After he finished his collegiate career at Navy, Greenspan’s dream of playing professional soccer came to fruition.

In the second round of the 2015 MLS SuperDraft, the Colorado Rapids selected the defender with the 26th overall pick. Despite this achievement, his MLS career would be placed on hold due to his Naval commitments.

“The things I couldn’t control, I was well aware of that,” Greenspan said. “If they told me ‘hey, you can’t play professional soccer and you’re going to be a surface warfare officer for five years,’ I was ready for that.”

Greenspan missed the first half of both the 2015 and 2016 seasons due to his service. During his rookie year, he appeared in just three games with the Rapids. In 2016, he appeared in one game with Colorado before being loaned to the Colorado Springs Switchbacks and Charlotte Independence, both of the USL.

As the Navy alumnus balanced a military and professional soccer career, he had some help along the way from a former NFL Pro Bowl and All-Pro selection.

Joe Cardona, a long snapper for the New England Patriots and a fellow classmate of Greenspan’s at Navy, introduced the defender to retired NFL place kicker John Carney while he served in San Diego. After working 12-hour days on the destroyer, Greenspan would train and lift weights with Carney to stay in game shape.

“I think that helped me stay in overall fitness,” Greenspan said. “I’m on my ship and that’s what I’m focused on during the day, but I could spend two hours a night saying ‘okay, I’m still trying to be a professional soccer player.’”

In June 2016, Greenspan was waived from his obligations, which required him to serve at least two years active duty before pursuing a professional sports activity. At this time, he accepted appointment into the Navy Reserve.

Greenspan finished the 2016 campaign on loan from the Rapids to the Independence. This past offseason, Colorado traded him to MLS expansion team Minnesota United FC. For the first time in his career, he would be available for a club at the start of the season.

Even though he was finally on an active roster to kick off of the 2017 campaign, Greenspan would once again find himself changing scenery. On April 10, the Hounds received the center back via loan from Minnesota. He has since helped solidify a Pittsburgh backline that has faced numerous injuries.

“Just to be able to get games in, get my feet back and my confidence and getting comfortable on the field again, that was the big thing for me,” Greenspan said. “I think over the course of the last five games, individually I’ve been able to do that.”