Marketing move or league improvement strategy: David Beckham may not be the only face Japanese soccer fans recognize in MLS next year, says the Japan Times, as former national team players Takashi Hirano and Takuya Yamada recently held trials with the New England Revolution.
In the end, the Revs decided not to take either player, but a Japanese marketing executive, Takehito Nakamura, who, according to the Japanese Times, works in international business for MLS marketing arm Soccer United Marketing, orchestrated the tryouts.
Some might point that it makes little difference who brings players into the league, as long as it gets better players and more exposure. Japan, through Nakamura, has now become another outlet for bringing in players. “My task is to engage Asia to the MLS and export the MLS to Asia,” he told the paper, adding that he’ll continue to get Japanese players trials with MLS clubs. Asked whether he’s in charge of scouting for SUM, Nakamura responded, “We don’t do scouting, it is more to do with relationships and business.”