Colorado Rapids head coach, Pablo Mastroeni, has been invited to spend the next few days with English Championship club Middlesbrough, who are under the guidance of former teammate Aitor Karanka.

"Pablo is hoping to spend time with Aitor - another former player that has moved onto coaching - to share ideas," said Rapids VP of Soccer Operations and Technical Director, Paul Bravo. "This, therefore, represents a great opportunity for our head coach to go and further his education."

Mastroeni will attend his first training session with Middlesbrough on Wednesday. His visit will allow him to experience a snap-shot of some of the club's best practices, while gaining an insight from one of the sport's up-and-coming coaches.

Middlesbrough are currently fifth in the Championship - the second tier of soccer in England - just two points behind leaders Derby County, who they host later this month.

Former Athletic Bilbao and Real Madrid defender Karanka spent the 2006 season with the Rapids, featuring in 27 regular season games, as well as all three games in the playoffs. He has been manager of Middlesbrough since November of last year, having previously been assistant to José Mourinho at Real, from 2010.

Mastroeni - with sights set on his second season as head coach of the Rapids - will return from England in time to attend the USSF 'A' License coaching course in Los Angeles, from December 13.

You can hear an exclusive interview with Mastroeni on this week's Rapids Podcast, which will be online from Thursday.