Rapids 2010 Humanitarian of the Year and MLS Cup Champion Kosuke Kimura has been named to the All-Time Best XI roster as a defender.
Kimura was drafted by the Rapids in 2007 and was the first Japanese-born player to debut in MLS. He had a six-year stint (2007-2012) with the Rapids and made numerous notable contributions to the club. In 2010, Kimura was a staple of the side that won MLS Cup and was credited with scoring the game-winning goal against San Jose in the Eastern Conference Final. He played all 120 minutes in the 2-1 victory against FC Dallas in MLS Cup.
Kimura’s impact continued into the 2011 season where he played all 34 games and helped the Rapids reach the playoffs. He was one of three players to start every regular season game that year and was a finalist in MLS’ Xbox 360 Individual Fair Play award. This award was given to an individual based on objective criteria such as fouls committed, card received, games and minutes played, as well as subjective evaluation of sportsmanlike behavior. During the 2011 season, Kimura committed only 16 fouls in 2996 minutes played and that campaign provided one of the best examples of the honest and tireless work ethic that came to be associated with Kimura.
Overall, Kimura played 12 years of professional soccer around the world, from the United Soccer League to Major League Soccer, as well as a short stint in Poland. Along with several of his teammates from 2010, it's likely that Rapids fans will remember Kimura as an embodiment of the side that won MLS Cup. His incredible defending and runs down the flank to join the attack will come to mind but his compassion and sportsmanship were clearly on display during his time in burgundy because Rapids fans voted him to the All-Time roster as one of the best defenders in club history.
