The Colorado Rapids announced today the signing of forward Chris Carrieri, who returns to the Black and Blue after one year playing in the A-League. The terms of the multiyear contract with Major League Soccer were not made public.
"Chris is a proven striker that has a very aggressive and explosive style of play," said Rapids Head Coach Fernando Clavijo. "His addition to the pool of forwards on our team will add depth in that area, providing us with a group of strikers that can change the course of a game by scoring goals at any given time."
Carrieri, who became a regular in the Rapids' starting lineup during the 2003 season, netted three goals and recorded eight assists for the Black and Blue during that year. His impressive goals in 2003 earned him the MLS Pepsi Goal of the Week award on two occasions.
The former UNC Tarheel went on to score six goals and record eight assists for the Rochester Raging Rhinos during his debut season in the A-League in 2004, after being waived by Colorado on March 25. He also played for the Chicago Storm of the Major Indoor Soccer League and was also called up to MLS by the Chicago Fire in November of that year and played a total of 34 minutes with the Fire.
Selected first overall in the 2001 MLS SuperDraft by the San Jose Earthquakes, Carrieri blossomed after being traded to the Colorado Rapids and developed quickly while playing alongside veterans like former Rapids players Carlos Valderrama and John Spencer.
During his first year with the Rapids, Carrieri established a new team rookie scoring record with 14 points, and capped off a great year with the club with a two-goal performance against his former team on August 25, and eight points in his final four games. The 5'8" striker finished third on the Rapids in the scoring department in 2002, recording 11 goals and five assists for a total of 27 points.
Along with former Rapids player John Spencer, Carrieri also holds the distinction of being only one of two players to ever record a hat trick for the club (in one half, on July 4, 2002).
