The Colorado Rapids were one of the founder member of Major League Soccer, and as such, there have been a huge number of players wearing their colors.
Some were global stars such as Claudio Lopez, an Argentinian international and Champions League winner, and Carlos Valderrama, the famously bushy haired Columbian legend. Others were less notable but nevertheless played their parts in the club’s history, however small.
However, there are a handful that gave so much to the club that they became Colorado Rapids legends. Players the fans will never forget, whose names will be mentioned many decades after they last kicked a ball. These aren’t just great players, or players who stayed at the club for a long time. These legends are players who made a huge impact, who created a bond with the club and the fans that few players can match.
You might not agree with all of them, you might think there are a few names missing – there is no Omar Cummings, for example, no Matt Pickens – and anyone still playing is not included.
Nevertheless, for my money, these are the top 6 Colorado Rapids players of all time, living legends of the club.
6. Paul Bravo: 1997-2001 and 2002-2003 (Assistant Coach) and 2009-2016 (Technical Director)
It was tough to choose a player to start this list, because there are so many that could have claimed the spot. In the end, I went with Paul Bravo, because his impact helped establish the club and he also came back to work with them behind the scenes after retirement.
As a player, he was a reliable goal scorer during a time when the Rapids weren’t exactly rich with attacking firepower, and he still holds joint second spot for record goals scored. He was there for their inaugural season, too, and was top scorer during their 1997 campaign in which they came so close to the MLS Cup.
Yet, he was more of an attacking midfielder or second striker rather than an out and out finisher. He used sharp movement to exploit space in and around the box which often meant he was in the right place at the right time to put his clinical finishing skills to good use. He was good on the ball too, with a good first touch and more brains than brawn. He would outsmart defenders rather than overpowering them. In a team full of tenacious scrappers, he offered something a bit different.
Paul Bravo is usually overlooked as a player today, but he was one of Colorado Rapids most important early figures, and long time fans will remember him as one of their original attacking stars.
He did great things with them as technical director after he retired, too. Indeed, the the club won the MLS Cup in 2010 just a year after he took the role, and he spent a few years before that working as their assistant coach. Few players commit so much of their careers to a single club in so many ways.
5. Chris Henderson: 1996-1998 and 2002-2005
A founder member of the team, Chris Henderson was a box to box midfielder with endless stamina, and one of the most productive players of his generation.
Although split into two periods, Henderson spent 7 seasons with the Colorado Rapids, departing early on in 2005. Decades later, he is still their all time record holder for assists, shots, and shots on goal. This shows how hard the guy worked, he was a real grafter.
He was the engine of the team’s midfield in the early days, instrumental in their 1997 campaign which saw them almost win the MLS Cup, ultimately finishing as runners up. They wouldn’t have got there at all but for Henderson scoring the winning goal in the Conference Championship – a scissored volley in the 87th minute. Yes, he could score goals as well as set them up.
He won fans over with his approachable personality off the pitch and his relentless work ethic on it. He was constantly moving, either tracking back defensively or hurtling forward to mount an attack. His playmaking instincts were incredibly valuable and he had a great eye for a pass. Sharp distribution, versatility, game intelligence and industriousness came naturally to him.
He rarely had a bad game, either, and always showed up ready to work.
4. Drew Moor: 2009-2015 and 2020-2022
Every team needs a player like Drew Moor.
Drew was the defensive constant in the 2010 MLS Cup winning team, known for consistency, reliability, and leadership. He rarely made mistakes or got caught out of possession. In fact, in 2011 he played his 68th consecutive full 90 minute MLS game, breaking the record for outfield players. How’s that for consistent and reliable?
He was the classic centre back in many ways. His game relied on positioning and anticipation. He could read the game like a psychic, often snuffing out danger before it could begin. This led to him being under appreciated by the wider soccer community if you ask me, but his quiet excellence served the Colorado Rapids very well indeed. He was the ultimate professional. He never complained, he always did his job, and showed great leadership when called upon.
He was very loyal to the club, and came back in 2020 after 5 years laying in Toronto to end his career with them. He even stepped in as a player coach during the COVID-19 breakout in the team that year. He retired in 2022 after spending 10 seasons at the club across two stints, picking up an MLS Cup and an MLS All Star place along the way.
Moor was probably one of the most underrated defenders of his day, but not by Pids fans.
3. Marcelo Balboa: 1996-2001
A commanding central defender with surprisingly skilful technique, Marcelo Balboa was one of the first stars of the club who played with charisma and heart.
He was a founding member of the team for the inaugural 1996 season, and stuck around for 6 years until he was ready to retire. He actually went to the MetroStars first but only played 5 minutes for them before getting injured and retiring. Literally 5 minutes.
Known for his strength and his excellent reading of the game, Balboa was a rarity in his day. He was a ball playing defender who wasn’t afraid to push forward or carry the ball out of defence, and he could create moments of brilliance. Like this bicycle kick goal he scored back in 2000:
Not bad for a defender, huh? It was voted MLS Goal of the Season that year, and quite right, too.
Balboa was very calm under pressure both in and out of possession, and this helped bring stability to his back line. He was physical but rarely carded, good in the air, dependable, and to this day has more shots on goal to his name than most forwards who have donned the Rapids jersey. This led him to becoming a four time MLS All Star, a USAMT international with 127 caps and 13 goals to his name, and he was selected for the CONCACAF Team of the Century in 1998, too.
With his flowing mullet, rugged moustache, and intense stare, Marcelo Balboa might have looked more like a ‘90s drug baron than a soccer star, but when he stepped onto the pitch he wore the badge with pride and played with everything he had. He was the face of the Colorado Rapids in their formative years, and probably the club’s first true legend.
2. Conor Casey: 2007-2012
Conor Casey was an unstoppable forward in his prime, and those prime years were spent in Colorado.
Casey was the definition of a power forward — a big, physical, aggressive striker who bullied defenders, held the ball up well, and was lethal in the box. He wasn’t flashy, you wouldn’t describe him as having flair, but he could force his way through a defence and he usually beat his man in the air, making him a nightmare for opposition backlines to handle.
He became the Rapids leading goal scorer during his 7 seasons with the club, finding the back of the net 50 times in 119 regular season games. He has also scored more hat tricks for the Pids than anyone else. What’s more, the goals he scored were often important ones, match winning goals, and in big games too. He will probably be best remembered for scoring the the 2010 MLS Cup final which the Rapids won in extra time.
A player with a blue collar mentality, Casey’s aggressive, physical style made him a cult hero among fans, and the fact he was ‘one of their own’, raised in Denver, only strengthened his connection. He stepped in as interim manager in 2019, too, and the fans loved having him back, albeit briefly.
1. Pablo Mastroeni: 2002-2013 and 2014-2017 (As Coach)
There could only ever be one name in the number one spot on this list.
Pablo Mastroeni was the heartbeat of the Colorado Rapids for nearly a decade. He defined an era of the Rapids. Club captain for years, club record of 225 appearances, and a real leader during their 2010 MLS Cup win – the greatest moment in the club’s history. He even returned as head coach between 2014 and 2017, and although his time in charge was inconsistent, it deepened his legacy at the club.
Mastroeni was as solid as a rock in midfield with a real warrior mentality. He had exceptional positional sense which enabled him to effectively break up attacks, aided by the occasional crunching tackle it has to be said. In fact, Mastroeni also holds the following records for the Pids:
- Fouls Committed – 331 in 225 games (lol)
- Fouls Suffered – 259
- Yellow Cards – 56
- Red Card – 6
But it was this non-nonsense gritty approach to soccer that the fans loved him for. He wasn’t the most elegant player on the ball, but he made up for it with tenacity, heart, and consistency.
In many ways, Pablo Mastroeni reflected the Rapids themselves: often overlooked, but hard working, resilient, and proud.