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The growth of the MLS has been nothing short of staggering in recent years, with several high profile arrivals helping to skyrocket the popularity of the league. The standard of football has improved greatly and it no longer remains a retirement league for ageing European players, an unwanted reputation it has developed over the years.
In January, Newcastle United broke their transfer record to purchase Atlanta United playmaker Miguel Almiron, thereby making him the most expensive player in Major League Soccer history. The signing proves the abundance of talent that lies in America and the overall progress the league has made.
One club that has been instrumental in MLS' development are Manchester United. The Red Devils are one of the biggest clubs in the world with a gigantic fan base and the club have seen a number of its players move to America and having a major impact on the league. So, here we have a look at 5 United players who have influenced football in the USA.
#5 George Best:
Let's start the list with a football celebrity. George Best is considered as one of the best footballers of all time and is part of United’s holy trinity alongside Denis Law and Sir Bobby Charlton. His mesmerizing dribbling, technical excellence and flamboyance made him an instant fan favourite.
He made 470 appearances for the club, scoring 179 goals in a glorious 11-year career at the club. In this time he lifted two first division titles as well as the European Cup in 1968. The same year he won the Ballon d'Or and in 2002, he was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame. Best was a huge media celebrity and was adored all over the world.
Two years after his final United appearance, Best joined the now dissolved Los Angeles Aztecs in 1976 for a year and reunited with them in 1978 before joining Fort Lauderdale Strikers a year after and finished his stint in America at the San Jose Earthquakes in 1982. It was his brilliance that attracted the American crowd to football and Best will be regarded as a crucial figure in the history of football in America
#4Tim Howard:
In 2003, Tim Howard made history when he became the first American to play for Manchester United after swapping the New York Redbulls for the Premier League giants. This was a statement signing and was an indication of the quality and talent that lies in America.
The goalkeeper lifted the FA Cup in his debut campaign. But Edwin Van der Sar’s signing saw his time at United come to an end but this was in no way the end of Howard’s stay in England. He went on to cement himself as Everton’s first team keeper and kept 116 clean sheets in the Premier League, the third highest in the all-time list. The ex-United man is one of only four keepers to net a goal in the Premier League after he scored against Bolton Wanderers in 2012.
The goalkeeper also holds the record for making the most saves in a single match in a World Cup after he stopped 15 attempts against Belgium in 2014. Howard is an important figure in MLS history as it was his move that opened the doors for many other MLS players to showcase their talent and earn a move to Europe.
Howard, who returned to the MLS with the Colorado Rapids in 2016, revealed in January that he would retire at the end of the season.
#3 Wayne Rooney:
The all-time Manchester United and England goalscorer has made a huge impact in the MLS with his performances after joining DC United last year. The club found themselves at the basement of the table with 2 wins, 5 draws and 7 losses when Rooney joined their ranks. He completely changed the fortunes of the club by dragging them into a playoff place, plundering 12 goals and finishing as their top goalscorer in the process.
Sometimes when big-name players move to the MLS, there is an expectation that these players will breeze through games and stand head and shoulders over their fellow teammates. But this hasn’t been the case in recent years with the likes of Andrea Pirlo, Steven Gerrard, and David Villa taking time to settle in these foreign conditions.
However, the former Red Devils star has hit the ground running and again tops the goalscoring charts in the new season, having already scored 4 goals in 5 matches. His immense experience, winning mentality, and professionalism will no doubt be a learning curve for the other members of the squad.
#2 Zlatan Ibrahimovic:
When Ibrahimovic first joined Manchester United, he proclaimed that “I won’t be the King of Manchester. I will be the God of Manchester.” He went on to score 17 goals at the age of 35, helping United to 3 trophies in his debut season and silencing his doubters. However, a serious injury meant that he had to pull the curtains on his short stay in England.
Later in January 2018, he made a move to La Galaxy and the MLS was blessed with the presence of a bona fide superstar. The Swede didn’t take time to make his mark in America and volleyed from a ridiculous 40 yards to score an absolutely sublime goal on his debut. It is this innate self-confidence and aura that sets Ibrahimovic apart from any other footballer on the planet.
He is a brand by himself and one of the most popular personalities in the world. Most people tune in to watch MLS just to see Ibrahimovic play. Judging by his goal tally of 26 goals in 30 appearances for La Galaxy, it is fair to say he has taken the MLS by storm. With Ibrahimovic plying his trade in the league, it is certain that he is going to attract millions of viewers from all over the world, thereby enhancing the MLS' popularity.
#1 David Beckham:
We started the list with a football celebrity so it is only fair that we end it with another. Where would MLS be without this man? David Beckham put the league on the map when he made a high profile move to LA Galaxy from Real Madrid in 2007. Not only was the Englishman an utterly brilliant footballer but he also was a fashion icon and one of the most renowned as well loved footballers of the world.
He won two MLS Cups in his 6-year at LA Galaxy, but more importantly, he managed to bring the attention of the world to American football. The average attendance increased by 3000 during Beckham’s era. One of Beckham’s biggest strength was his ingenious marketing prowess and ability to attract larger audiences as he regularly appeared on talk shows and made football relevant in the US.
Beckham’s good work in America did not end when he hung up his boots. The Englishman also owns a Miami-based franchise called Inter Miami and the team will enter the league in 2020. Beckham has revolutionized football in America and the MLS owes a huge debt to the former Manchester United man for all their success and fame.
