Leading up to the MLS Cup Finals match between the LA Galaxy and the New England Revolution, this week will undoubtedly be full of interesting storylines and angles seeking to promote the match. Some will mention how the teams got there, focusing on the new away goals rule. Others will compare the two franchises as LA seeks their record setting fifth title while the Revolution look to earn just their first. For me though, I would be lying if I did not admit the first thing I thought of when the Galaxy advanced was what this could mean in terms of bringing more USMNT players over to MLS. Of all the storylines heading into the last game of the MLS season, I think the two that will stand as the most influential are the stories of Landon Donovan and Jermaine Jones.
Landon Donovan will end his amazing career on Sunday December 7th and enter history as arguably the most revered American soccer player ever. While Donovan did venture across the pond on a few occasions, the majority of his career was spent stateside and the name he made for himself was made as member of the US Men’s National team and as a player in MLS. While others may have been blessed with more talent or found more success in Europe, it is Donovan that stands apart from the rest as the face of American soccer. He is an example of the level of respect and reverence that can be achieved through a combination of MLS and the International stage. The celebration Landon Donovan and his contributions over his career should serve as an inspiration for younger members of the US squad.
There is also the story of Jermaine Jones and his rapid rise to the top. Relatively unknown in America during his European career, the German-American turned a breakout World Cup campaign into a multimillion dollar DP contract in MLS. Practically overnight, Jones turned the New England Revolution from a decent team into a title contender and himself into a sports celebrity. Jones is arguably the hottest soccer celebrity of the moment in the States. Brushing elbows with Hollywood stars and leading his team into the MLS Cup on a scorching hot streak, Jones is an example of how quickly things can go right for a USMNT player in MLS.
While nothing is guaranteed and no one would fault any USMNT player from pursuing opportunities in the larger leagues I do think the examples of what could be waiting for them in the United States is worth consideration. Especially for three players in particular. Mix Diskerud, Aron Johannsson and Fabian Johnson.
The 24-year-old Diskerud is out of contract currently and has clearly shown interest in moving on from the Norwegian leagues. While he has turned down offers from MLS clubs previously, he has not signed a new contract and perhaps could be persuaded to reconsider. Diskerud is early in his career and is still coming into his own but he has already shown a knack for scoring timely goals with the USMNT and the development of an aggressive streak that would translate very well into MLS. With a likeable personality and a noticeable flair to his game, Diskerud as a replacement for Donovan on the LA Galaxy seems like a perfect match.
Diskerud has already shown the ability to play in the shadow of Donovan, taking Landon’s number 10 for the USA, yet still forging his own identity on the pitch. When watching Diskerud play, I see a talent that could make a living in the premier leagues but would be an absolute star for MLS. If a move to MLS feels premature for Diskerud now, perhaps the memory of watching the celebration of Landon Donovan will play in his mind down the road and fuel his desire to achieve that level of popularity.
Aron Johannsson is interesting because he is already somewhat following the path of a USMNT teammate in taking over where Jozy Altidore left off for Eredivisie club AZ. Young, fast, with a prolific scoring touch, Johannsson is clearly bound for bigger things than what the Eredivisie has to offer but to what level will Altidore’s struggles hurt him. Altidore has done nothing since joining Sunderland of the Premier League and while the two players possess different skills sets, it stands to reason the questions will be there about how much success in the Dutch league will translate to the higher levels of European football. If Johannsson finds the offers coming his way unsatisfactory, could the instant success of Jermaine Jones influence a return to the land of his birth? A DP contract for Johannsson with the Colorado Rapids could certainly turn that franchise around in a hurry.
Lastly, there is Fabian Johnson. Already successful in the big time world of the Bundesliga, a move away from the top flight league might seem too much of a step backward for the 26-year-old Johnson and at this point in his career, I would tend to agree. But the Bundesliga is top heavy and dominated by Bayern Munich, a few more years in the shadows of the giant and Johnson may want to push his own name to the top of the headlines like Jones did by making the jump to MLS.
Soccer’s popularity is growing, MLS is expanding, money and opportunities for the USMNT players are just going to grow with too. The question is who is going to capitalize on it? MLS may not carry the same prestige as the premier leagues of Europe but that does not mean they have nothing to offer. Donovan and Jones meeting in the MLS Cup Final serves as a highlight of the fame and fortune that can be found in MLS. Yes, wanting to test their abilities at the highest level is admirable but it is also understandable for the players to want to capitalize financially on their talent. This Sunday’s matchup between the New England Revolution and LA Galaxy will certainly show how possible that is to achieve in MLS.
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