Football, or soccer, in North America is nothing new.
If you flick through the history books, you will be surprised to note that soccer was being played in the mid-1850’s and onwards. Amateur and professional leagues began to grow from the late 1800’s and into the early 20th Century. The demise of these leagues and soccer over there has been blamed on the Great Depression in 1929, when soccer all but faded away.
In 1968, two American leagues merged to form what was NASL – The North American Soccer League. It started to draw players, and not just any players, but world class players during the 70s. Once names like Pele, Cruyff, Beckenbauer, Best, Eusiebo and Bobby Moore started getting involved.
Soccer in the US took off with the usual, glam, glitz, colour and superb sounding team names. Take your pick, but they weren’t your usual City, Rovers or United. The NASL gave us the Los Angeles Aztecs, Colarado Rapids, Tampa Bay Rowdies, New York Cosmos and Chicago Sting. They came complete with colourful team kits and big team emblems that you just didn’t see anywhere else. But of course, its America, where they do everything bigger and better. Or so it seemed.
Ex-West Ham player, Phil Woosnam, played a leading role in the development of the sport in the United States beginning in the 1960s. After a successful playing career in England, Woosnam emigrated to the United States and became coach of the Atlanta Chiefs in 1968, winning the inaugural NASL Coach of the Year honour. That year, Woosnam became the Head Coach of the US Men’s National Team, as well as the Commissioner of the NASL.
He remained the commissioner of the NASL until 1982. During his tenure, Woosnam oversaw unprecedented growth in the game including the signing of several top international stars, expansion to several new markets that had never experienced professional soccer previously, and the securing of the first national network television contract for soccer.
New York Cosmos were the most well known team and most stars played for them at some point, even the British players started leaving our shores for a taste of the money and a new life stateside. Harry Redknapp, Dennis Tueart, Frank Worthington and Trevor Francis were just a few of a number of players that left for the other side of the pond, with a few that stayed there and made coaching careers for themselves.
Soccer was growing in popularity in the 70s. The NASL’s average attendance had grown steadily from a low of 2,930 in 1969 to 7,770 in 1974, and by 1974 four teams were averaging over 10,000. Pele’s arrival at the New York Cosmos created a media sensation and overnight transformed the fortunes of soccer in the United States. From the moment he signed his contract at the Club in June 1975, in front of a crush of ecstatic worldwide media, Pele’s every move was followed, bringing attention and credibility to soccer in America. The New York Cosmos’ home attendance tripled in just half the season Pele was there, and on the road the Cosmos also played in front of huge crowds that came to watch Pele play.
However, nothing is forever and the NASL was fairly short lived. With the NASL declining rapidly in the early 1980s and losing many franchises, the NASL made several changes in an attempt to keep the league going, but on March 28, 1985, the NASL suspended operations for the 1985 season.
Although the NASL ultimately failed, it introduced soccer to the North American sports scene on a large scale for the first time, and was a major contributing factor in soccer becoming one of the most popular sports among American youth. On July 4, 1988, FIFA awarded the hosting of the 1994 World Cup to the United States. NASL has also provided lessons for its successor, Major League Soccer, which has taken precautions against past problems. In particular a philosophy of financial restraint. The MLS adopted financial restraint rules and these still operate today.
As with most things American, the league bounced back as the MLS, which was founded in 1993, with its first season in 1996. Ten teams participated in the opening season, with twenty teams now playing in the league – 17 are American and three are Canadian.
The MLS has become a bit of a retirement home for certain players whose legs are growing tired in the cut and thrust of the Premier League. Maybe a year in the slower European leagues and then to America, but largely, the American teams cannot wait to flash the cash and entice another season or two from tired internationals who have the experience and have “the name” to encourage other top players to the league.
It was suggested that when David Beckham moved to the LA Galaxy in 2007, his contract was worth $250m. The Galaxy have just signed up Ashley Cole from Roma and Nigel de Jong from Milan. And can you blame them? Wouldn’t we all jump at the chance?
The MLS doesn’t quite have the names of the past, but with Gerrard, Cole, Keane, Drogba and Lampard, it’s a bit like a Premier League reunion. The names of Pirlo and David Villa must also be mentioned, as should the names of Thierry Henry and Patrick Viera, who played in the league a few years ago. Who will cross the Atlantic next and be lured by the bright lights, the money and the possibility of another year of playing?
The Americans don’t have it all their own way either when it comes to star names in their teams. The Chinese League is starting to look like the old NASL and unlike their American cousins, there are no such financial restraints in China.
Meanwhile, Stateside – have yourself a good retirement home out here. The Premier League? Missing you already – not.
