Graveyard for Legends or American Showcase? The MLS

From Beckham to Kaka, Pirlo and Villa each of these iconic footballing figures arguably reached the climax of their careers in America’s top division for ‘Soccer.’ The MLS. Drogba, Gerrard the list goes on of greats who have hung up their boots in American dressing rooms. So, is this place home for the Legend’s last Hurrah’s or is it a platform for raw talent to shine, a stepping stone to the elite level and a parallel to the European game? Let us find out…

Creator: Tim Clayton - Corbis | Credit: Corbis via Getty Images Copyright: 2018 Tim Clayton

Major League Soccer has been branded, contrary to its name, as ‘unimportant’ or in colloquial terms. A Farmer’s league. A large part of its lack of credibility boils down to its namesake and the reference to Football as ‘Soccer.’ The word ‘Soccer’ in fact originates from Britain, designed as an acronym for association football. The most common question then asked is Why do Americans call it Soccer whilst the rest call it Football? Its use in America came to allow society to distinguish the sport from the popular 'American Football.' Soon, Europe deemed the word 'Soccer' too ‘Americanised’ hence why its seen almost as taboo, with Soccer and the American game deemed inferior to Football and the rest of the world but why?

MLS offers exciting, expansive and engaging football that can be wholly enjoyed by neutrals. European professionals and Legends alike have claimed people ‘underestimate’ the league and its clear quality of football. Liam Ridgewell, formerly of Portland Timbers alikened it to the English Second Division, the Championship. A league in Britain that is glorified for its raw and traditional brand of football and the opportunities it offers to young starlets and seasoned veterans, to play football at a high level. Why do so many people disrespect the MLS yet glorify Championship football? Maybe European bias clouds the perception of football and its prestige beyond the continent…

Clearly the MLS offers more than enough to prompt Legends to play there. Right? Well yes, it is definitely part of the reason but James Brown and Rocky IV sum it up best as its ‘Living in America’ that so many Footballing greats are attracted to. The sun, the sights and the food of America all contribute to the appeal of the MLS. Most likely topping a wet, windy night in Stoke. A bucket list destination where you can play football at a high standard, can you really blame or criticise these greats who have given so much to the game for choosing to then play in America? No not really.

Nevertheless, American Soccer isn’t just for the Lampard’s, the Rooney’s, the Zlatan’s. It is a stage, a platform, a podium for the talent of all the Americas. In recent years, the MLS has supplied European football with some of its brightest stars. Alphonso Davies, Miguel Almiron, Tyler Adams and Jack Harrison all shining in Europe’s top five leagues with the first even propelling Bayern Munich to an outstanding trophy winning season in 2020. With many hidden gems in each of its conferences the MLS is progressing the game forward by supplying teams with serious ballers and serious quality.

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With all this promise then, why isn’t the MLS at the top? In America, Soccer is considered an elitist sport. To play Soccer at a Sunday league level in America, for one child, it approximately costs $5,500 (£4019.54) a year. In my experience playing football as a child for your local team cost £180 a season, deemed a fair contribution for the opportunity you were given. As a result, in America, wealthy parents plough thousands into their child’s sporting experience whilst many children with potential miss out due to financial factors. Even if the child receives a scholarship the facilities and coaching available is not at the same standard of most European academies. If young players then break into the MLS, their quality, ability and potential are constantly questioned as a result of the stigma and disrespect surrounding America's major league. Not a fair return on the investment made. Ultimately, young starlets are often converted to other sports if they are unable to afford the extortionate prices meaning football in America misses out on a vast amount of potential players for their leagues and their national side. With these issues already impacting the sport in America, Europeans criticising their style of play, their practices and their players is only hampering their game further and ultimately putting off the next generation of players.

In the end. Can we really label the MLS a graveyard for Legends? Or is it more of a retirement home, where legends can relax and enjoy their last few years of playing the game they love in the sun and land of the free that is America. It beats sitting on the bench. In America they attain stardom with privacy and act as footballing missionaries sharing their knowledge and ability to play football alongside prospects eager to learn and improve, vying for a big break in Europe. What better than for youngsters to learn how to Bend it like Beckham, from Beckham. The league does showcase a large pool of talent and is producing some great players. So, should we stop labelling American football? Most definitely. Just as society praises South American football for its unique style shouldn’t we do the same for the North and celebrate its successes and assist in correcting its flaws? The MLS may not be your cup of tea and you may not wish to wake up in the early hours to cheer on Football in America and it may ultimately be a bit below from the top leagues but you can put some respect on its name and be thankful for the accessibility that we have to the beautiful game that is Football.