COLE BASSETT IS BACK
Littleton native eager to prove he’s an elite midfielder in MLS
It took a full month for Cole Bassett to really feel good again after his return from 10 months in the Netherlands.
For the first time in a year, the 21-year- old Littleton sensation didn’t have to overthink his move overseas. He wasn’t on his own after training in Sittard, a small Dutch city. He wasn’t wondering about what others said about his future with the U.S. National Team, or whether he’d be the next American to make it big in the European game.
It dawned on him. He was back right where he needed to be: Colorado.
“There wasn’t anybody to get your mind off it, thinking about everything,” Bassett told The Post. “When you just came there to play and that wasn’t able to happen because of certain reasons, then it’s very tough mentally.
“It took a bit when I got home to feel good again and get that confidence back of, of the type of player I am, and the type of player I left Feyenoord as and the year before. This year I’m around family and that puts me in a state where I can go out and play confidently this year, do my thing and show what I know I can do.”
Ahead of Colorado’s home opener Saturday night at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park vs. Sporting Kansas City, it’s clear: Bassett is back, and he’s ready to let the rest of Major League Soccer know it.
A Homegrown Player who earned first-team minutes as a 16-year-old, Bassett continued improving until his breakout year of 2021, when he had five goals and three assists and helped Colorado to the top of the Western Conference. Europe soon came calling and he made headlines as he agreed to a loan deal with Feyenoord.
The elite atmosphere was what he needed.
“There was a little bit of a difference and it was every single day, I knew I had to be on top
of it over there,” he said. “Physically and mentally I had to be on top of things. For example, in tight spaces on the ball, you had to think your way out of certain situations and I got used to that. Now, since I came back, you notice the little differences and I’ll try to continue doing that this year.”
Even after a strong pre-season with the Rotterdam side where he got to wear the captain’s armband, game time is essential for continued growth. He arrived at Fortuna Sittard looking to play but it didn’t happen. One game into Bassett’s loan, the manager who wanted him in the first place got fired. Then, he lost his spot to the captain who requested a po
sition change. What seemed like a breakthrough chance evaporated, as he just played 198 minutes.
“Cole tried to carry players and bring them along with this mentality he had of needing to win every match, which at a club like Fortuna, isn’t very obvious. It was very similar to how he described it in the U.S. and Feyenoord,” Rob Sporken, who covers Fortuna Sittard for Dutch newspaper De Limburger, said. “… Still, for his mentality, I think he learned a lot in that period. Not his best time but it will make him stronger.”
His brother, Sam, a sophomore on the University of Denver men’s soccer team, had more than a hunch on his phone calls with
Cole that life in the Netherlands wasn’t all that it was cracked up to be. The pair are still training partners.
After Cole came home, though, it was Sam who led the charge to make sure his big brother would be ready for another year in MLS. It’s apparent just how much the technical side of his game has improved after a year in Europe.
“Over winter break, we all had a bunch of Rapids and R2 players come to DU and we were just playing pick-up. … I think it was pretty positive to have him back,” Sam said. “Me and Cole have gone through not playing before and it’s really the only thing you need, to play games. His game has really improved all over, and it’s awesome to see. I’m really looking forward to what he can do this year.”
Cole is eager to be an influential member and leader in Colorado’s effort to return to the postseason. He’s learning Spanish and Portuguese to best communicate with the large contingent of international players.
“For me, being a hometown kid and getting this team back to the playoffs is a huge priority for me this year,” Bassett said. “Being a Burgundy Boy, there’s a certain expectation that I’m excited to embrace and now have a leadership opportunity with it. We’ve got a good leadership core and a good group, now it’s just down to us performing on the field.”