Write On Sports LLC - "Who’s next for the MLS?" by Gareth Sleger

Who’s next for the MLS?

2007-01-12 20:46:21 | By: Gareth Sleger

It’s official, David Beckham is headed to Major League Soccer. And, despite all of the hoopla, the only real surprise is how quickly it happened.

After a brief scare this week when Real Madrid reportedly offered Beckham a new two-year contract, the MLS and the Los Angeles Galaxy slammed the door on any rumors by signing the world’s most popular player to a sooner-than-expected five-year $250 million deal.

(According to the Los Angeles Times, Beckham’s annual $50 million is approximately broken down into four parts: $10 million for salary, $20 million for sponsorship deals, $10 million for jersey/paraphernalia sales and $10 for profit-sharing.)

This monumental move comes just in time for a league that has recently lost two of its most outstanding talents. 2006 U.S. men’s soccer player of the year Clint Dempsey finally came to terms with Fulham of the English Premiership and eight-year MLS veteran Josh Wolff has joined Germany’s 1860 Munich.

True, the MLS may have gotten its top man to fill that first Designated Player slot, but three other much desired high profile players, previously linked will a move to the league, are now destined for Asia and Mexico.

Luis Figo, 34: headed to Al-Ittihad (Saudi Arabia) Figo, arguably the greatest player to come out of Portugal, has spent his entire attacking midfield career with Europe’s elite clubs, including two years playing along side Beckham at Real Madrid.

But, after rumors that Figo might take the MLS route, the man that led Portugal’s “Golden Generation” suddenly left Inter Milan, currently first-place in Italy’s Serie A, for Saudi Arabia. He claims that the undisclosed 18-month deal was not driven by money, but a move to anywhere in the Middle East would have to be.

Figo’s aggressive attacking style and still-agile ball handling would have brought the MLS a world class balance with Beckham’s ability to create a goal and deadly finish on set plays.

Jared Borgetti, 33: headed to Cruz Azul (Mexico) Could one of the most hated players by U.S. soccer fans possibly been a selling point in the MLS?

Absolutely.

American fans would love to hate Mexico’s all-time leading goal scorer as much as they would be drawn to Beckham’s celebrity. Borgetti, who became the first Mexican player to play in the EPL with Bolton in 2005, would also have been even bigger draw among Mexican-American fans, which make up a large contingent of the MLS fan base.

The move would have made Borgetti the most notable Mexican player since Luis Hernandez (1999-2001: Los Angeles Galaxy). Although Hernandez scored 15 goals in 40 games, his time in the MLS was considered a flop (but not as bad as the one he took against the U.S. in the second round of the 2002 World Cup, which he was yellow carded for).

Paulo Wanchope, 30: headed to Tokyo FC (Japan) The MLS has always been a safe haven for players coming out of the Caribbean. Instead, Wanchope took a much different path, playing eight years in the EPL, netting 70 goals with Derby County, West Ham and Manchester City.

And for that, the most prolific goal scorer in Costa Rican history would have brought Stern John (1998-99: 44 goals with the Columbus Crew) type numbers.

Who is still available?

But, all is not lost. MLS’s inability to the three previously noted players came before Beckham’s glamorous signing. And with him now on board, expect the MLS appeal to hike for other 30-something world class players.

Ronaldo, 30: currently with Real Madrid (Spain) Other than Beckham, Ronaldo has been the most highly touted player linked with a MLS move.

Last year, he turned down a 10-year $120 million offer from the MLS to play for the New York Red Bull to remain faithful to his contract with Real Madrid. But with his playing time dwindling, as Real looks toward the youth movement, the MLS will have to beat out Italian clubs AC Milan and Inter Milan to secure rights to the all-time leader in World Cup goals.

The Red Bull, having yet to fill its two Designated Player spots, is still the most likely candidate for Ronaldo, who is quoted as saying, “…without a doubt, the American market is one of my goals for the future.”

Also, a lot of Americans could identify with his highly criticized “pudgy” figure.

Edgar Davids, 33: currently with Tottenham Hotspur (England) A day after the Beckham news, FC Dallas of the MLS reportedly announced it’s in contract talks with one of the most recognizable face in not only Dutch, but European soccer history.

With the signing of Steed Malbranque and emergence of Aaron Lennon and Didier Zokora, Davids, who has only one assist this season, hasn’t seen EPL action since Nov. 13.

The dreadlock-and-goggle-toting midfielder would be easy to market in the MLS, the same way the league did with Carlos Valderrama’s lion mane-like hair.

Pavel Nedved, 34: currently with Juventus (Italy) The Czech midfielder is threatening retirement after his contract at Juventus expires at season’s end making the possibility of him signing with the MLS is a long shot.

The prolific long-range goal scorer has been rumored to be on the Chicago Fire radar. Although the Fire is one of the MLS’s most profitable markets (having opened its own soccer-specific stadium last year), it lacks veteran star power to help along its abundance of up-and-comers.

Zinedine Zidane, 34: currently retired It’s certainly surprising that Zizou’s name hasn’t been entangled with MLS rumors. But a move out of retirement to the MLS would be even more enthralling than Beckham’s current transfer.

Ironically, it took the last thing the three-time FIFA World Player of the Year ever did on a soccer field (that infamous head butt) for the American sport fan base and media to take notice. It was also the lowest point in his career and an image-burning moment for the 2006 World Cup; a moment that, for most Americans, overshadowed the U.S.’s “poor” performance and Beckham’s free-kick goal against Ecuador and free-kick causing own-goal against Paraguay.

Hell, if the MLS wants the whole package, why not make a bid for the 33-year-old “headbuttee” Marco Materazzi?

Editor’s Note: For additional Beckham analysis see Jeff Bull’s David Beckham: The $250 Million Dollar Lure and Gareth Sleger’s End It Like Beckham.