Argentina, Colombia, England, Honduras, Jamaica, South Africa, Yugoslavia and the United States. From those countries hail the starters of the Miami Fusion, the most successful and entertaining MLS team of 2001.
Three of the foreign-born players are U.S. citizens. Preki grew up in Yugoslavia and Carlos Llamosa in Colombia. Pablo Mastroeni immigrated at age 4 but plays the kind of ball – a combination of skill and grit – that his native Argentina is famous for.
Coach Ray Hudson has accomplished what has become the primary challenge facing the modern soccer coach: creating a team by combining individuals with a variety of styles.
With the exception of clubs in Brazil, where domestic talent is such that importing players is hardly necessary, the world’s best teams are a combination of nationalities.
In this year’s Champions League final, Germany’s Bayern Munich started four Germans, two Frenchmen, a Ghanaian, a Canadian, a Brazilian, a Swede and a Bosnian. Bayern defeated Spain’s Valencia, which fielded players from six nations.
The English Premier League has opened the floodgates to non-British players, and few would argue that it hasn’t raised the level of play. Italian and French clubs had been adding foreign spice to their lineups long before the EU tore down the borders.
Why do nations that are successful at producing their own talent import so heavily? Because a combination of players from different soccer cultures can create some of the most effective and creative teams.
Coaches in rich leagues can spend freely, discard players at the first sign of failure and purchase new ones.
MLS coaches often get unproven, inexpensive imports or talent that couldn’t settle in elsewhere. Some complain about the lack of freedom to sign their dream players. Others take the hand they’re dealt and produce winning soccer that’s worth the price of admission.
by Soccer America Executive Editor Mike Woitalla