COMMERCE CITY, Colo. — Colorado Rapids legend Drew Moor announced today his plan to retire from professional soccer following the 2022 Major League Soccer season. Saturday’s match against FC Dallas at DICK’S Sporting Goods Park will mark the final home game of his 18-year MLS career, which includes 10 seasons in Burgundy.
“This is a decision that I've been thinking about for the last couple of months now, and although I’ve been emotional about it at times, I think it's time for me to step into the next part of my life and my career,” said Moor. “As I look back on my career, there are a countless number of people that I would like to thank—my wife and family in particular, along with the Rapids for believing in me and giving me an opportunity twice over the course of my career, and especially Pádraig Smith, Wayne Brant, Robin [Fraser] and his coaching staff and all of my teammates.”
“I also want to thank all the fans who have supported me for all these years, even while I was away for a bit and who welcomed me back. It’s a tight-knit group and there are faces and people that I remember from my first year here in 2009 who continue to come out and support me and support the organization. I've seen people and kids during my time here grow with the club and some of those are fans that I still see up in the crowd on game days. I hope that continues to be a bond that we share moving forward because the fans are the most important thing and they're the reason that we're able to pull the jersey over our head every Saturday and go out and play and try to win trophies for them. It's the people here at the club and our fans that have kept me going and kept me going this long and have allowed me to call it a day and be at peace with it. Although I have been sad about it at times, I'm also excited and happy and proud and ready to move forward and I think it's because of the people in this organization that have continued to support me and hopefully will continue to support me when I step on the other side of the lines.”
“Few players have meant as much to this club as Drew has,” said Pádraig Smith, Colorado Rapids Executive VP & General Manager. “On the field, Drew was an incredibly smart, determined and talented player. Off the field, his leadership, professionalism and passion for our club shone through, but what makes Drew such an emblematic figure above all else are his human qualities—his character, genuineness and the positive manner in which he conducts himself and treats others. We couldn’t be prouder to have called him a Rapid for so long and are grateful to him for the incredible legacy in Burgundy he leaves behind.”
Moor, 38, began his MLS career in 2005 after being drafted sixth overall in the 2005 MLS SuperDraft by FC Dallas from Indiana University where he won back-to-back NCAA National Championships in 2003 and 2004. The Dallas, Texas, native went on to spend five seasons with his hometown club before joining the Rapids via trade midway through the 2009 season.
Once in Colorado, Moor helped lead the Rapids to their first MLS Cup in 2010. The defender made 188 appearances during his first seven years at the club, recording 16,786 minutes, 14 goals and five assists while setting a league record for the most consecutive 90-minute matches played by a field player (68) in 2011 and being named to the MLS All-Star team in 2015.
After the 2015 season, Moor joined Toronto FC and went on to spend four years with the Canadian side, reaching three MLS Cup Finals and winning the 2017 MLS Cup along with the 2017 Supporters’ Shield and the 2017 Canadian Championship—the first time in league history an MLS club won “The Treble.” He won an additional two Canadian Championships (2016 & 2018) and was also part of the Toronto side that finished as runner-up of the 2018 Concacaf Champions League. In all, Moor made 90 appearances for Toronto, recording five goals and an assist during his four years with the Reds.
Moor returned to Colorado ahead of the 2020 season for his second stint in Burgundy, scoring the game-winning goal in a 2-1 Rapids win over Orlando City SC in his first home appearance. In 2021, Moor played 300 minutes across 12 matches, reaching his 400th career MLS appearance and his 200th appearance with Colorado, as the Rapids earned a club-record 61 points and finished atop the Western Conference for the first time in their history. In doing so, Moor became just the sixth field player in league history to reach 400 regular-season appearances. In 2022, Moor has made eight appearances, bringing his career totals (including postseason) to 434 MLS appearances (393 starts), 35,929 minutes, 28 goals and eight assists heading into the Rapids’ final two matches of the season.
In addition to his success at the club level, Moor also recorded five caps with the U.S. Men’s National Team, including appearances in the 2007 Copa America.
“It has been one of the great pleasures of my coaching career to cross paths with Drew,” said Robin Fraser, Colorado Rapids head coach. “He is one of the best professionals and one of the best people I have ever met. I cherished my time with him in Toronto and I am so grateful that he decided to come to Colorado once again. He is one of the best teammates I’ve ever come across and one of the great central defenders in this league’s history. He will be sorely missed.”
The Rapids look forward to celebrating Moor’s retirement at an upcoming match during the 2023 season.
