Defender
Nat Borchers
6' 2"
Biography of retired USMNT soccer player Nat Borchers who won MLS Cups with Real Salt Lake and Portland.
Caps: 3
Passed over in the 2003 SuperDraft, the tall and sturdy Nat Borchers was picked up by the Colorado Rapids as a developmental player in March of that year. The victim of poor scouting at the college combine turned out to be a surprise find for the Rapids, and he was soon a fixture at the heart of the team’s defense, dominating in the air and making 24 regular and post-season starts in his first season.
After two more seasons as a first-choice player with the team, he moved to Europe to try his luck with Odd Grenland of Norway, but returned to MLS in early 2008 when he signed for Real Salt Lake. He also picked up two caps for the USMNT, featuring in two friendlies in March 2005. Nat returned the USMNT in 2010, coming on in the second-half against South Africa in Cape Town.
At club level, Nat moved from RSL to the Portland Timbers, winning MLS Cup in 2015. He retired from MLS in February, 2017.
College: University of Denver, 1999-2002. Also played for Rapids’ PDL sister team, Boulder Rapids Reserve.
USMNT Experience
2010
Got his third cap against South Africa on Nov 17th.
2005
Made senior team debut March 9 as a substitute, coming on against Colombia with four minutes to go of a 3-0 win in Fullerton. Ten days later he got his first start in a 1-0 win over Honduras in Albuquerque.
2004
Was a member of the U-23 side that went down 4-0 to Mexico in the semifinal of the CONCACAF Olympic qualifying tournament.
Professional Experience
2017
Announced his retirement in Feb.
2016
Played in 21 games for the Timbers.
2015
Joined the Portland Timbers, playing in 31 games en route to the MLS Cup.
2014
Played in 32 games for RSL in his final season with the club.
2013
Part of the RSL squad that finished runners up in the MLS Cup. Played in 28 games, all starts.
2012
Played in 26 games for RSL scoring three goals.
2011
Played 30 regular season games as RSL lost in the Western Conference finals.
2010
Considered one of the best defenders in the League, scoring twice for Real Salt Lake who exited in the playoffs.
2009
The team MVP, playing in all 30 regular season games and lifting the MLS Cup with Real Salt Lake
2008
Returned to MLS, signing with Real Salt Lake and starting 29 of 30 games.
2006-07
Played for Odd Grenland in Norway, relegated to the Norwegian second division at the end of the 2007 season.
2005
Made 31 starts for the Rapids, registering one assist.
2004
Continued as starter for Colorado, making 31 starts in both regular season and playoff play. Scored two goals and tallied a sole assist.
2003
Played 25 games (24 starts) overall for the Rapids in his rookie season. Scored one goal, in the playoffs.
