The former Rapids winger reflects on his time with the club, his international career, and his perspective on the global growth of the game.
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For Vicente Sánchez, some chapters aren’t measured in years, but by what they leave behind.
Colorado was one of them.
When the Uruguayan winger arrived at the Colorado Rapids in 2013, he did so with a career that had already crossed continents and levels of the game.
From his rise in Uruguay to becoming a standout in Mexico with Toluca, where he scored more than 80 goals, to competing in Europe with Schalke 04, Sánchez had built a reputation as a player defined by intelligence, discipline, and a rare ability to improvise in decisive moments.
He wasn’t just experienced. He was shaped by environments where expectations were constant and winning was demanded.
In Colorado, that journey took on a different meaning.
The club was in a period of construction. There was a young core, a clear direction, and a league that was evolving in real time.
In that environment, Sánchez brought something that doesn’t always show up on the stat sheet.
Leadership. Clarity. Presence in key moments.
Over three seasons, he made 55 appearances, scored 11 goals, and delivered seven assists, leaving his mark on the field. But his impact went beyond the numbers. He was part of a group that competed, grew, and helped define an identity during an important stretch for the club.
While his success on the field spoke for itself, off the field, Colorado became something more personal.
It was where he built a part of his life. Where his family put down roots. Where his children were born. Where football stopped being just a profession and became essential to everyday life.
Today, more than a decade after his arrival, Sánchez remains connected to the game, now from the touchline as head coach of Emelec in Ecuador. His perspective has evolved. His role has changed, but his relationship with the game, and with Colorado, remains the same.
Seated with the Colorado Rapids for this conversation, Sánchez speaks with the same mentality he played with: direct, intentional, and without unnecessary noise. His story isn’t told in isolated moments, but in stages that remain connected.
This is the first installment of Rapids Rewind, a new series designed to reconnect with the figures who shaped the club’s history, through their own words.
A Presence Still Built Around the Game
Today, the role is different. But the subject hasn’t changed.
How are you, Vicente? What does a typical day look like for you, if there is such a thing?
“My day is always centered around football. Everything in this profession revolves around the game. Right now, I’m very calm. We are at Emelec in Ecuador, and the truth is I’m very happy, very, very happy. We are actually in a mini preseason that we couldn’t do at the beginning of the year because of the schedule, but this FIFA window allows us to adjust the team and work on things we maybe didn’t have time to work on before, evaluations and so on. But I think a normal day is with family, with my kids, with my wife, being at home and sharing time together. That’s really what my day looks like now.”
The Fútbol that isn't Taught
Looking back at your career as a player, what do you think defines it?
“I think improvisation… to define it: improvisation, discipline, professionalism. I think those are the words that I would use to define my career. But you also need to improvise a lot, to improvise with the ball. Today, a lot of that talent is being lost. There aren’t many players now who can create that kind of imbalance like before. I think that part of the game is being lost, and there’s a reason behind it. It starts in the youth levels, when kids are growing up. Many coaches are teaching players to play with two touches, very short. I think that takes away improvisation from the player. The player has to have that. They have to have that love for the ball. They have to have that one-on-one ability, that duel against other players. So, when they play so much with two touches, by the time they reach the first division, that part is lost. That improvisation is lost. You go to the stadium and you see a very collective team, but there comes a moment on the field where the forward has to improvise, and has to show something different, something that in certain areas of the field you just can’t teach. So that’s part of the day-to-day now. As coaches, we try to bring that back. To bring back those players who made a difference, those players who, in the final third made you feel something, the kind of player fans wait for in the stadium — to see what they can do, because they have incredible ability. I think those are the little things that today, more than ever, we are working on a lot.”
A Journey Without Borders
You played in Uruguay, Mexico, and Europe. When you think about all of that — playing in different countries, different places — what comes to mind? What was that experience like for you as a person?
“It was very beautiful. I enjoyed it a lot. Every time I see a ball, it gives me that emotion of wanting to touch it again. I think it’s part of my life, part of who I am as a person. So the memories are very beautiful. With every team I played for, I always gave my maximum. I have nothing to regret. I was always a player who tried to give everything for the team I was with at that moment. Traveling to so many countries and experiencing different leagues — from all of them I learned something. From every league, you take something.”
Representing Uruguay
In a career that spanned countries and competitions, one moment stands above the rest.
What did it mean for you to represent Uruguay?
“It’s the dream, the dream you have as a kid, to represent your country. Wearing your country’s jersey, with the crest, knowing there’s an entire country behind you supporting you, that’s one of the most beautiful things there is. There is pressure, yes. There is pressure because you feel that entire fanbase behind you, waiting for you, expecting you, when you return, when you go to a Copa América, when you play. I consider one of the most beautiful things that happened in my career was being part of the Uruguay national team for eight years. I shared with very important players, who always left something to learn from. So I’m very happy, very happy with my time with the Uruguay national team. Those eight years were very special.”
Colorado, the Right Place at the Right Moment
When you hear “Colorado Rapids,” what comes to mind?
“Happiness, because I think I went through a really special period at the Colorado Rapids, not just as a player, but also on a personal and family level. It was a very meaningful time, and I left with very good friendships. I believe it’s a fantastic club, a club that always wants the best for itself and for its fans. It’s a club that continues to grow every day. When we started back in 2013, I remember there were a lot of dreams, a lot of projects. You can see how those have come together over time, and today the club is very well recognized within MLS and internationally.”
What drew you to the club when you first spoke with them about coming to Colorado? How did that conversation happen, and what do you remember from that moment?
“It was a very exciting challenge. MLS was growing more and more every day. At that time, Oscar Pareja called me. The coach reached out to me, to my family, and we started talking about what the club was, what the city was like — a city that was really growing in the sport. Then I remember when I arrived at the club, one of the first people I greeted was Marcelo Balboa. I think he’s someone who did things very, very well at the club, and being from Colorado, he could help even more in understanding what the place is like. I remember he told me a lot about what it’s like to live there. Colorado is beautiful — the mountains… Colorado is beautiful in the summer, in June, July, and it’s also beautiful in the winter. I think every time of year, you can enjoy Colorado. The people are very passionate about sports — about soccer, basketball, hockey. They are very passionate. It’s a very beautiful city, a very special place.”
Arrival in Colorado
“That was when I arrived, Oscar Pareja. Honestly, I’m always very grateful to Oscar, to his entire coaching staff, to Wilmer Cabrera, to everyone who was there at that time. I’m very grateful because it was a staff that really knew what they wanted for the club. I remember there was a clear objective at that time, which was to qualify for the playoffs. The team wasn’t in a great position when I arrived, but we managed to climb, climb, climb until we qualified for the playoffs. We did it with a lot of young players, with players who maybe didn’t have much experience, but we built a great team. A really strong team.”
The Connection with the Fans
Reaction to photo:
“Yes, of course, of course. I remember it very fondly, because I think that’s what makes the club so special. I believe the Colorado Rapids build a family more than just being a club. They try to be a family, and that idea of players connecting and sharing with the fans is very beautiful, very meaningful. Because sometimes a football player can feel unreachable, like they are far away. And in that way, that closeness becomes much more real, much more direct. The fan starts to feel very connected, very identified. So, when they feel represented on the field, it’s also important that they feel represented off the field. A player is not just a player for four hours a day. A football player is a football player 24 hours a day. And I think it’s a very good initiative that the club has — having players go out, sign autographs, go to restaurants, share time with fans. Because at the end of the day, the fan is the one who goes to the stadium, the one who supports the team.”
What did it mean for you to play in Colorado?
“It meant a lot. A lot because of the history, because of the rivalry, because of how deeply football is lived there. There is a large part of Latino fans, American fans, and I think that mix makes the stadium full every weekend. There is a lot of emotion from players, from young kids, from the academy, from teenagers. All of that starts with the first team. So I think that was very special, and it was a beautiful challenge. It was a beautiful challenge because it was almost three years where I was also able to see many things I didn’t know about football. And also to understand how important it is to take care of family, because football can be very demanding, a lot of concentration, a lot of travel. I think MLS really takes care of the player, the coach, and other aspects that in football sometimes you just live day by day. Here, things feel more structured. You can plan better, build better tournaments, and create a strong structure. And during my time, all the coaches I worked with were always allowed to work. They were always allowed to implement their model, their system, their ideas, which is very important. That’s what makes the institution very valuable.”
How would you describe your role within the team?
“My role was more that of an experienced player, helping the younger guys. At the same time, whenever you step onto the field, you give everything. We helped a lot of young players who were coming through, players with the dream of playing in the first division but also establishing themselves. That played a part in me staying longer at the club. I always felt very happy, very comfortable with the ownership and the president. My role was also to compete, to push for titles. Qualifying for the playoffs was a standard expectation for us. That mentality is built within the locker room. We had very good teammates, very professional players, some who had played in World Cups. That helped a lot.”
What made that group special?
“There were some very interesting players. Gaby Torres, Drew Moor… I think the one I’ve stayed in touch with the most is Drew Moor. He was a very professional player, very disciplined, and someone who taught the younger players a lot. From that side, the group evolved over time, players came and went, but we kept in touch through conversations over the years.”
Do you have a favorite goal or memory with the club?
“As a player, you often remember goals in a collective way, but there’s one that really stayed with me. It was against the Galaxy. At that time, they were a team that had invested a lot of money, a team built to win titles with big-name players. There was a corner kick, it went to the left, then came back out to me on the right. I saw the goalkeeper off his line, so I chipped it toward the far post. It went in right at the top corner. That goal stayed with me because of what it meant. The Galaxy came in unbeaten, with a very strong and valuable squad, and I think we showed that when you have a united group, a city behind you, and a team committed to doing things the right way, anything is possible.”
Reaction to the photo:
“Ah, with Gaby [Torres]… and also against Dallas. Those were special matches as well, really good memories. I’m also very happy to see where the club is today. It’s become a very competitive team in MLS, a club that has stepped onto the international stage. Playing in the Champions Cup, it has broken barriers and represented itself beyond the league.
Reaction to the photo:
“I think Dillon Powers was there, if I remember correctly. There were a lot of young players, a lot of talent. Dillon Serna as well, players who were coming through as part of the club’s project. Deshorn Brown too. There was a lot of talent, and what we had to strengthen was the mental side. Why? So they could become top professionals — and they did. All of them went on to have very good careers.”
Reaction to the photo:
“Uff. It’s beautiful. And beyond the photo itself, it’s everything around it — the setting, the stadium, the sunset. There was a sunset there where the sky would turn almost completely orange. It was incredible. Colorado is beautiful. For me and my family, it brings back so many memories. You immediately think of your family. I would go to the stands with my kids when they were just babies, and there was always so much respect. People always treated my family very, very well. So I’m always very grateful.”
Reaction to the photo:
“Yes, I remember it — it was in Los Angeles. We needed that result to win. If we didn’t, things would have become very difficult for us to qualify for the playoffs. We won 1–0, and I was very, very happy because that’s where the path really started — what turned into almost three years with the club.”
Which Rapids jersey was your favorite?
“I think the traditional one. Also, the dark blue kit with the yellow lines. That one was really nice.”
Reaction to the photo:
“That was the traditional one from the photo, with the fringes. That photo got a lot of attention. It really made waves around the world. A lot of people reached out to me asking, ‘Vicente, what was going on with that team?’ No one really understood that it was a commemorative photo for the jersey. We wore that jersey for it, and honestly, it’s something I’m proud of — to have been part of that moment and, in a small way, part of the club’s history.”
What would you like the Colorado fans to remember about you?
“I think they remember me the same way I remember them. I believe we share very special memories. I’m very grateful to the fans, and I hope they remember that they had a player who will always be thankful, because they treated me very well. And hopefully, we’ll see each other again soon.”
Best teammate?
“Drew Moor.”
Toughest opponent?
“Seattle Sounders.”
Favorite stadium?
“DICK'S Sporting Goods Park.”
Favorite away stadium?
“Red Bull New York.”
Message to the club on its 30th anniversary
“Congratulations, congratulations on these 30 years — to the fans who are so deeply connected to the team, to the club, to the ownership, to the president, and to everyone who is part of the organization. Many congratulations on these 30 years, and wishing you many more, with continued success and many blessings for what’s ahead.”
A League on the Rise
What did you know about MLS before arriving?
“It wasn’t the MLS that it is now. It was a league that was growing, that was expanding. The league was expanding little by little. What I do think has stayed the same is the comfort they give to the player. I think they give you all the tools. From the first day I arrived, they gave me everything, they helped me with everything they could so that I could feel comfortable, and so that my family could feel comfortable as well. In fact, my kids, my kids were born in Colorado. They are from Colorado. So, I will always carry a piece of Colorado in my heart when we’re at home, because they are all from there. So, I think it was a different league, but one that was growing every day. They were working more on everything related to infrastructure, on the calendar. There were very long calendars, very long flights. So I think this model of integrating more teams made the calendar maybe better and more attractive.
“I will always carry a piece of Colorado in my heart.”
How do you see MLS today compared to when you were playing?
“It’s improved a lot. The biggest thing is the growth. The league has expanded, there are more teams now, and that makes it more attractive across more cities. At the international level, clubs have done very well. Some teams have won international tournaments, and that has opened people’s eyes. With the World Cup coming, I think it’s going to be something very special. Every player wants to be part of it, wants to be in the United States. And after the World Cup, I believe the league will grow even more.”
From the Pitch to the Sideline
About your coaching career — because I think you have something very interesting, having won individual honors as a player and also as a coach. What does that mean to you?
“First of all, I’m always grateful to God. I give the glory to God, because without Him you can’t achieve the things you plan in your mind. But I think all the titles had their moment, their importance, and their happiness. Now, the most recent one as a coach — everything around it, especially against Vancouver. Vancouver came from MLS play, they had won the final five-zero. I think all of that context makes it a memory that is more present for me now. And the truth is, I’m very happy. Now I’m here at Emelec, and I have the support of my family. I think that’s the most important thing. And honestly, I’m very, very happy with the titles, and I think all of them were important — all of them.”
Reaction to the photo:
“I’m grateful to God. I think it’s one of those moments that stays with you, something that gets engraved in your heart. Emelec is a massive club, with a lot of tradition, a lot of history, many titles, and a huge fan base. To be there with my family, my kids, and to watch that final — how we played it, how we prepared for it, how we won it — I think that was a real release. It was a semester with two competitions, so when it all ended, that moment was like an emotional release. I think that photo captures a bit of what winning that championship meant.
What lessons do you now apply as a coach?
“I see the game through applying pressure on the opponent, controlling the match, and being proactive. It’s about putting in place a model and a system that both the fans and the club can identify with. You have to understand the history of the club. When you know that history, your model has to align with it. I like my teams to be proactive, very intense, aggressive in defending, aggressive in winning the ball back, and then to take good care of the ball. At the end of the day, the model is built around what you propose with the ball against the opponent.”
Looking Back, Moving Forward
Sánchez’s journey was never defined by one place. It was built across many.
From Uruguay to Mexico. From Europe to MLS. From player to coach.
His perspective has changed, but the foundation remains the same.
The game. The lessons. The people.
And within that journey, one chapter that still feels personal.
Colorado.