The Colorado Rapids are staying quiet about any rumors linking head coach Oscar Pareja and FC Dallas’ vacant coaching position.
As of Friday, the Rapids had not been contacted by FC Dallas, a requirement for any move to take place.
Pareja declined to address the rumors in his postgame press conference on Wednesday night after the Rapids lost their Western Conference Knockout Round Match 2-0 against the Seattle Sounders, ending their season.
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Reached by phone Friday by MLSsoccer.com, Rapids president Tim Hinchey declined to directly address the rumors. Calls from MLSsoccer.com to FC Dallas technical director Fernando Clavijo seeking comment were not immediately returned.
The Pareja-Dallas connection is a clear one, with the Colombian having played there from 1998 to 2005, racking up 176 appearances and scoring 13 goals to go along with 47 assists. He immediately transitioned over to a coaching role there, where he stayed as an assistant until January 2012 when he was hired as the Rapids’ seventh head coach in franchise history.
But with Colorado's long-term development project – backed by significant investment in scouting and the club's youth academy – finally starting to bear fruit in the form of a strong finish in 2013 and a postseason berth, there's also plenty of impetus for Pareja to stay right where he is.
Chris Bianchi covers the Colorado Rapids for MLSsoccer.com.
