Million dollar contracts, and other valuable benefits attract European soccer players to come to the States, but they also bring the routine they have from the other side of the Atlantic.

During the last two years former soccer stars from Europe have come to the states to spread the European flavor of soccer. David Beckham, Fredrik Ljungberg, and Thierry Henry to name a few.  

However, these are not the first foreigners to try their luck in America.

In 1974, the soccer star Pelé signed a $7 million contract with the North American Soccer League’s New York Cosmos after retiring from Brazilian soccer. He stayed until 1977, and led the Cosmos to a league title. Pelé finished his career in an exhibition game at Giants Stadium that was broadcasted all over the world. The advertisement opportunity was not possible when Pelé played his best soccer in the Brazilian League years earlier.

Pelé was the player who opened the floodgates for international players to join the league. However, the payroll was inconsistent.  The Cosmos had Warner Brothers Corporation behind them to pay players’ salaries, whereas smaller teams couldn’t afford to bring international stars overseas.

The influx of European athletes made the league’s talent unbalanced, the New York Cosmos dominated the league between the years 1977-1983.

Since Major League Soccer was founded 1993, the league has had a salary cap, but they also implemented the designated player rule which allows a team to sign an international player beyond the salary cap in a effort to increase the international competitiveness.

Major League teams can sign up to three designated players, if the club can afford it. 

At first I saw this as an excellent way to spread the European influence in American soccer. Star players from the best clubs in Europe make their way to the other side of the Atlantic and let the Americans see star players in action.

But then I started to see it from a different point of view.

What about the American players that have to stand back when a European player comes and takes their spot? How is that going to make the soccer more developed here?

Of course, their club gets more publicity, and it attracts a greater audience. But in my opinion, it’s not worth it to sign $100 million contracts with them.

Money is the reason why they chose to come to play in the U.S., but another reason is that they don’t keep the same standards as the other top players in Europe.  

Before French soccer star Thierry Henry signed with the New York Red Bulls, he struggled in FC Barcelona during his last season. Now they say that Henry is taking over the role David Beckham had when he played for the L.A. Galaxy.

It’s no doubt European players in the states do well. They deliver results, and as long as they do, no one will complain because they help their teams to success. American soccer gains more respect because of them.

But as I see it there is a problem with this success. The American soccer players, mainly young talents, have to stand back when European stars play. They sit on the bench most of the games, and might get a chance to get on the field the last minutes if they are lucky.

I don’t think it’s bad to bring international players over to play for the clubs to make the soccer more attractive here, but I feel this doesn’t develop the soccer over here in a good way.

To develop the soccer in America they have to see beyond the major league, and make it more attractive for children and teens to start play. Success is built from the ground up.