panamanian football player. He is a twin brother of Julio Dely Valdés and younger brother of Armando Dely Valdés....
(1999–2000) Robin Fraser
Robin Fraser
Robin Fraser is a retired Jamaican-born American soccer player. He is currently head coach of Chivas USA in Major League Soccer....
(2001–2003) Cory Gibbs
Cory Gibbs
Cory Gibbs is an American soccer player who currently plays for Chicago Fire in Major League Soccer.-College and amateur:...
(2008–2010)
Marcus Hahnemann
Marcus Hahnemann
Marcus Stephen Hahnemann is an American international soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Everton.Graduating out of Seattle Pacific University, he played for the Seattle Sounders between 1994 and 1996. Between 1997 and 1999 he turned out for the Colorado Rapids, signing with English club...
(1997–1999) Chris Henderson
Chris Henderson
Christopher "Chris" Henderson is a former American soccer midfielder who earned 79 caps with the U.S. national team. He was part of the U.S...
(1996–1998), (2002–2005) Ugo Ihemelu
Ugo Ihemelu
Ugochukwu "Ugo" Ihemelu is a Nigerian-born American soccer player who currently plays for FC Dallas in Major League Soccer.-College:...
(2006–2009) Aitor Karanka (2006) Jovan Kirovski
Jovan Kirovski
Jovan Kirovski is an American soccer player who currently plays for Los Angeles Galaxy in Major League Soccer.-Club career:...
(2005–2008) Anders Limpar
Anders Limpar
Anders Erik Limpar is a Swedish former footballer of Hungarian origin, who played as a winger...
(1999–2000) Clint Mathis
Clint Mathis
Clint Mathis is a retired American soccer player.-Youth and college:Mathis played club soccer at a young age for Rockdale Youth Soccer Association, and then for AFC Lightning, a Georgia powerhouse producing players such as current U.S. international Ricardo Clark, in Fayetteville...
(2006) Alain Nkong
Alain Nkong
Alain N'Kong is a Cameroonian football midfielder who is currently playing for Atjeh United F.C..- Career :Early in his career, N'Kong played all over the world, including Las Palmas in Spain, Nacional in Uruguay, and FC Paços de Ferreira in Portugal...
(2005–2006) Daniel Osorno
Daniel Osorno
Daniel Osorno Calvillo, is a Mexican football player. He is currently play in Puebla FC.-Career:...
(2007) Raúl Palacios
Raul Palacios
Raúl Alejandro Palacios Gamboa is a Chilean footballer. He pays as a midfielder and his current team is San Marcos de Arica in the Second Division of Chile....
(2002) Adrian Paz
Adrián Paz
Adrián Paz is a professional footballer who, playing intermittently for Ipswich Town during the 1994–95 season the transfer was done by his FIFA agent Marcelo Houseman together with another player Mauricio Taricco...
(1997–1998) Jacob Peterson
Jacob Peterson
Jacob Peterson is an American soccer player who currently plays for San Jose Earthquakes in Major League Soccer.-College and Amateur:...
(2006–2009) John Spencer
John Spencer (footballer)
John Spencer is the head coach for Portland Timbers of Major League Soccer. Spencer is a former professional football player, who represented Scotland at international level...
(2001–2004) Steve Trittschuh
Steve Trittschuh
Stephen "Steve" Trittschuh is a retired American soccer defender who played professionally in the Major Indoor Soccer League, American Professional Soccer League and Major League Soccer...
(1996–1999) Carlos Valderrama (2001–2002) Chris Woods
Chris Woods
Christopher 'Chris' Charles Eric Woods is a former England international football goalkeeper, who played in the Football League and Premier League for Queens Park Rangers, Norwich City, Sheffield Wednesday, Reading, Southampton and Burnley, in the Scottish Football League for Rangers, and in Major...
(1996)
- See also All-time Colorado Rapids rosterAll-time Colorado Rapids rosterThis list comprises all players who have participated in at least one league match for Colorado Rapids since the team's first Major League Soccer season in 1996...
Head coaches
Bob Houghton (1996) Roy WegerleRoy Wegerle
Roy Wegerle is a South African-American former soccer player, who played for the United States in the 1994 and 1998 World Cups. He is one of two players who played in both the NASL and MLS; the other is Hugo Sánchez....
(1996), (Interim) Glenn Myernick
Glenn Myernick
Glenn "Mooch" Myernick was an American soccer player and coach. He won the 1976 Hermann Trophy as that year’s outstanding collegiate player. He then spent eight seasons in the North American Soccer League and one in Major Indoor Soccer League. Myernick also earned 10 caps with the U.S. national...
(1997–2000) Tim Hankinson
Tim Hankinson
Tim Hankinson is a well-traveled American soccer coach who is currently head coach of NASL side San Antonio Scorpions in San Antonio, Texas.- Player :...
(2001–2004) Fernando Clavijo
Fernando Clavijo
Fernando Clavijo is a retired American soccer football defender and former head coach of the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer. He played three seasons in the American Soccer League, two in the North American Soccer League and ten in the Major Indoor Soccer League...
(2005–2008) Gary Smith
Gary Smith (footballer born 1968)
Gary Smith is an English former football player.-Playing career:A midfielder with a "hard man" reputation, Smith spent several years playing professionally in the lower divisions of the English Football League with Fulham, Colchester United and Barnet, and several seasons playing non-League...
(2008–2011)
Gallery of Honor
The Gallery of Honor was established in 2004 to honor former Rapids that had a significant impact on both the team and with the community. The Gallery is commemorated by large banners visible at the north end of Dick's Sporting Goods Park.#17 Marcelo Balboa
Marcelo Balboa
Marcelo Balboa is an American former soccer defender who played in the 1990s for the U.S. national team, becoming its captain. After retiring from playing, he has worked as a commentator for ESPN and ABC and MLS games on HDNet and Altitude...
(inducted 2004) #9 Paul Bravo
Paul Bravo
Paul Bravo is a former American soccer midfielder and forward who played six seasons in Major League Soccer, two in the American Professional Soccer League and two in the USISL. He also earned four caps, scoring one goal, with the United States men's national soccer team...
(inducted 2004) #19 Chris Henderson
Chris Henderson
Christopher "Chris" Henderson is a former American soccer midfielder who earned 79 caps with the U.S. national team. He was part of the U.S...
(inducted 2007) #7 John Spencer
John Spencer (footballer)
John Spencer is the head coach for Portland Timbers of Major League Soccer. Spencer is a former professional football player, who represented Scotland at international level...
(inducted 2009)
Honors
- MLS CupMLS CupThe MLS Cup is the championship match of Major League Soccer, the highest tier of professional soccer in the United States and Canada. As the final match of the MLS Cup playoffs, the winner is crowned the season champion in the same manner as other North American sports leagues...
- Winners (1): 2010MLS Cup 2010The MLS Cup 2010 was the fifteenth edition of the MLS Cup championship game and the final match of the 2010 MLS season. The championship was played at BMO Field in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on Sunday, November 21, 2010...
- Runners-up (1): 1997MLS Cup 1997Lineups:'COLORADO RAPIDSMarcus Hahnemann, Chris Martinez , Steve Trittschuh, Peter Vermes, Matt Kmosko, Marcelo Balboa,Sean Henderson , Chris Henderson, Paul Bravo , David Patino, Steve Rammel...
- Winners (1): 2010
- MLS Eastern Conference
- Winners (Playoff) (1): 2010
- MLS Western Conference
- Winners (Playoff) (1): 1997
- Lamar Hunt U.S. Open CupLamar Hunt U.S. Open CupThe Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is a knockout tournament in American soccer. The tournament is the oldest ongoing American soccer competition and is presently open to all United States Soccer Federation affiliated teams, from amateur adult club teams to the professional clubs of Major League...
- Runners-up (1): 19991999 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup-Schedule:Note: Scorelines use the standard U.S. convention of placing the home team on the right-hand side of box scores.-First round:Eight D3 Pro, four PDL, and four USASA teams start.-----Second round:Eight A-League enter....
- Runners-up (1): 1999
- Minor Trophies
- MLS Reserve DivisionMLS Reserve DivisionThe MLS Reserve Division is an USA soccer league for the reserve teams of Major League Soccer.It was inaugurated on April 9, 2005, with the first official reserve game being a 2-0 victory by Chivas USA over the host San Jose Earthquakes, and disbanded after the 2008 season.The reserve division...
(2) 2006MLS Reserve Division 2006The MLS Reserve Division is a USA soccer league for the reserve teams of Major League Soccer, much like the English FA Premier Reserve League is to the FA Premier League....
, 2007MLS Reserve Division 2007The MLS Reserve Division is a USA soccer league for the reserve teams of Major League Soccer, much like the English FA Premier Reserve League is to the FA Premier League.... - Rocky Mountain CupRocky Mountain CupThe Rocky Mountain Cup is a soccer trophy awarded to the fans of the yearly winner of the rivalry between the Real Salt Lake and Colorado Rapids Major League Soccer teams. The Cup is awarded by the Committee of 10, the fans who run the competition, to the team with the most points in games played...
(2) 2005, 2006
- MLS Reserve Division
Year-by-year
| Year | Regular Season | Playoffs | US Open Cup | CONCACAF Champions' League |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 5th, West | Did not qualify | Semi-Finals | Did not qualify |
| 1997 | 4th, West | Final | Round of 16 | Did not qualify |
| 1998 | 3rd, West | Quarter-Finals | Did not enter | Qualifying Round |
| 1999 | 4th, West | Quarter-Finals | Final | Did not qualify |
| 2000 | 3rd, West | Quarter-Finals | Round of 32 | Did not qualify |
| 2001 | 4th, West | Did not qualify | Round of 32 | Not held |
| 2002 | 4th, West | Semi-Finals | Quarter-Finals | Did not qualify |
| 2003 | 3rd, West | Quarter-Finals | Quarter-Finals | Did not qualify |
| 2004 | 3rd, West | Quarter-Finals | Round of 16 | Did not qualify |
| 2005 | 3rd, West | Semi-Finals | Round of 16 | Did not qualify |
| 2006 | 4th, West | Semi-Finals | Quarter-Finals | Did not qualify |
| 2007 | 4th, West | Did not qualify | Quarter-Finals | Did not qualify |
| 2008 | 4th, West | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2009 | 6th, West | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2010 | 5th, West | Champions | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2011 | 5th, West | TBD | Did not qualify | Group stage |
Year-by-year stats
| Year | League Record | Top Scorer | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | L | D | F | A | Pts | Name | G | |
| 1996 | 32 | 11 | 21 | NA | 44 | 59 | 29 | Jean Harbor Jean Harbor Jean Harbor is a former Nigerian American soccer forward who played for numerous teams in Nigeria and the U.S. He earned fifteen caps with the U.S. national team after becoming a U.S. citizen in 1992.-Youth:... |
11 |
| 1997 | 32 | 14 | 18 | NA | 50 | 59 | 38 | Paul Bravo Paul Bravo Paul Bravo is a former American soccer midfielder and forward who played six seasons in Major League Soccer, two in the American Professional Soccer League and two in the USISL. He also earned four caps, scoring one goal, with the United States men's national soccer team... |
8 |
| 1998 | 32 | 16 | 16 | NA | 62 | 69 | 44 | Wolde Harris Wolde Harris Wolde Sealassie Harris is a Jamaican football striker who played professionally in Major League Soccer and was the 1996 A-League Rookie of the Year... |
13 |
| 1999 | 32 | 20 | 12 | NA | 38 | 39 | 48 | Jorge Dely Valdes Jorge Dely Valdés Jorge Luis Dely Valdés is a Panamanian football player. He is a twin brother of Julio Dely Valdés and younger brother of Armando Dely Valdés.... |
10 |
| 2000 | 32 | 13 | 15 | 4 | 43 | 59 | 43 | Junior Agogo Junior Agogo Manuel "Junior" Agogo is a Ghanaian professional footballer. He is a striker and currently plays for Scottish Premier League side Hibernian. He has spent most of his career in England, as well as spells in the United States, Egypt and most recently Cyprus. He attended St... |
10 |
| 2001 | 26 | 5 | 13 | 8 | 36 | 47 | 23 | John Spencer John Spencer (footballer) John Spencer is the head coach for Portland Timbers of Major League Soccer. Spencer is a former professional football player, who represented Scotland at international level... |
14 |
| 2002 | 28 | 13 | 11 | 4 | 43 | 48 | 43 | Chris Carrieri Chris Carrieri Chris Carrieri is an American soccer player currently playing for Richmond Kickers in the USL Second Division.-College and Amateur:... |
11 |
| 2003 | 30 | 11 | 12 | 7 | 40 | 45 | 40 | John Spencer John Spencer (footballer) John Spencer is the head coach for Portland Timbers of Major League Soccer. Spencer is a former professional football player, who represented Scotland at international level... |
14 |
| 2004 | 30 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 29 | 32 | 41 | Jean Philippe Peguero Jean Philippe Peguero Peguero Jean Philippe is a Haitian professional footballer who currently plays for Fort Lauderdale Strikers in the North American Soccer League.-Club:... |
7 |
| 2005 | 32 | 13 | 13 | 6 | 40 | 37 | 45 | Jeff Cunningham Jeff Cunningham Jeff Cunningham is a Jamaican-born American soccer player who played on multiple Major League Soccer teams. He is the MLS all-time leader in goals scored with 134.-College:... |
12 |
| 2006 | 32 | 11 | 13 | 8 | 36 | 49 | 41 | Kyle Beckerman Kyle Beckerman Kyle Beckerman is an American soccer player who currently plays for Real Salt Lake in Major League Soccer and the United States national team. He is a holding midfielder and also serves as team captain for Real Salt Lake.-Youth:Beckerman began his career participating in various youth leagues in... Nicolas Hernandez Nicolas Hernández Nicolás "Niko" Hernández is an Argentine footballer. He currently plays for the SHB Ðà Nẵng F.C..... |
7 |
| 2007 | 30 | 9 | 13 | 8 | 29 | 34 | 35 | Jovan Kirovski Jovan Kirovski Jovan Kirovski is an American soccer player who currently plays for Los Angeles Galaxy in Major League Soccer.-Club career:... |
6 |
| 2008 | 30 | 11 | 14 | 5 | 44 | 45 | 38 | Conor Casey Conor Casey Conor Casey is an American soccer player who currently plays for the Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer.-Youth and College:... |
11 |
| 2009 | 30 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 42 | 38 | 40 | Conor Casey Conor Casey Conor Casey is an American soccer player who currently plays for the Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer.-Youth and College:... |
16 |
| 2010 | 30 | 12 | 8 | 10 | 44 | 32 | 46 | Omar Cummings Omar Cummings Omar Cummings is a Jamaican international footballer who plays professionally for the Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer, as a forward.-Youth and amateur:... |
14 |
| 2011 | 34 | 12 | 9 | 13 | 44 | 41 | 49 | Jeff Larentowicz Jeff Larentowicz Jeffery Adam Larentowicz is an American soccer player who currently plays for Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer.-College:... |
7 |
| Total | 492 | 191 | 207 | 94 | 664 | 734 | 643 | Conor Casey Conor Casey Conor Casey is an American soccer player who currently plays for the Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer.-Youth and College:... |
48 |
Note: MLS did not allow ties prior to the 2000 season as games were decided by shootout when tied at full time.
International tournaments
- 1998 CONCACAF Champions' CupCONCACAF Champions' Cup 1998The 1998 CONCACAF Champions' Cup was the 34th edition of the annual international club football competition held in the CONCACAF region , the CONCACAF Champions' Cup. It determined that year's club champion of association football in the CONCACAF region.The final tournament, held in Washington,...
-
- Qualifying Play-off v.
Club LeónClub LeónClub León, is a Mexican professional football club based in the city of León, in the state of Guanajuato, Mexico. They currently play in the Liga De Ascenso formerly known as "Primera A", the second tier of football in Mexico since their relegation from the Primera Division in 2002.León has won...
– 1:0, 2:4 (León advances 4:3 on aggregate)
- Qualifying Play-off v.
- 2011–12 CONCACAF Champions League2011–12 CONCACAF Champions LeagueThe 2011–12 CONCACAF Champions League is the 4th edition of the CONCACAF Champions League under its current format. The tournament began on July 26, 2011 and will finish with the second leg of the final April 24–26, 2012. Monterrey is the defending champion...
:
-
- Group Stage v.
Isidro MetapánA.D. Isidro MetapánAsociación Deportiva Isidro Metapán, also known simply as Isidro Metapán, is a Salvadoran football club based in Metapán, El Salvador. The club currently plays in the Primera División, which is the top tier football league in the country...
– 3:2 - Group Stage v.
Real EspañaReal C.D. EspañaReal Club Deportivo España, Real España, or simply España is a Honduran football club, which currently plays in the Liga Nacional de Honduras in San Pedro Sula, Cortés, Honduras.-History:...
– 1:1 - Group Stage v. Santos Laguna – 1:4
- Group Stage v. Real EspañaReal C.D. EspañaReal Club Deportivo España, Real España, or simply España is a Honduran football club, which currently plays in the Liga Nacional de Honduras in San Pedro Sula, Cortés, Honduras.-History:...
– 1:2 - Group Stage v. Isidro MetapánA.D. Isidro MetapánAsociación Deportiva Isidro Metapán, also known simply as Isidro Metapán, is a Salvadoran football club based in Metapán, El Salvador. The club currently plays in the Primera División, which is the top tier football league in the country...
– 1:3 - Group Stage v. Santos Laguna – 2:0
- Group Stage v.
Finish 3rd in Group B
Team records
- Goals:
Conor CaseyConor CaseyConor Casey is an American soccer player who currently plays for the Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer.-Youth and College:...
(48) - Assists: Chris HendersonChris HendersonChristopher "Chris" Henderson is a former American soccer midfielder who earned 79 caps with the U.S. national team. He was part of the U.S...
(53) - Games Played: Pablo MastroeniPablo MastroeniPablo Mastroeni is an Argentine-born American soccer player who currently plays for Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer, and for the United States national soccer team.-Youth:...
(216) - Minutes Played: Pablo MastroeniPablo MastroeniPablo Mastroeni is an Argentine-born American soccer player who currently plays for Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer, and for the United States national soccer team.-Youth:...
(18,212) - Shots: Chris HendersonChris HendersonChristopher "Chris" Henderson is a former American soccer midfielder who earned 79 caps with the U.S. national team. He was part of the U.S...
(342) - Shots on Goal: Chris HendersonChris HendersonChristopher "Chris" Henderson is a former American soccer midfielder who earned 79 caps with the U.S. national team. He was part of the U.S...
(151) - Game-Winning Goals: Paul BravoPaul BravoPaul Bravo is a former American soccer midfielder and forward who played six seasons in Major League Soccer, two in the American Professional Soccer League and two in the USISL. He also earned four caps, scoring one goal, with the United States men's national soccer team...
(12) - Penalty-Kick Goals:
John SpencerJohn Spencer (footballer)John Spencer is the head coach for Portland Timbers of Major League Soccer. Spencer is a former professional football player, who represented Scotland at international level...
(9) - Multi-Goal Games: Paul BravoPaul BravoPaul Bravo is a former American soccer midfielder and forward who played six seasons in Major League Soccer, two in the American Professional Soccer League and two in the USISL. He also earned four caps, scoring one goal, with the United States men's national soccer team...
(7) - Hat Tricks: Conor CaseyConor CaseyConor Casey is an American soccer player who currently plays for the Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer.-Youth and College:...
(3) - Saves: Joe CannonJoe Cannon (soccer)Joe Cannon is an American soccer player who currently plays for Vancouver Whitecaps FC in Major League Soccer.-Professional:...
(349) - Shutouts: Joe CannonJoe Cannon (soccer)Joe Cannon is an American soccer player who currently plays for Vancouver Whitecaps FC in Major League Soccer.-Professional:...
(25) - Wins: Marcus HahnemannMarcus HahnemannMarcus Stephen Hahnemann is an American international soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Everton.Graduating out of Seattle Pacific University, he played for the Seattle Sounders between 1994 and 1996. Between 1997 and 1999 he turned out for the Colorado Rapids, signing with English club...
(39)
Players in bold are active Rapids players
Last Updated November 7th, 2011
Average attendance
regular season / playoffs- 1996: 10,213 / missed Play-offs
- 1997: 11,835 / 15,785
- 1998: 14,812 / 6,582
- 1999: 14,029 / 6,542
- 2000: 12,580 / 8,789
- 2001: 16,481 / missed Play-offs
- 2002: 20,687 / 11,002
- 2003: 16,772 / 6,434
- 2004: 14,195 / 8,028
- 2005: 13,638 / 11,207
- 2006: 12,056 / 4,176
- 2007: 14,749 / missed Play-offs
- 2008: 13,659 / missed Play-offs
- 2009: 13,018 / missed Play-offs
- 2010: 13,329 / 14,826
- 2011: 14,838 / TBD
- All-Time: 14,195/8,731