MLS Colorado Rapids

The Day That Mastroeni 'Went to War' on the Soccer Field

Published on September 26, 2014 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Colorado Rapids News Release


Soccer broadcaster Ray Hudson, who never met an alliterative phrase that he couldn't turn, remembers Pablo Mastroeni back in 2001 during a raucous, post-game celebration.

Then coach of the Miami Fusion, he stood in the midst of his jubilant players, while off to the side was a 25-year-old Pablo Mastroeni - battered, bruised and bloody. Despite the celebratory occasion, he was quiet, pondering the war that had just been the game of his life.

"I looked at Pablo, still in his boots and shorts," says Hudson. "And he's covered in scratch marks. His arms are black and blue, his ribs bruised and his knees bleeding. I looked at him and I almost cried."

Mastroeni had just gone up against Tampa Bay's bruising, Senegalese striker, Mamadou Diallo (35 goals in two MLS seasons), and had just hung a big goose egg on "Big Mama" and the rest of the Fusion, 5-0.

Fast forward to 2014 and Mastroeni is coach of the Colorado Rapids. Hudson can relate to what the young coach is experiencing in his transition from player to coach.

"He's on a different planet now (as a coach). People don't know how difficult that is (to make the transition). But I know him as a player and I can say he was indomitable and indefatigable - not just with his energy and industry, but in his ability on the ball, his tenacity and leadership."

Hudson calls that epic battle with Diallo as a "defining moment for me in Pablo's development."

"What he did that day ... Big Mama had mauled him, but Pablo held him, scratched at him and did everything he could to keep him from scoring. Yes, we had scored some wonderful goals in the game. But it seeing what Pablo did to that one, demonic player. That was one of my greatest moments as a coach."

Hudson, who had been the Fusion's community outreach director and TV announcer, took over as head coach in 2000 with the team at 1-9 and finished at 11-12-1. The next year (the last for the Fusion) was much improved at 16-5-5 and proved to be the year Mastroeni came into his own as a pro.

The 2001 team included, along with Mastroeni, such MLS greats as Jim Rooney, Preki, Alex Pineda Chacon, Diego Serna, Chris Henderson, Ivan McKinley, Carlos Llamosa, Ian Bishop and two very young upstarts, Nick Rimando and Kyle Beckerman.

"For me, in that 2001 team, Pablo was a beautiful piece of the puzzle. He was a versatile footballer who could play in the middle, but we rarely used him there because he brought so much defensively. With this team, he finally was out of his shell, fluffing his football feathers and it was beautiful!"

The 2001 Fusion roster also produced a bumper crop of future soccer personalities: Three of those players are coaches: Jeff Cassar (Real Salt Lake), Jay Heaps (New England) and Mastroeni (Colorado). Another, Garth Lagerway, is vice president and general manager at Real Salt Lake. Brian Dunseth is a television commentator for NBCSports. Chris Henderson is sporting director for the Seattle Sounders.

One other bit of trivia: Hudson said he made a goalkeeper switch when he took over, putting Rimando in the place of Jeff Cassar. Cassar is now Rimando's coach at Real Salt Lake.

Pablo even had a special role in this goalkeeper swap, says Hudson.

"Nicky was a young kid ... I needed Pablo back there to be his protector. Those two were Heckle and Jeckle together."

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Major League Soccer Stories from September 26, 2014


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