Rapids coach Fernando Clavijo steps down

Fernando Clavijo. After leaving the team last week to attend to a family emergency in his native Uruguay, Colorado Rapids coach Fernando Clavijo returned to Colorado and promptly resigned. Assistant coach Gary Smith will take over for the remaining ten games. Many die-hard Rapids supporters have been calling for the...

By Jonathan Shikes

August 22, 2008

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Fernando Clavijo.

After leaving the team last week to attend to a family emergency in his native Uruguay, Colorado Rapids coach Fernando Clavijo returned to Colorado and promptly resigned. Assistant coach Gary Smith will take over for the remaining ten games.

Many die-hard Rapids supporters have been calling for the move for nearly two seasons now, and they weren’t hesitant to voice their opinions on Clavijo in this recent Westword cover story. But their reaction to the news was scattershot on BigSoccer.com, the official web forum for Major League Soccer geeks across the land.

Some commenters unceremoniously danced on Clavijo's coaching grave, while others remarked begrudgingly that the man had earned their respect over the past two years.

Clavijo was 40-49-25 as coach of the Rapids, and put up a 7-10-3 record this season before stepping down. Remarkably, the Rapids are still not out of playoff contention. – Adam Cayton-Holland

Jonathan Shikes is a Denver native who writes about business and beer for Westword.

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