MLS is in it’s 29th season, started up in 1996. Looking back you find a number interesting aspects to look at as the heritage from NASL were very much seen. Bob Houghton, Ron Newman, Eddie Firmani, Timo Liekoski, Laurie Calloway and Thomas Rongen all having long associations with the famous past of NASL.
12 years after that last NASL season in 1984, it was time for new clubs to recruit new managers and players and get this professional soccer adventure going. MLS in it’s first years were similar to NASL in their’s. No one really noticed the professional game of soccer in US, before Pelè arrived, though it had their imports, clubs and stars long before the Brazilian maestro made it blossom.
Besides the NASL men from the past you had a few other known names in the establishment. Frank Stapleton, a star player at Arsenal and Man Utd, was hired to take charge of one of the 10 teams in the league, New England Revolution. The team ended 2nd to bottom in the Eastern Division and the former top star of football left after just a season and in real never returned as a manager again.
Today you have a long range of star players in the MLS, as we have recently seen the addition of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba all representing Inter Miami. Back in the first season Harut Karapetyan was among the best players in the league, playing for Los Angeles Galaxy. Later to become the club of David Beckham, Steven Gerrard and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Harut Karapetyan played for Los Angeles Galaxy from 1996 to 1998, scoring 18 goals in 73 MLS outings. His record also included the fastest MLS hat trick in history. He later played for San Jose Clash (Earthquakes) and Tampa Bay Mutiny. Karapetyan was in the Los Angeles Galaxy team that won the first ever MLS Cup title, defeating DC United in a penalty shoot out.
MLS had a bit of a troubled start but over the years the league has evolved and build a positive and good environment. One key has been to leave multi sport arenas and actually getting their own soccer field stadiums, and from here building a good fanbase, your own house and making a good atmosphere for the life of soccer.
The first year of MLS had 10 teams competing in an eastern and western regional league of 5 teams, today you have 29 teams playing in the same regions, with 15 in the east and 14 in the west. At present Inter Miami are the leaders in east, with 24 points in 12 games, Real Salt Lake are the current top team in the western league.
Tampa Bay Mutiny is the only club of the 10 in that first season no longer around, with other nine still in the competition. Over the years a number of teams are gone, but good to see that of the 10 founding members, 9 are still alive and kicking.
Besides the group of players at Inter Miami, you have other star names in the MLS as well. Martin Caceres is one to mention, currently with Los Angeles Galaxy. A defender with 117 caps for his country Uruguay, and a past at Barcelona, Juventus, Sevilla and Fiorentina among others.
Frederico Bernadeschi and Lorenzo Insigne are two other famous names, currently on the books of Toronto FC. Emil Forsberg, on 88 caps for Sweden, is on the books at New York Red Bulls. Teemu Pukki, previously with Norwich in Premier League action is in play for Minnesota United.
Ashley Westwood, who we know from his days in Premier League with Aston Villa and Burnley is the captain of Charlotte FC, with former Leicester, Aston Villa and Norwich manager Dean Smith as their head coach. Former Liverpool, Aston Villa and Crystal Palace player, Belgian international Christian Benteke is with DC United.
Former Liverpool and Stoke midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri is the main man at Chicago Fire. Victor Manyama is a player also among the stars, with the former Tottenham and Southampton midfielder currently with CF Montreal.
The tall forward Sam Surridge, previously in Premier League action for Nottingham Forest, moved to Nashville in January 2023 being seen as a designated player. Scotland international, Johnny Russell, previously with Dundee Utd and Derby, has been a key player for Sporting Kansas City since 2018 and in total played 175 MLS games and scored 56 goals.
Japan international and former Southampton defender, Maya Yoshida is at present with Los Angeles Galaxy. Yoshida is 35 years of age, but still copes with the level of MLS. Ryan Gauld is a well established player in the MLS, on the books at Vancouver Whitecaps. The Scot with a past Dundee United and Portoguese club Farense is a player of grand quality.
The players listed and talked of above are all known names from our relations to European football. You can also look up Transfermarkt, having an interesting ranking of the most valueable players in the MLS, so if you look for talent or players of promise, check it out. Lionel Messi at 36 is still seen as the most valuable. Next on the list is Thiago Almada, a 23 year old Argentinian international with a past at Velez Sarsfield. He is an attacking midfielder playing for Atlanta United.
CHECK YOUR FOOTBALL RESULTS
WATCH MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
A TRUSTED SOURCE ON MAN U NEWS
Leave a Reply