Kroenke Sports and Entertainment announced Pádraig Smith has been promoted to team president of the Colorado Rapids on Thursday.
Per a source, the long-serving team executive signed a contract extension in November 2021, but his promotion came this week. Smith’s contract runs through the end of the 2026 Major League Soccer season.
“Pádraig has led the club with great distinction over the past five years and has built a strong foundation on which we can continue to grow both on and off the field,” Josh Kroenke, vice chairman of KSE, said in a statement. “He brings a level of expertise and leadership to the organization that is grounded in his extensive experiences in Europe and the U.S., and we believe he is the ideal person to help us achieve our goals as an organization, and in particular, our goal of bringing another MLS Cup to Colorado.”
Smith had been the team’s executive vice president since January 2018, when Tim Hinchey stepped down. He first arrived in Colorado in 2015 to take over the sporting director role. Previously, he had been at European soccer’s governing body, UEFA, as a financial analysis manager and at the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) as the acting head of finance.
Since becoming the Rapids’ top executive, the Irish national oversaw significant changes within the team. Those include a coaching change in bringing in Robin Fraser, selling two players to Europe for team-record profits (Sam Vines to Belgium’s Royal Antwerp and Auston Trusty to KSE-owned Arsenal FC) in addition to a pair of playoff appearances as the team finished atop the Western Conference in 2021.
As president Smith will expand upon his many roles within the club while continuing to direct the Rapids’ strategic, business and soccer decision-making efforts.
“This club and the community it represents mean so much to me and I am deeply honored to continue to lead this organization and such a talented group of people,” Smith said. “I want to sincerely thank Mr. Kroenke, Josh Kroenke and Matt Hutchings for this opportunity and for their continued support and belief in our vision. I am incredibly proud of the progress we have made over the past five years and I couldn’t be more positive about the future as we embark on the most exciting period in the organization’s history.”
Colorado (1-3-3, 7 points) will travel to face Charlotte FC at 5:30 p.m. Saturday at Bank of America Stadium.
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