Ross Smith is a match analyst for MLS on Apple TV. A native of Guelph, Canada, Smith played nine professional seasons (2004–2013) across England and the United States, including four seasons in the English National League with Ebbsfleet United, a season in League Two with Dagenham & Redbridge, and four years in the USL.
In 2009, Smith signed with the Colorado Rapids, but his career was abruptly interrupted when a routine medical exam revealed a serious heart defect requiring surgery. After undergoing the procedure, he returned to England and spent three months undergoing further testing with a heart specialist before receiving medical clearance to resume his career. He made his return to the field with the Portland Timbers in 2010.
Smith retired from playing for the first time in 2011 and immediately joined the Timbers broadcast team as their radio analyst. He briefly resumed his playing career in 2012 with Ebbsfleet United, his third stint with the Kent-based club, before retiring for good in 2013. From 2013 to 2022, he served as the television analyst for all Timbers’ local broadcasts. Smith’s path to professional soccer began with a standout collegiate career at the University of Rhode Island, where he earned All-New England, All-Atlantic 10, and Academic All-District honors.