Examining South America’s Influence On Major League Soccer

The transfer window is always an interesting barometer for the global game. Seeing who the buyers and sellers are can often given an indication for the health of the league, but also where players and their agents feel the best opportunity lies. Although this summer transfer window has provided some familiar storylines (aging European comes to MLS for one last paycheck) what has been fascinating to watch is the rise of young South Americans coming to the league.

Looking at the leagues recent signings from the region the trend seems to indicate teams are more interested in younger players for their upside or their re-sell value. Last week, F.C. Dallas signed River Plate’s Ezequel Cirigliano,22, who at one point was considered one of the top young defenders in the world. On Wednesday, the New York Red Bulls picked up Gonzalo Veron of San Lorenzo after he helped lead the team to the 2014 Copa Libertadores final. Meanwhile shortly before the deadline on Friday Seattle Sounders FC obtained Paraguayan international Nelson Valdez as a Designated Player. Each of these move points towards the league showing a better understanding of acquiring players who might not be names but can provide an immediate impact for the club.

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MLS has always had a good relationship with South American players. Growing up, my favorite soccer player was D.C. United’s Marco Etcheverry. The man known as El Diablo always seemed to have the final decisive pass that would break a defense or that last tackle to preserve a lead. He played with such a flair and style that was so foreign to the American style of soccer that he immediately became one of the best players in the league.

But much like with exports from Europe most of the South American players that would come to MLS were past their prime. Players like Etcheverry, Jaime Moreno, Carlos Valderrama, and Guillermo Barros Schelotto were all well into the primes of their career when they came to MLS and thus did not have that excitement that comes with finding a young player and watching them grow within the league.

Now this is not an indictment of South American football as so much as it points to MLS’ backwards policy on development. For years the league avoided youth academies and signing younger players in favor of picking up older, more established players. A decision based partially on funds, but also on the flawed notion that the college system could bring in quality young players there was sadly little room for young South American players in MLS.

But as the league has improved their youth academy structure and scouting abroad more opportunities have come for South Americans. It started with Freddy Montero, who came to the Seattle Sounders from Deportivo Cali in 2009. The Colombian attacker went on to score 47 goals for the Sounders before being shipped off to Sporting Lisbon in Portugal.

Since Montero’s arrival, players like FC Dallas’ Fabian Castillo, Real Salt Lake’s Joao Plata, Montreal Impact’s Ignacio Piatti, Vancouver Whitecaps’ Pedro Morales and Octavo Rivero have all come to the league and made an immediate impact with their clubs.

Why has MLS become a destination for South American players in their prime? It seems that the league has removed some of the negative baggage associated with it, that it is a league where players cannot improve and that it is somewhere that they should end their careers.

Job security and being paid on time are probably other key factors as well. South American club football is a very different environment than what exists here in the United States and Canada. Although there are certainly many upstanding clubs and supporters in the region, it is not uncommon for players not to be paid on time and for supporters to riot or become aggressive with the players. That is not to say that North American soccer do not have their own issues but that rather there is a certainly level of stability in MLS.

What is also interesting about the players coming over from South America is that they are coming from countries outside of Argentina and Brazil. For years the league has shifted from having an affinity towards Argentinians or Brazilians with a smattering of other countries being represented. But improved scouting efforts in the region, not to mention the Copa Libertadores now being shown live on television, have led to more opportunities for players from Chile, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.

Even some of the older players that have come to the league have helped improve the league’s credentials in South America. Of course the name that everyone will point to is Kaka, who has had a fantastic season for Orlando City SC. After having suffered through several injury-plagued years with Milan the Brazilian has come alive for the Purple Lions and helped the club stay afloat during their expansion season.

But the player who has arguably ad the most success during his time in the United States as of late is Columbus Crew SC’s Federico Higuain. Known throughout the world more likely as Gonzalo’s younger brother, Federico has served as the mentor and talisman for a young a Crew SC team that now looks primed to make a run at the MLS Cup.

The question now is how does the league build on their footprint in the region. The first initiative seems to be in television. The league signed a deal with Brazilian TV Channel Globosat this off-season to start showing two matches a week in Brazil. But beyond that matches are not widely shown in the continent. Better exposure via television and through the internet (matches can already be found there illegaly) will help increase the visibility of the league and show that it is a viable option for players and supporters.

Next: Sounders FC Snap Up Paraguayan International Nelson Valdez