Football: Anthony Hudson bolsters Colorado Rapids with Kiwi core

Former All Whites coach Anthony Hudson is facing the heat after just nine games in charge of the Colorado Rapids.

With the Rapids in the midst of a four-game Major League Soccer losing streak, Hudson's denied reports linking him to Sunderland job in the English Premier League.

Instead, he's aiming to build something in Colorado and he's calling on a healthy Kiwi contingent to help him out.

When Hudson was unveiled as All Whites coach, he had big plans to overhaul the structure of New Zealand football. Now in Colorado, he's facing the same task.

"We're just trying to drive the standard in terms of professionalism," Hudson told Newshub. "Change the culture, the style of play, from what it was last year."

The need for such an overhaul was readily apparent, after the Rapids won just nine of their 34 matches the previous year.

Hudson's team haven't made the fastest start to this season, sitting near the bottom of conference standings, but the players are certainly buying in to the new culture in Colorado.

He's brought assistant coaches Darren Bazeley and Neil Emblen with him from New Zealand, and signed All Whites Tommy Smith, Kip Colvey and Deklan Wynne to create a strong Kiwi influence at the club.

"The Kiwis have been fantastic, knowing the system already," said veteran goalkeeper Tim Howard. "They've brought their own professionalism. 

"It's been a breath of fresh air, having a man like [Hudson] leading the club."

It’s made for a seamless transition for players like Smith, arriving at a club where he’s already familiar with the coaching staff.

“Obviously, I knew Anthony [Hudson], and the system he wanted to implement and the way he coaches, so that made it easy for me coming into the team."

And Hudson's not ruling out adding more Kiwis in the future.

"There's so many good players in NZ and I think if they got the opportunity to play professionally, people would see that," said Hudson.

"You look at guys like Ryan Thomas, Winston [Reid], Chris Wood leading the way... and obviously we've got a few guys here doing that as well.”

And don't rule out a few more Kiwis heading to Colorado, as Hudson looks to make his mark stateside.

Newshub.