Colorado Rapids Soccer Club announced today the signing of free agent forward Alan Gordon to a one-year contract. The deal is conditional upon Gordon passing a medical exam.
“Alan is a proven goal-scorer who’s enjoyed a very successful and productive career in MLS,” said Sporting Director Pádraig Smith. “He adds a powerful dimension to our attacking core and to how we want to play as a team. We’re thrilled that Alan chose the Rapids and we look forward to welcoming him to the club.”
Gordon arrives in Commerce City after spending the past two and a half seasons with the LA Galaxy. Last season, the 35-year-old scored three goals and added one assist in 22 matches. Gordon also saw action in three postseason games, including both contests against the Rapids in the Western Conference Semifinals.
“Alan has a lot of the qualities that we look for in a center forward and we are certain he will help us increase our attacking output,” said Head Coach Pablo Mastroeni. “He has been an exemplary pro with a wealth of experience playing in this league and we’re confident that he will bring the right mentality to our group.”
In 2015, Gordon played in 29 games for the Galaxy, while scoring five regular season goals. Gordon added four more tallies in the group stage of the 2015-16 CONCACAF Champions League, helping LA reach the quarterfinals. In two spells with the Galaxy, Gordon captured two MLS Cups (2005, 2014) and one Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup (2005).
In all, the veteran forward has notched a total of 52 goals and added 28 assists in 245 regular season appearances in MLS. Gordon registered a career-high 13 goals for the San Jose Earthquakes in 2012, in which he also helped lead the Quakes to their second Supporters’ Shield.
Gordon debuted in Major League Soccer in 2004 with the Galaxy, who drafted him with the 53rd overall selection in that year’s MLS SuperDraft. He subsequently joined Portland Timbers who were then in the A League, before being loaned back to and then signed by LA. Much of Gordon’s MLS career to date has been at the Galaxy (2004-10, 2014-16) and the Earthquakes (2011-14), though he also spent time with Chivas USA (2010) and Toronto FC (2011).
Internationally, Gordon has earned two caps for the U.S. Men’s National Team. His first cap came in a 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Antigua & Barbuda on October 12, 2012. His second appearance took place in the USMNT’s semifinal match at the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup against Jamaica. Gordon was also named to the roster for two 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifying matches, against St. Vincent & The Grenadines and Trinidad & Tobago.
