Oliver Love Larraz Bio
Oliver Love Larraz (born September 16, 2001) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Major League Soccer club Colorado Rapids. A native of Denver, Colorado, Larraz came through the Colorado Rapids youth system before signing a professional contract with the club in 2021. He is recognized as a homegrown talent and is regarded as a promising central midfielder within the organization.
Early Life and Background
Oliver Love Larraz was born on September 16, 2001, in Denver, Colorado, in the United States. Growing up in Denver placed him within close range of the Colorado Rapids academy, a pathway that shaped his early development as a footballer. From a young age, he showed a strong interest in the sport, and the proximity of a Major League Soccer organization allowed him to begin formal training at an early stage.
Standing 178 centimeters tall, Larraz developed as a midfielder, a position that suited his vision, passing range, and movement on the pitch. His early years in the Colorado Rapids academy gave him consistent coaching and competitive match experience, both of which became important building blocks for his later transition into the professional ranks.
Path to Professional Soccer
Larraz joined the Colorado Rapids academy in 2014, beginning a long developmental relationship with the club. As a teenager, he was given the opportunity to train abroad with MSV Duisburg’s Under-19 squad in 2019, a stint that broadened his tactical understanding and exposed him to a different style of European football. The experience helped shape his approach as a central midfielder.
On March 3, 2021, Larraz signed a contract with Colorado as a homegrown player, completing his rise through the academy system. The deal was a significant milestone, reflecting both his potential and the club’s confidence in his long-term development. He soon made his competitive debut for the senior team in May 2021, signaling the start of his professional career.
Oliver Love Larraz Career
Early Career (2021)
Oliver Love Larraz made his competitive debut for the Colorado Rapids on May 15, 2021, in a home match against the Houston Dynamo. He entered the game in the 90th minute as a substitute for Jack Price, helping Colorado secure a 3–1 victory. The brief appearance offered an early glimpse of his composure in a senior match environment.
Seeking more consistent playing time, Larraz was sent on loan to USL Championship side San Diego Loyal on August 6, 2021. The loan move was designed to give him regular minutes in a competitive professional setting, a step that is common for young homegrown midfielders adjusting to the demands of senior football.
Rapids 2 and Injury Comeback (2022–2023)
On March 15, 2022, the Colorado Rapids announced that Larraz had undergone successful surgery to repair an open fracture of his tibia. The serious injury and the recovery that followed kept him out of action for the entire 2022 MLS and MLS NEXT Pro season. It was a difficult stretch that tested his patience and resolve.
Larraz returned to competition in 2023 with the Rapids 2 team, the club’s developmental side in MLS NEXT Pro. He produced an impressive campaign, scoring 8 league goals and providing 8 assists while helping lead Rapids 2 to the MLS NEXT Pro Western Conference playoff finals. His performances were recognized league-wide, and he was named to the MLS NEXT Pro 2023 Best XI.
First Team Breakthrough (2024)
On February 24, 2024, Larraz earned his first start for the Colorado Rapids in the season opener against the Portland Timbers. The match marked an important step in his return to the senior squad after the long road back from injury. Under head coach Chris Armas, he quickly established himself as a regular in the starting lineup.
His early appearances showed the same passing and movement that had marked his standout 2023 developmental season. By earning consistent minutes, Larraz cemented his role as a central figure in the team’s midfield plans, building on years of academy development and a successful recovery from his tibia injury.
Driving Style and Strengths
Larraz is known as a composed central midfielder with strong vision and a reliable passing range. He is comfortable operating in tight spaces, distributing the ball from deep, and contributing in the attacking phase of play, as demonstrated by his 8 goals and 8 assists with Rapids 2 in 2023.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his most notable career moments are his professional debut for the Colorado Rapids on May 15, 2021, his selection to the MLS NEXT Pro 2023 Best XI, and his first MLS start on February 24, 2024. His return from a serious tibia fracture in 2022 stands as one of the defining comeback stories of his young career.
Oliver Love Larraz Career Wins
Oliver Love Larraz’s win totals are tracked primarily at the developmental and reserve-team level, where his 2023 season with Rapids 2 stands out as the most productive stretch of his career to date. His competitive debut with the Colorado Rapids on May 15, 2021, a 3–1 home win over the Houston Dynamo, marks his first known first-team victory.
Rapids 2 Highlights
During the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro season, Larraz scored 8 league goals and added 8 assists while helping Rapids 2 reach the MLS NEXT Pro Western Conference playoff finals. His contributions were central to the team’s run and earned him a place in the MLS NEXT Pro 2023 Best XI.
Other Wins and Performances
Larraz has also recorded a win on his Colorado Rapids first-team debut, entering as a substitute in a 3–1 home victory over the Houston Dynamo on May 15, 2021. His loan spell at San Diego Loyal in 2021 provided further competitive minutes in the USL Championship.
Oliver Love Larraz Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Publicly available details about Oliver Love Larraz’s family background are limited. He was born and raised in Denver, Colorado, where his early connection to the Colorado Rapids academy shaped his development as a professional soccer player. Information about his parents, siblings, and other relatives has not been publicly confirmed.
Personal Life
Larraz is focused on his professional soccer career with the Colorado Rapids. Verified information about his spouse, partner, or children has not been publicly disclosed, and he has largely kept his personal life private.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 Major League Soccer season, Oliver Love Larraz is expected to continue his role as a central midfielder for the Colorado Rapids after establishing himself in the starting lineup in 2024. His development under head coach Chris Armas has given him a clear path to consistent minutes, and his 2023 form with Rapids 2 suggests he can contribute both goals and assists from the middle of the pitch.
The 2025 campaign represents an important opportunity for Larraz to build on his first full season of senior minutes. With several years of academy development, a productive reserve-team season, and a successful return from a serious injury behind him, he enters the year with momentum and a defined role within the squad.
For Colorado, the 2025 season is a chance to integrate homegrown players like Larraz more fully into the first-team plans. His continued progress will be closely watched by the club’s supporters, who have followed his journey from the academy to the senior team since his signing as a homegrown player in 2021.