It was announced last Friday that the Colorado Rapids had signed their fourth and fifth Homegrown players. We get to hear from one of those players on ColoradoRapids.com, midfielder Ricardo Perez.
ColoradoRapids.com: Try to put into words what this means to you?
Ricardo Perez: It’s an amazing day. I’ve been working toward this since I pretty much started playing soccer when I was little. Just to be able to go out and enjoy the game, and be able to develop, be able to reap the rewards of hard work really has been amazing having my family here (at the signing) and my friends.
CR: Since you entered the room you’ve not stopped smiling. It’s clearly a very happy day for you, but the hard work starts now. What are you expecting as a professional soccer player, as opposed to the college game?
RP: I’m expecting a lot of hard work out of myself, a lot of focus, and just being able to overcome a lot of obstacles that come, because I understand not everything’s going to be easy. It’s gonna be hard, but I’m ready for the challenge and I’m ready to keep developing as a player and keep going. That’s why I’m here to just work hard and become better.
CR: Your family is very important to you. How important, therefore, is it to play for your hometown club, and they are right on the doorstep?
RP: It’s amazing. Just being able to get on that field, and working hard so I can get on that field, and being able to play in front of my family and friends, just everyone that I know, is a great motivator for me and I can’t wait to put in the hard work so I can get on the field.
CR: What was going through your mind as you were holding the jersey (at the signing ceremony) alongside a Rapids legend, who is now going to be your head coach, Pablo Mastroeni?
RP: I can’t even put into words. I’m extremely happy to be able to share that moment and I’m just ready to get on the field and put in the hard work.
CR: Give us a sense of your journey from Mexico, and then describe the type of player you are.
RP: I was born in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, but then we moved to Guadalajara and I lived there until I was eight. We moved to Fort Collins. I lived in Fort Collins, I still live in Fort Collins, I played there, I went to high school at Rocky Mountain High School, and I came to play at the academy here when I was 14 years old. I played here until I went off to Creighton University, played there my four seasons. I just finished college. I graduated early, in December, with a business degree. As a player I’m a midfielder who likes to get on the ball. I like dominating the midfield, I like winning balls back, I like making things happen.
CR: We had a player here who attended Creighton. He was also a local lad, and he won five MLS Cups - Brian Mullan. Not a bad target to aim for, but first things first, what are your initial aims for 2017?
RP: First is just getting to work, just putting in the work, staying focused, learning as much as I can in my rookie year and pretty much absorbing and trying to grow as a player.
CR: Is there anybody who you model your game on?
RP: Not so much model my game on, but when I was younger I used to look up to Juan Román Riquelme, Argentinean number 10, just because he’s always so fluid on the ball. He’s elegant but simple. It’s not like I model myself after him, but that’s just who I always looked up to when I was young.
CR: And how much of the what the Rapids did in 2016, and the great season that they had, how much does that give you extra excitement - the players they brought in, the big crowds, the home success and the run that they went on?
RP: Absolutely. It’s exciting. Being able to see that group of guys going so far, and just seeing that all the hard work that they put that there is that reward that comes after all the hard work, just gives you motivation, gives me motivation, for me to put in all the hard work to see what we can make happen out of two thousand and 17.
