Collen Warner is what you call an MLS veteran. The 30-year-old midfielder spent nine seasons in MLS, playing for five different teams. He logged some serious minutes, 13,478 to be exact, in 153 starts and 208 appearances. He has been all over North America, playing for the likes of Real Salt Lake, Montreal Impact, Toronto FC, Houston Dynamo, and Minnesota United FC.
Warner has plenty of great memories from his time in MLS, all of it starting in Utah with RSL. The club made it all the way to the Concacaf Champions League final, allowing Warner to play against the region’s best teams in Panama, Costa Rica, and Mexico.
“It was a great experience early on in my career,” Warner said. “My first goal as a professional was against Cruz Azul.”
Warner would join the Impact after two seasons with RSL. It was a positive move in his eyes.
“I had good times in Montreal,” Warner said. “Winning the Canadian Cup and playing with legendary players, it was actually my first time out of the country on my own.”
Success in Montreal put him on the radar of fellow Canadian side Toronto FC, a team reeling from a torrid run of losing seasons. Warner made a big difference as did Jermaine Defoe, Michael Bradley, and Sebastian Giovinco. Warner was there as TFC made the playoffs for the first time in team history. According to Warner, his experience in Toronto was “all about building a winning organization” and that’s exactly what was done.
More challenges awaited Warner in Houston and Minnesota and he was again a regular contributor on the pitch and one of the league’s top midfielders.
Regardless of location, the Denver, CO native has always been a coveted player known for his defensive prowess and counterattacking ability. It was no surprise that Warner drew interest from inside and outside of the U.S., especially after leaving Minnesota United after the 2018 season. One of those opportunities led him to think about playing in an unlikely locale, Denmark.
“There is a lot of Scandinavian heritage in Minnesota,” Warner noted. “It really opened my eyes to it. I was ready for something new, something outside of MLS. A new challenge.”
That’s how he ended up with FC Helsingør, a Danish First Division side that has been in the headlines a lot lately.
While FC Helsingør is in the midst of a relegation scuffle, the work off the field has been drawing the most attention. The club was purchased by a diverse group led by Jordan Gardner with the purpose of developing American talent in Europe. The innovative project certainly helped bring Warner in.
“It is a very exciting from a player standpoint,” Warner said. “This specific environment will complement American players. It will help them combine their physical attributes with the technical and tactical aspects of the game. And the environment is easy when it comes to work visas, less restrictive than other countries.”
Warner’s experience will make him an incredible mentor to young players in a completely new environment. He’s aiming to make the transition from the States to Scandinavia as easy as possible. As a young player, he benefitted from the positive influence of Nat Borchers, Kyle Beckerman, and Ned Grabavoy to name a few. Much of the roster featured highly experienced veterans.
“They were very intentional in how they interacted with rookies,” Warner said. “It may not have resonated right away, but they were such a big influence on my career.”
Warner’s hoping to return the favor, passing along the experience to a new generation of American players.
“The location removes you from the comforts of home,” Warner added. “Everyone doesn’t always react in a positive way. So, we are looking to make that transition as smooth so that players can put their full focus on the field.”
While Warner is valued as a mentor and leader in the locker room, he is still an incredible player and easily one of the best players in the Danish First Division.
He’s a classic #8 and a player known for his athleticism.
“I like to get up and down with the defense,” Warner continued. “I get on the ball, pass, and make tackles. I’m an energetic player.”
This is just the kind of player you need when you’re trying to avoid relegation in front of your new bosses. This is a club with a lot of potential, one that should be looking at promotion back to the Superliga, not relegation to the Second Division. FC Helsingør has the infrastructure needed to play at the highest level thanks to a new stadium currently under construction and world-class training facilities.
“Collen has shown a tremendous amount of professionalism at the club since the day he arrived,” FC Helsingør Sporting Director, North America Matt Barnes stated. “We are excited that he brings his experience and game insight to FCH as we approach the end of the season. The club is in the midst of a relegation battle, and Collen is a welcome addition to the squad in a key stretch for us.”
Simply put, FC Helsingør is a club on the rise and Warner is the right man for the job. There’s no doubt that he will find much success on the pitch and at the same time, be a tremendous mentor to young American players looking to make it big in Europe. Collen Warner is a special player that will bring the best of American soccer to a Danish club on the rise. It’s the perfect combination.
