COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – One needn’t look any further than DaMarcus Beasley or DeAndre Yedlin to see the kind of dynamism US national team manager Jürgen Klinsmann is looking for at the fullback position.
The ability to go up and down the field, take on players in the attack, deliver good crosses and defend well are all part of the makeup of a good outside back and qualities that Michael Harrington has brought to the Colorado Rapids since joining the club from Portland this offseason.
“I think I have those qualities and have shown those qualities throughout the course of my career,” Harrington told MLSsoccer.com. “[Klinsmann] wants someone who is consistently performing well, and I’m trying to establish that here in Colorado.”
Harrington and the Rapids face a difficult task this week, going on the road to face first the New York Red Bulls (Wednesday, 7:30pm ET, MLS LIVE, match preview) and then the LA Galaxy (Saturday, 10:30pm ET, MLS LIVE, match preview), with two cross-country trips along the way. Unbeaten (1-0-2) and unscored upon in three road games, Colorado will be relying on Harrington's experience to continue that trend.
“I think, first and foremost, Mike has good experience in this league,” Rapids head coach Pablo Mastroeni added. “He understands the players he’s going up against and their strengths and weaknesses. He’s a good passer of the ball from the back and gets forward quite a bit. He understands the moments when to do that and when to stay home. From my standpoint, he’s a polished individual in that position. That only comes from experience.”
In 2013, Portland finished first in the Western Conference and allowed 33 goals in 34 games, the second-best total in the league. The Timbers found themselves in the playoffs, and Harrington found himself on the USMNT radar, getting a call to last January’s camp alongside current Rapids teammate Shane O’Neill and former Rapid Chris Klute.
A down year in 2014 saw Portland fall below the red playoff line and Harrington drop out of the national-team conversation.
“You can find yourself on the fringes of the national team, but you can find yourself out of that pretty quickly,” Harrington explained. “When the team has success, most of the time, the players have success. It’s all about consistency. I’m still aspiring to get to that level and have a good start here in Colorado.”
Ironically, despite switching playing four games at left back and three games at right back, Harrington has been the only consistent fixture in the Rapids’ back line. Colorado have used five different center-back pairings in seven games, while Harrington is the only defender to play every minute this season.
“We’ve definitely shaken it up a lot so far. Injuries happen, suspensions happen, and that’s what has happened so far this year,” Harrington said of the lineup changes. “I think everyone has just been focused on the details that help you get shutouts. Everyone is tuned in, even if they aren’t in the starting lineup. I think it speaks to the players.”
While defense is always Harrington’s “first priority” as a fullback, he takes pride in contributing to the attack. Like many American players, he’s gained his skill from spending the early parts of his career playing in more advanced positions.
“In my experience I’ve seen the same abroad. When you look at a team like Barcelona, all of those guys are exceptional on the ball. I’m sure Dani Alves was not always a right fullback,” he explained. “A lot of teams over the years have begun to want to play out of the back. To possess the ball, you have to be comfortable on the ball.”
But when it comes to playing on the international stage, the 29-year-old has only made appearances for the US at the U-17 and U-20 levels. He’s hoping the change of scenery can revitalize his aspirations for the senior team.
“Experiencing new teammates and new coaches, you want to impress,” Harrington said. “I’m excited about a fresh start.”
