Thu. Jul 4th, 2024
Keegan Rosenberry All-Star
Photo Credit: John Babiak

COMMERCE CITY – The Colorado Rapids announced today that team captain Keegan Rosenberry has been named to the 2024 MLS All-Star Game roster. The veteran defenseman was selected, along with 15 other stellar MLS players, by this year’s All-Star team head coach Wilfried Nancy. 

Nancy is the current skipper of the 2023 MLS Cup Champions, Columbus Crew. 

Rosenberry joins 30 players that were recognized by Major League Soccer when it unveiled the complete roster for the 2024 MLS All-Star Game this morning in New York City.

The MLS All-Stars will host the Liga MX All-Stars on Wednesday, July 24. The game will be played at Lower.com Field, in Columbus, Ohio.

For the 30-year-old Rosenberry this is his second All-Star selection for the defender in his career. He was first recognized as an All Star in 2016 when he was a member of the Philadelphia Union. The team’s head coach, Dominic Kinnear, picked him. Former Rapid midfielder, Jermaine Jones, was also on Kinnear’s team.

In 2019 Rosenberry joined the Rapids’ organization. He has anchored the team’s backline since he arrived and have developed into a fan-favorite.

When he was resigned in January, 2022, Rapids Executive Vice President and General Manager Pรกdraig Smith said, โ€œKeegan is one of the leading and most consistent fullbacks in the league. His quality on both sides of the ball, work rate and athleticism have made him an integral part of our success since his arrival three years ago so weโ€™re delighted he has committed his future to the club.โ€

Rosenberry was tipped off last Friday that he was in the mix to be a member  of this year’s accomplished team. While creating an advert, he was reciting his lines from a teleprompter. When he arrived at the last sentence he read aloud, โ€œHi, this is Keegan Rosenberry and Iโ€™ve been selected for the 2024 All-Star Game.โ€

Soon thereafter, Head Coach Chris Armas arrived to the media room and delivered Rosenberry an All-Star uniform and along with a mountain of well deserved praise. Mr. Rapid still didn’t believe it. Later in the video, he showed his humility, saying that other teammates were deserving.

This past January, Rosenberry was named tram captain. He replaced Jack Price. During the announcement, Armas stated, “For me, it was almost clear in the question of which guy do you want standing in that position and that represents our teamโ€”for the coin toss, in the community, on the pitchโ€”and it was one that represents all those qualities that we feel are important.”

He added, “Heโ€™s a guy that everyone respects top to bottom at our club. I think he gets rewarded for that and gets handed big responsibilities and we wanted to challenge his leadership.โ€

Rosenberry has stepped up his leadership this year as the oldest player on the team at 30-years-ild. He has been an example for other players in training. He’s made some mistakes defensively that have contributed to goals but is still showing Iron Man attributes.

Nancy used five of his 16 selections on Columbus Crew players. Elsewhere, he spread the selections amongst players doing well on good teams. The highest seeded team in the Western Conference to not get a player to the ASG is 9th place Seattle Sounders. In the East, it’s New York Red Bulls in 4th then 6th place Charlotte FC.

Maybe Rosenberry’s getting some credit for being the captain of an improved Colorado team. Maybe Nancy’s making up for other players on the team missing out through those who were voted in. Djordje Mihailoviฤ‡ and Cole Bassett were facing tough competition in midfield. Maybe they’re unsure about nominating Moรฏse Bombito, who might be sold by July 24.

2024 MLS All-Star roster:

DEFENDERS (9): Jordi Alba (Inter Miami CF / voted in), Rudy Camacho (Columbus Crew / coach’s selection), Justen Glad (Real Salt Lake / voted in), Aaron Herrera (D.C. United / voted in), Thiago Martins (New York City FC / coach’s selection), Steven Moreira (Columbus Crew / coach’s selection), Luca Orellano (FC Cincinnati / coach’s selection), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati / voted in), Keegan Rosenberry (Colorado Rapids / coach’s selection)

MIDFIELDERS (10): Luciano Acosta (FC Cincinnati / voted in), Sergio Busquets (Inter Miami CF / voted in), Mathieu Choiniรจre (CF Montrรฉal / coach’s selection), Evander (Portland Timbers / coach’s selection), Ryan Gauld (Vancouver Whitecaps FC / coach’s selection), Hรฉctor Herrera (Houston Dynamo FC / commissioner’s pick), Robin Lod (Minnesota United FC / coach’s selection), Hany Mukhtar (Nashville SC / coach’s selection), Darlington Nagbe (Columbus Crew / commissioner’s pick), Riqui Puig (LA Galaxy / voted in)

FORWARDS / WINGERS (8): Cristian ‘Chicho’ Arango (Real Salt Lake / voted in), Christian Benteke (D.C. United / voted in), Federico Bernardeschi (Toronto FC / coach’s selection), Denis Bouanga (LAFC / coach’s selection), Juan ‘Cucho’ Hernรกndez (Columbus Crew / coach’s selection), Lionel Messi (Inter Miami CF / voted in), Luis Suรกrez (Inter Miami CF / voted in), Diego Rossi (Columbus Crew / coach’s selection)

GOALKEEPERS (3): Roman Bรผrki (St. Louis CITY SC / coach’s selection), Hugo Lloris (LAFC / coach’s selection), Maarten Paes (FC Dallas / voted in)

Photo Credit: John Babiak

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