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European Affiliates Are The Way To Go For Major League Soccer

By on July 20, 2014

Major League Soccer, the United States’ main professional league, has been faced with one challenge since reintroducing itself in the early late 1990s – making “soccer” one of the top few sports in America. Not just to play as a child or watch every four years at the World Cup, but actually attach Americans to the MLS, instead of big name European clubs. Make the sport big in the US, and the MLS with also rise with it – that is the MLS’ mentality. However, the league’s road has been far from smooth.

When the league started, it was made up of just ten teams, and namely former college and semi-pro players, along-with the handful of players moving in from the cross-border Mexican leagues. Very few European players moved across the pond at any point in their careers – the league was hardly even viewed as the “retirement league” it is now over in European. Television ratings were very steady for the first decade, and still are relatively similar now. Only in 2007 did the television ratings and attendances skyrocket, due to something commonly known as the “Beckham Experiment.”

This was the league’s first successful attempt to cast itself into the global view and showcase itself to even those across the pond. Even Americans drew in from far and wide to watch the MLS. And suddenly, the MLS’ clear path to success was created. Their plan, as it has now became clear, is to not only provide American players with a league that has also continued to see overseas players join, but become into what the majority of those in Europe think of it – some sort of “retirement” league. Bring European superstars into the league as their careers wind down, and not only increase the playing level and celebrity power of the league, but encourage other European players to do the same at an increasingly younger age. Beckham was the first to blaze this path.

Since, former Everton and Australia captain at World Cup 2014 Tim Cahill, English star Robbie Keane, and former World Cup finalist Thierry Henry have joined the league. Outfits with the most exposer, including Beckham’s former LA Galaxy, are the most likely destinations for these players. What is more familiar to them they are more likely to go along with. Which is exactly why the MLS have taken their European affiliations even further. English reigning champions Manchester City have acted like Beckham in the MLS’ latest success; co-owning one of the league’s latest additions, New York City FC. European players are much more likely to join a club affiliated with one of the best in England. Manchester City themselves can help bring in players to New York.

So far, this philosophy has worked tremendously. The Champions League finalist just last year, David Villa, has already joined the club as one of its first players. Former Chelsea star Frank Lampard is reportedly set to join New York next week, while one of the main stars of Spain’s World Cup 2010 winning side Xavi is choosing from three offers from some of the MLS’ biggest clubs – the New York Red Bulls, Seattle Sounders, and New York City FC, according to Spanish newspaper Marca. Beckham has even opened his own MLS franchise, in Miami, and attracted the likes of Brazilian superstar Kaka. Attach any more big European names to MLS clubs, and more and more and more players will join the league, not just those clubs. That is the way to the global, and American spotlight for MLS. Don’t go overboard, and keep the already thriving clubs like Seattle Sounders independent, but build enough European relationships to make the league able to thrive on its own, then cut those down over time leaving a refurbished league dominating the US and even across the world, in time. Beckham ultimately set the path for what is still a bright future for MLS.

About Alex Morgan

Alex Morgan, founder of Football Every Day, lives and breaths football from the West Coast of the United States in California. Aside from founding Football Every Day in January of 2013, Alex has also launched his own journalism career and hopes to help others do the same with FBED. He covers the San Jose Earthquakes as a beat reporter for QuakesTalk.com and his work has also been featured in the BBC's Match of the Day Magazine.