With MLS up to a baker's dozen in seasons, it seemed like as good a time as any to see how much and how well the domestic league has manufactured players. With more and more league products heading to foreign soil, there's been a lot of talk the last few years over whether players are better or worse off developmentally for going abroad - much of which ends up being too broad and filled with bias because clearly each prospect's case has specific variables that should affect a judgment.
One could easily point to several factors that have helped youngsters league-wide develop into quality players (and in several cases, valuable commodities to a growing business). For instance, a constant stream of veteran Central/South America and Eastern Europe players have shown the light professionally and provided improved competition.
League abnormailties (relative to the Euro-norm) have also made subtle contributions to the schooling element of play. Due to the oft-maligned April-October schedule, weather variance provides a few culturing benefits.
A guy who can keep up with a frantic early season pace in Colorado and persevere through tactical July games in Dallas will likely increase his fitness level, fighting spirit and versatility - all three of which are commonly named by European scouts, coaches and technical directors as positive, distinctly American/MLS traits. A fourth they like to mention? Professionalism in attitude, clearly another compliment to the home league.
And yes, we've turned out goalkeepers, seemingly by the dozen - but I've always chalked up our overwhelming depth at the position to the nation's tendency to play a lot of "handle-sports" such as baseball, basketball and football. Red, White & Blue keepers generally tend to be big, menacing box dominators with the agility and soft hands blended right in thanks to these outside unintentional training sources.
Overall, MLS has done fairly well pushing players towards their potential, even with several guys that won't make this list for various reasons. Naturally though, lines must be drawn in the land of
T5L, and draw them I did.
Anyone spending more than a season as a pro in another league, foreign or domestic, before joining MLS has been excluded. That means no Brian Ching, Kenny Cooper, Landon Donovan, Brad Friedel, Brian McBride, basically all of the 1990 World Cup crew that eventually starred in MLS and several other notable names. I have also excluded any young players who left MLS after just a single season, such as Michael Bradley (who evolved more at Heerenveen).
Ordinal ranking the top four was extremely difficult, while my fifth choice only narrowly squeaked past a pair of foreign gems polished in America: New England's Grenada midfielder Shalrie Joseph and Blackburn's New Zealand defender Ryan Nelsen (formerly of D.C. United) for the last slot.
Others deserving honorable mention, including some young players currently holding more potential than prestige, who thus have a shot at breaking into future editions of this list: Josmer Altidore (groomed by New York), Freddy Adu (D.C. United), Danny Califf (Los Angeles) Brad Guzan (Chivas USA), Jimmy Conrad (San Jose), Frankie Hejduk (Tampa Bay - R.I.P.), Eddie Lewis (San Jose), Chad Marshall (Columbus), Bakary Soumare (Chicago).
And folks, while this list is solid, I think we can all agree that a couple of CONMEBOL outfits and as many as a dozen European leagues would be able to compile superior
Fives over the same time span. The key to remaining upbeat is in realizing that those enterprises are all 3-4-5... even eight times as old as MLS.
Baby steps are indeed good...
#5 - Clint Dempsey (New England)I nearly gave this place to Joseph, but decided on his former teammate at the last moment. The Deuce has now proven himself to a third Prem manager, and I had to award the necessary bonus points for being able to constantly battle for that starting job at the Cottage. I didn't give him extra points for the World Cup goal because the other two I considered here will surely never attend a World Cup match they don't hold a ticket for - would be unfair. That being said, Dempsey has scored the golden savior goal (against Liverpool), led his club in scoring for a season and stayed productive despite inconsistency with the USMNT. Point is, the Texas native has accomplished a good bit since leaving for England after four years in MLS - including the 2006 Honda Player of the Year prize.
#4 - Eddie Pope (D.C. United)The only man from the list plus honorable mentions who never ventured to Europe. To this day, I wonder what might have been; Steady Eddie turned down a move to AC Milan in 1998 and there's no telling what kind of effect that may have had on his game and career. But we are not here to discuss Euro-what ifs, we are here to celebrate MLS development and few American players have enjoyed more storied club careers over the past 13 years. The essential smooth criminal in defense, Pope essentially opened his pro career by scoring the first MLS Cup winner in overtime, rang up four MLS Best XI nods and notched 82 USMNT caps with three World Cup appearances. Of course, his last big show in 2006 soured the rep a bit, but I say a star this classy outshines his worst couple of days.
#2 (tie) - DaMarcus Beasley (Chicago)Sure, he's had periodic struggles overseas... but guess what? Europeans have struggles, too. After briefly being with the Galaxy in name only, da Bease spent five seasons with the Fire before jetting off to PSV Eindhoven in 2004. You can certainly argue he is a better finisher, crosser and game-reader than when he left for the Goal-ed World, but his Jitterbug effect was spawned in the States. While he's never quite become a star in Europe, he's had his fair share of big moments at each stop (counting a Man City loan spell and his current side Rangers). What's more, no American to date has matched his level of meaningful Champions League contribution. Of course, his current situation at Rangers is a bit worrisome, but DaMarcus has rallied before. Still... after another 13 years of MLS, he could either hold a place in the top three or struggle to make such a list altogether if inconsistency and injuries continue.
#2 (tie) - Carlos Bocanegra (Chicago)Some may snicker at this, but admit it: 'Los has gone further than most of you expected when he shipped off for Fulham after five seasons at the Fire back. Bocanegra excelled at three positions in the Premier League (for crying out loud, even in defensive midfield!), shown enough leadership to captain both the Cottagers and the USMNT and now is helping Rennes make a run at halting Lyon's Ligue 1 dominance from left back. Next fall, he could find himself in the Champions League - and he'll probably fare better in that than you'd have thought, too.
#1 - Tim Howard (New York)This is another guy who's had his struggles since leaving home shores. But he is also another guy who departed MLS with a specific skill-set rep (in this case: dazzling, athletic shot stopper) and has been able to improve problem areas overseas (ahem... crosses). All in all, Timmay has a résumé most keepers under 30 not named Afinkeev, Casillas or Cech would kill for: Howard ousted Fabien Barthez upon arrival at Manchester United, picked up a Prem All-Star nod from the players vote his rookie term, won an FA Cup and has grabbed undisputed #1 status on his national team. He's also on a solid club in Everton, with plenty of great days ahead to cement a place on the next edition of this list - if not the lofty one he holds for now.
- Greg Seltzer
[Photos: Stade Rennes & Getty]
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