Pádraig Smith
President, Colorado Rapids Soccer Club
Colorado Rapids President Pádraig Smith, now in his 11th year with the Rapids, has held the club’s top executive position since 2018. He is responsible for the club’s strategic direction both on and off the field and the delivery of the organization’s long-term vision.
Smith has over two decades of experience in a variety of industries, 17 years of which have been at the highest levels of global soccer including roles with European soccer’s governing body, UEFA, and the Football Association of Ireland.
Smith was a key figure in the design and implementation of UEFA’s Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations, having served on the FFP Steering Committee prior to joining the organization full-time in 2011. Prior to UEFA, Smith served in multiple roles, for the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) where he introduced the first mandatory salary cap in European league soccer and chaired the strategy group charged with implementing an integrated football development and competition pyramid in Ireland. He also served on the European Professional Football Leagues (EPFL) Finance Committee and the 2011 ‘Europa League Final’ Organizing Committee.
Prior to working in sport Smith spent 5 years with leading global accountancy firm EY based out of their Dublin, Ireland office with a primary focus on the Industrial & Commercial sectors.
In his role as president, Smith oversees all strategic, business and soccer operations for the organization, as well as leading the advancement of the Rapids’ relationship with sister club Arsenal FC of the English Premier League. He represents the club on numerous boards and committees, including as Co-Chair of the Chief Soccer Officers group, the club’s Authorized Representative on the MLS Board of Governors, and Alternate Governor for Rapids 2.
Smith is driven by his personal mission to help grow the sport of soccer in the United States and to create environments across the globe where the power of soccer (football) is used to inspire and bring joy to EVERYONE who wants to play and participate in the Beautiful Game!
Originally from Mornington, Ireland, Pádraig and his wife Alyssa reside in Denver with their daughter Beckett.