Marko Ilić or William Yarbrough? Decision Looms Over the Colorado Rapids.

MLS’ summer transfer window opens on the 5th of July, and the Colorado Rapids have a decision to make. Head coach Robin Fraser has struggled to find quality options in several positions as of late, but the goalkeeper position is absolutely not one of them. The loan for Marko Ilić is due to expire at the end of July, with an option to buy. William Yarbrough is in the final guaranteed year of his deal with a team option for 2024. The long-term future of the goalkeeping position for the Burgundy Boys may be decided this window.

The lack of a clear #1 has left fans wondering who will be in between the sticks on a weekly basis. However, William Yarbrough not only welcomes the ongoing battle for the starting berth with Serbian loanee Marko Ilić, he thrives on it.

“That’s the way it should be for every position on the field, and that’s the way it is…when you have that level of competition, good things are bound to happen”…we’re athletes, we understand how competition is…it’s simple…it pushes you to do things, to not give 100(%), but to give even more, and that only benefits the team”, he told Burgundy Wave following Tuesday’s practice. 

Marko Ilić was loaned in during the winter transfer window with an option to buy from Belgian Pro League outfit K.V. Kortrijk, who narrowly avoided relegation after Ilić’s departure. Ilić initially rose through the youth ranks at Serbian club FK Vojvodina, but was unable to break into the first team following a series of loan moves.

He then left his boyhood club to move to a different Serbian SuperLiga side, FK Voždovac. It would prove to be a fruitful spell in Voždovac for the goalkeeper, as his 60 appearances across two seasons earned him a move to Kortrijk. Similar success would follow, as he was voted by fans as the player of the month three times during his two seasons in Belgium. These performances earned him a call up to the Serbian national side, and he made his debut appearance in a friendly against Jamaica in 2021. 

Chances for Both Keepers

William Yarbrough’s consistency and stoic approach to the competition was rewarded by Robin Fraser, handing him the starting role to begin the season. Yarbrough was nothing short of spectacular, including an 11 save performance in a 0-0 draw against Sporting Kansas City that saw him earn Team of the Matchday honors. Arguably the most reliable player of the opening third of the season, Yarbrough’s performances were overshadowed by the Rapids’ dreadful form. With 7 losses, 6 draws, 2 wins in the first 15 games, the Rapids solidified their position at the bottom of the Western Conference. 

With Ilić sitting on the bench, save for a few Open Cup appearances, it was obvious that the Rapids front office wanted to see their new man in action, seeing how the team’s results could not get any worse. The 25-year-old Serbian’s first MLS start came on the road against the Columbus Crew in late May. He was unable to turn Colorado’s fortunes around, conceding three times in a 3-2 defeat. Ilić would go on to start the next two league matches, and recorded his first MLS clean sheet in a 0-0 draw at home to San Jose. 

“His patience to get into the team is a testament to himself. He’s obviously trained well, kept his head down, and not complained. It’s been tough with how well Will has done. It’s a nice problem to have when you have two top goalkeepers competing with the #1 spot. There’s not much he could do about a lot of the goals conceded. With his feet, he’s played out really well”, midfielder Connor Ronan said after Ilić’s last start at Orlando City.

Decision Time

It seemed like the Serbian had made the starting spot his for the foreseeable future, but Fraser curiously opted to bring Yarbrough back last weekend against the Los Angeles Galaxy. This decision casts doubt as to whether or not the Rapids will opt to finalize Ilić’s loan move into a permanent deal.

Ilić seemed optimistic back in April when Burgundy Wave spoke to him for his first interview with external media since joining the club:

“It’s key to stay here and it’s a step up in my career. Hopefully it will happen”, he said, adding “There was a lot of things happening back in Belgium that I really don’t like to discuss. It’s in the past.”

Upon initial research, it was not obvious what Ilić was referring to. There’s no evidence of a controversy in his time at KVK. In any case, he’s said on multiple occasions that he’s enjoyed him time at the club and in America.

With only a little more than a month left in the upcoming transfer window, Pádraig Smith and Fraser must decide whether to go with the reliable veteran in Yarbrough or the potential goalkeeper of the future in Ilić.

Photo Credit: Mark Shaiken.

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