Pele: New York Cosmos
Arguably the world's greatest footballer of all time joined the Cosmos from Santos in 1975 and enjoyed two fruitful seasons with the club, making 64 appearances and scoring 37 goals. At the time of signing for Cosmos, who along with LA galaxy has attracted the bulk of stars to the States, the Brazilian was semi-retired, having spent the last two years making only occasional appearances for Santos. Though his time at Cosmos found him in the twilight of his career, he hadn't lost any of his beguiling skill and prior to the advent of the celebrity footballer, did more for raising the profile of American soccer than any other.
Arguably the world's greatest footballer of all time joined the Cosmos from Santos in 1975 and enjoyed two fruitful seasons with the club, making 64 appearances and scoring 37 goals. At the time of signing for Cosmos, who along with LA galaxy has attracted the bulk of stars to the States, the Brazilian was semi-retired, having spent the last two years making only occasional appearances for Santos. Though his time at Cosmos found him in the twilight of his career, he hadn't lost any of his beguiling skill and prior to the advent of the celebrity footballer, did more for raising the profile of American soccer than any other.
George Best: Los Angeles Aztecs and San Jose Earthquakes
Best had an interesting time in America, spending two brief spells with the Los Angeles Aztecs, (separated by two seasons in Fulham) and a year playing for San Jose Earthquakes, both indoors and outdoors. After leaving Manchester United in 1974, Best had represented four clubs, including loans spells at Jewish Guild and Dunstable Town, by the time he signed for the Aztecs two years later. However, if plummeting down the leagues had knocked his confidence, it didn't show on the pitch. Best played for the Aztects 55 times in total and scored 27 goals and his record for the Earthquakes was even more remarkable, while in the great outdoors he scored 28 goals in 56 games and when the football moved indoors he scored 25 in 16.
Best had an interesting time in America, spending two brief spells with the Los Angeles Aztecs, (separated by two seasons in Fulham) and a year playing for San Jose Earthquakes, both indoors and outdoors. After leaving Manchester United in 1974, Best had represented four clubs, including loans spells at Jewish Guild and Dunstable Town, by the time he signed for the Aztecs two years later. However, if plummeting down the leagues had knocked his confidence, it didn't show on the pitch. Best played for the Aztects 55 times in total and scored 27 goals and his record for the Earthquakes was even more remarkable, while in the great outdoors he scored 28 goals in 56 games and when the football moved indoors he scored 25 in 16.
Bobby Moore: San Antonio Thunder and Seattle Sounders
Another player to play for two clubs during his time in the States, one struggles to imagine Bobby Moore playing in America, such is his status as an English footballing icon. Maybe Moore himself struggled with the idea as the boy from Barking, who played in every minute of his 108 games for England made 27 appearances for San Antonio Thunder, in his one year at the club, and just seven for the Seattle Sounders two years later.
Another player to play for two clubs during his time in the States, one struggles to imagine Bobby Moore playing in America, such is his status as an English footballing icon. Maybe Moore himself struggled with the idea as the boy from Barking, who played in every minute of his 108 games for England made 27 appearances for San Antonio Thunder, in his one year at the club, and just seven for the Seattle Sounders two years later.
Franz Beckenbauer: New York Cosmos
Prior to his time in America, Beckenbauer had been a one man club; having spent the last 13 years with Bayern Munich (18 if you include his time in their academy), but a lucrative contract with the New York Cosmos was enough to tempt him State side. It proved to be money well spent for the New Yorkers as Beckenbauer helped Cosmos to three 'Soccer Bowl's' during his four seasons with the club.
Prior to his time in America, Beckenbauer had been a one man club; having spent the last 13 years with Bayern Munich (18 if you include his time in their academy), but a lucrative contract with the New York Cosmos was enough to tempt him State side. It proved to be money well spent for the New Yorkers as Beckenbauer helped Cosmos to three 'Soccer Bowl's' during his four seasons with the club.
David Beckham: LA Galaxy
Beckham's arrival at LA Galaxy in 2007 generated huge national interest among Americans, perhaps more familiar with Beckham as a brand than a footballer. Few transfers in living memory created such a furore, not least because by signing for Galaxy Beckham's five-year contract is expected to make him £128m through wages alone. Beckham maintains that his motivation for playing in the MLS (Major League Soccer) is to raise the profile of the beautiful game ala Pele, a sentiment particularly noble given that its relegated him to the margins of the England national team.
Beckham's arrival at LA Galaxy in 2007 generated huge national interest among Americans, perhaps more familiar with Beckham as a brand than a footballer. Few transfers in living memory created such a furore, not least because by signing for Galaxy Beckham's five-year contract is expected to make him £128m through wages alone. Beckham maintains that his motivation for playing in the MLS (Major League Soccer) is to raise the profile of the beautiful game ala Pele, a sentiment particularly noble given that its relegated him to the margins of the England national team.
Thierry Henry: New York Red Bulls
From Barcelona and a club that made no money from previous sponsors UNICEF, Henry now finds himself playing for the New York Red Bulls. Since signing for the Bulls in 2010, Henry has made 28 appearances and scored 12 goals. Less impressive however were the antics that saw him fined $2,000 after being found guilty of reckless play after injuring Kevin Hartman while celebrating a goal during a game against FC Dallas on 16 September 2010.
From Barcelona and a club that made no money from previous sponsors UNICEF, Henry now finds himself playing for the New York Red Bulls. Since signing for the Bulls in 2010, Henry has made 28 appearances and scored 12 goals. Less impressive however were the antics that saw him fined $2,000 after being found guilty of reckless play after injuring Kevin Hartman while celebrating a goal during a game against FC Dallas on 16 September 2010.
Darren Huckerby: San Jose Earthquakes
Darren Huckerby may not be classed in the same league as Best and Beckenbauer by most, but not by KRON sports anchor Gary Radnich, who in an interview with Huckerby described the player from 'Nor Folk' as a 'legend', on several occasions. Huckerby averaged one goal every three games while with the Earthquakes, finishing on 9 goals in 27 appearances during his one season in San Jose in 2008/9.
Darren Huckerby may not be classed in the same league as Best and Beckenbauer by most, but not by KRON sports anchor Gary Radnich, who in an interview with Huckerby described the player from 'Nor Folk' as a 'legend', on several occasions. Huckerby averaged one goal every three games while with the Earthquakes, finishing on 9 goals in 27 appearances during his one season in San Jose in 2008/9.
Trevor Francis: Detroit Express
Francis jumped on the Detroit Express, on loan from Birmingham City in the 1978/9 season and scored a remarkable 39 goals in 38 games. With sunny climbs and such a prolific goal scoring record, it's hard to imagine that Francis wouldn't have tried to forge a career in America. He didn't however, and returned to England and signed for Nottingham Forest after his one and only season in the States.
Francis jumped on the Detroit Express, on loan from Birmingham City in the 1978/9 season and scored a remarkable 39 goals in 38 games. With sunny climbs and such a prolific goal scoring record, it's hard to imagine that Francis wouldn't have tried to forge a career in America. He didn't however, and returned to England and signed for Nottingham Forest after his one and only season in the States.
Juan Pablo Ángel: LA Galaxy and New York Red Bulls
Angel averaged a little over a goal every other game during his three years at the New York Red Bulls, scoring 58 goals in 102 appearances between 2007-10. Angel, who is a seasoned globe trotter having played in Columbia, Argentina, England and now America, moved to Bulls' rivals LA Galaxy at the beginning of the 2011/12 season and has had to settle for a less prolific goal-scoring record thus far, netting just 3 times in 22 appearances. Followers of the Premier League will most likely remember Angel for his time at Aston Villa, when he was perhaps at the peak of his powers.
Angel averaged a little over a goal every other game during his three years at the New York Red Bulls, scoring 58 goals in 102 appearances between 2007-10. Angel, who is a seasoned globe trotter having played in Columbia, Argentina, England and now America, moved to Bulls' rivals LA Galaxy at the beginning of the 2011/12 season and has had to settle for a less prolific goal-scoring record thus far, netting just 3 times in 22 appearances. Followers of the Premier League will most likely remember Angel for his time at Aston Villa, when he was perhaps at the peak of his powers.
Giorgio Chinaglia: New York Cosmos
After starting his professional career with two seasons at Swansea, maybe it was the sunny climbs that saw Chinaglia spend nine years of his playing days in New York. After a spell with Lazio that saw him break into the Italian national team, Chinaglia went across the pond. But if it was in search of sunnier climbs, he may have been disappointed seeing as four of these years were spent playing indoors. Playing outdoors between 1976-1983 he scored 193 in 213 appearances and indoors between 1981-2 scored 35 in 17.
After starting his professional career with two seasons at Swansea, maybe it was the sunny climbs that saw Chinaglia spend nine years of his playing days in New York. After a spell with Lazio that saw him break into the Italian national team, Chinaglia went across the pond. But if it was in search of sunnier climbs, he may have been disappointed seeing as four of these years were spent playing indoors. Playing outdoors between 1976-1983 he scored 193 in 213 appearances and indoors between 1981-2 scored 35 in 17.
Terry Cooke: Colorado Rapids and North Queensland Fury
Currently without a club, Terry Cooke, who made four appearances in five years with Manchester United between 1994-1999, is included here for the ten he made for North Queensland Fury in the 2009/10 season and the 106 he made for Colorado Rapids in the four years between 2005-9.
Currently without a club, Terry Cooke, who made four appearances in five years with Manchester United between 1994-1999, is included here for the ten he made for North Queensland Fury in the 2009/10 season and the 106 he made for Colorado Rapids in the four years between 2005-9.
Ruud Gullit: LA Galaxy
Not only has it been on the playing side of things that the star names have infiltrated US soccer. Ruud Gullit's inimitable brand of 'sexy football' would only survive a single season in LA as he managed the Galaxy through a distinctly mediocre campaign. Winning just 50 per cent of the 12 games he took charge of, Gullit was gone.
Not only has it been on the playing side of things that the star names have infiltrated US soccer. Ruud Gullit's inimitable brand of 'sexy football' would only survive a single season in LA as he managed the Galaxy through a distinctly mediocre campaign. Winning just 50 per cent of the 12 games he took charge of, Gullit was gone.
Eric Cantona: New York Cosmos
If he's not being helped through his lines by directors, he's directing the soccer affairs of the New York Cosmos. Eric Cantona somehow seems well suited to the glamour of New York, but what he will be doing as 'director of soccer', one of the sports more non-descript titles remains to be seen. Having only taken up the post at the start of the new season, the jury's still out.
If he's not being helped through his lines by directors, he's directing the soccer affairs of the New York Cosmos. Eric Cantona somehow seems well suited to the glamour of New York, but what he will be doing as 'director of soccer', one of the sports more non-descript titles remains to be seen. Having only taken up the post at the start of the new season, the jury's still out.
