Write On Sports LLC - "Captain America" by Gareth Sleger

Captain America

2006-12-22 19:01:49 | By: Gareth Sleger

With Major League Soccer hell-bent on luring in 30-something world class players like David Beckham, Ronaldo and Luis Figo, there is one player being routinely overlooked. A player who, in all honesty, should be topping the MLS most wanted list…Claudio Reyna.

At 33, Reyna has quietly built a resume that is hands down the most impressive of any American to ever play outside the U.S.

But Reyna is also one of the few American born players, who emerged in the 1990s, yet to dip their toes in MLS waters.

In 1995, one year before the inaugural MLS season, Reyna headed to German powerhouse Bayer Leverkusen right out of college (University of Virginia) and hasn’t been back since (besides playing international friendlies).

In 1998, he became the first American to captain a European club with Germany’s Wolfsburg. With Rangers, he helped the Scottish Premier League giants win the title trophy two consecutive years in 1999 and 2000. And for the past six years, he has anchored midfields in the English Premier League for Sunderland and Manchester City.

On top of that, he capped off the U.S.’s historic run in the 2002 World Cup when the captain was named to the tournament’s All-Star Team, the only American in World Cup history to claim that achievement.

But after 12 years of playing in some of Europe’s elite leagues, it’s about time for Reyna to make his MLS debut.

With Amado Guevara traded to Chivas USA for a Designated Player slot, a move to the New York Red Bull would be the most likely place for the New Jersey native to land, but Reyna can easily hold down any midfield in the MLS.

And his playmaking ability is not lost on the American fan base.

According to a yanks-abroad.com poll asking which American playing overseas fans would like to see move to the MLS, Reyna was an overwhelming favorite with 30.7 percent out of eight choices.

For Reyna to truly fulfill his “Captain America” status, the MLS needs to get its paws out of Real Madrid’s everything-must-go-bin and make Reyna its top priority.

Former MLSers rumored with a return

Brian McBride:
Don’t expect the 1996 number one pick in the MLS SuperDraft (Columbus Crew) to return to the MLS next season. Although McBride’s contract with Fulham ends after this season and talk of resigning the 34-year-old has yet to be discussed, his spell in the EPL has been more than a success.

On loan with Everton in 2002 he notched four goals and two assists in just eight games and in almost four full Fulham seasons, he has been a go to goal scorer; 2003-04: four goals, 2004-05: six goals, 2005-06: 11 goals (named team MVP by teammates); 2006-2007: five goals (as of Dec. 12).

Eddie Lewis:
Lewis’ move to Leeds from Preston has been an easy metaphor for how Leeds is doing in the English League Championship standings…not good. Leeds is second from the bottom with a 6-2-15 record and is all but set for a relegation to English League One.

The 32-year-old’s 2-year deal is up at season’s end, and if Leeds is indeed dropped to League One, assume the 4-year (1996-1999) MLS star back for the 2007 season.

Comments

Jeff Bull commented,
Good article and good name to mention; I think Ives Galarcep (writes for a New Jersey paper and ESPN's site - great resource) has been following this story closely and expects Reyna to return during the summer transfer window. I'd only add one angle left unmentioned above: Reyna's fairly frequent problems with injury. As much as I admire his ability to pace a game and manage possession, he has spent a lot of a fair amount of time on the physio's couch of all those teams listed above nursing injury. And with his age creeping toward the dreaded 35, it's doubtful his injury woes will lessen. But that's just the counter-argument. Reyna would help just about any team in MLS - and not a little either. He'd be a great captain for a team like Red Bull especially, who have been a bit rudderless down the years.
December 28, 2006 12:12 p.m.

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