Latest news with #ColoradoRapids
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
MLS defender Reggie Cannon: I'm focused on getting back to USMNT
Yahoo Sports contributors Christian Polanco and Alexis Guerreros are joined by Colorado Rapids defender Reggie Cannon who talks about his goal to get back to the United States Men's National Team and highlights how strong of a league MLS has become. Hear the full conversation on the 'The Cooligans' podcast - and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you listen. View more Video Transcript Do you think the drama around the stuff outside of football affected either your place with the national team or your mentality or your connection to the team in some way, like, what's the plan and mission, because obviously I know you want to get called up again. I think everything in your life always has a role to play, and I definitely think it definitely did. But, you know, at the end of the day, I'm just gonna focus on playing my best football to get back there. I'm just focused on enjoying my football right now and playing my best for the Colorado Rapids and, you know, winning more games, getting them MLS Cup, like those are my goals, you know, personally, and that's ultimately what I need to focus on right now, and I know if those things happen then you know, the other side will happen too. You know, the other side will happen too, so, you know, I reminisce about my days with the national team and, you know, I'm so grateful that they happened. I think they helped me grow as a person, as a player, and, you know, hopefully I'll be back one day. But, you know, right now I know that if I play my best football, you know, I'll be back there just like the old days. So that's what I'm focused on right now. So that's what I'm focused on right now. Coming back from Europe, are you seeing the level of talent in MLS risen to a new level, and do you think that there is more undiscovered talent within the ranks at MLS that could even be more of a shout on the national team? 1000 billion percent, if I had to give a percentage. The MLS has improved significantly since I left, like it's a whole different league now, uh, the talent that they brought in, the young talent that's coming up through the ranks, the mentality of the league, like I think it's so much improved. And I think even a lot of European players are coming here now and seeing like, you just see the mentality over there is easy, you know, it's a tier league, whatever, they come here and they realize that it's a tough league to play in. It's very chaotic, it's very, there's a lot of transition, that high line, especially the way we play, like, it's a very intense game. Messi coming in was huge. In fact, where were you when you found out Messi was coming to MLS? I was still in Portugal, I think, and I literally when I saw the news, I literally showed my wife, and I was like, you've gotta be kidding me. Like the thing that I leave mess, I'm like, you've got to be kidding me, but you know, I still haven't had the chance to play against him, so I'm like, oh my gosh, I wish, I hope I get to. Close
Reuters
5 days ago
- Climate
- Reuters
MLS taps brakes on seismic calendar shift
July 24 - While acknowledging that it makes sense to move the MLS season to a schedule that mirrors the top soccer leagues in Europe, there was no commitment to the change during All-Star Game festivities at Austin, Texas, this week. At the MLS board of governors meeting, in conjunction with the league's All-Star week, a vote on the monumental shift in schedule that would start in late summer and end the following spring was delayed. With no commitment to a change, the earliest an MLS schedule change could happen now is in 2027. The current MLS season started in February and will run until October, although adjustments are made in World Cup years. A potential new schedule pattern would avoid league play in the core summer months. "We're not making any announcements today, but we continue to do enormous amount of work with our fans, with our partners, with all of our chief soccer officers, and with our clubs to get ourselves closer to the point we're able to make that decision," commissioner Don Garber said this week. "But we believe that alignment is something that makes sense." One issue for a schedule that spans winter is extreme cold and snow that could affect teams like the Chicago Fire, Colorado Rapids, Minnesota United, CF Montreal, the New England Revolution, Real Salt Lake and Toronto FC, and even clubs like the Columbus Crew, New York Red Bulls and New York City FC. But extreme heat and thunderstorms in the summer months have posed their challenges in the current schedule setup. "It's getting hotter, and that's clearly an issue, playing through the depth and the core of the warmest months in many of our markets," Garber said. "So it just adds to the challenges and complexity that MLS has to deal with." In April, the board of governors voted to continue the exploration of a schedule that operated through the winter. This week's decision to delay a vote means the subject will not be dealt with again by the board until later this year. --Field Level Media
Reuters
6 days ago
- Sport
- Reuters
Rapids move D Chidozie Awaziem to France's FC Nantes
July 24 - The Colorado Rapids transferred defender Chidozie Awaziem to FC Nantes in France's Ligue 1 on Wednesday. Awaziem, 28, had one assist over 20 games, all starts, this season for Colorado. The native of Enugu, Nigeria, had two assists in seven matches, all starts, for FC Cincinnati last season. "We're grateful to Chido for his time with the club this season," Rapids president Padraig Smith said in a statement. "We wish him nothing but success in this next chapter." Awaziem's assist this season came in a 3-2 victory against visiting San Diego FC on April 12. Colorado remains above the Western Conference playoff cutoff line with 30 points (8-10-6) entering a Saturday road match against the Philadelphia Union. --Field Level Media
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Colorado Rapids' Chidozie Awaziem returns to Nantes
FC Nantes have signed Nigerian international centre-back Chidozie Awaziem (28) from Colorado Rapids, both clubs have announced. Awaziem is back at La Beaujoire after already spending the 2017-2018 season on loan from FC Porto with Les Canaris. Awaziem has now joined Nantes on a permanent basis, putting pen to paper over a three-year deal. Nantes were in the market for a centre-back after parting ways with Jean-Charles Castelletto and Nicolas Pallois. Awaziem will wear the No. 6 jersey with Nantes. 'When the opportunity presented itself, I didn't hesitate for a second to come back, because for me, Nantes is like home', Awaziem said. 'The people are lovely, the club is great, and I was really looking forward to returning to this environment.' 'We're grateful to Chido for his time with the club this season,' said Colorado Rapids President Pádraig Smith. 'We wish him nothing but success in this next chapter.' GFFN | Bastien Cheval
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Nantes 'finalizing' deal for Colorado's Chidozie Awaziem 🇳🇬
A busy summer appears to be on tap for the Colorado Rapids after reports that defender Chidozie Awaziem is nearing a return to Europe. Per MLS insider Tom Bogert (citing L'Equipe), Nantes is finalizing a move for the 28-year-old Nigerian center-back, who is adamant about securing a move back across the pond due to family concerns. Awaziem last appeared across the pond as recently as 2024 with Portuguese outfit Boavista, but he also did a previous loan stint with Nantes during the 2017-18 campaign. After his move to MLS, first with Cincinnati, Awaziem signed a one-year deal with the Rapids in December of last year and went on to make 20 appearances across the current 2025 MLS season. 📸 Editorial Photo Credit: © Joe Nicholson | 2025 Jul 16 - Imagn Images
