It seems like this kind of changed overnight. I wrote something to sort of examine that. Check it out if you’ve got a couple minutes to spare. American Canary, German Coal Mine
i would say in europe as whole it basically still is...but in some countries it is not like germany...... in italy, portugal, spain, france england (because of work permit rules not bias), it is still a huge handicap....
I’ll give you the work permit thing, but at this point I think most teams in Europe would love to have an American aboard. Scotland looks like the next to really take the plunge to me.
portugal spain france italy NO WAY - but other countries, sure. unfortunately those are some of the best soccer countries in europe... and UK isnt really europe to me anyway....
Yeah, until we see Americans starting in La Liga, Ligue 1, and Serie A I don't think we've reached worldwide respect. For the longest time Americans have been viewed as bargain players who will work hard without the same level of technical quality that the rest of the league has. Has that really changed? The article seems to say yes but I'd like to see examples of technical players we're producing in Europe. Pulisic is one, sure, but he's a massive outlier. Most of our exports still have below replacement level technical ability.
Despite their winning the Cup, the French league is overrated and continues to be. PSG is the big exception. Spain, except for Real & Atletico Madrid, and Barcelona aren't that deep. Juventus especially with Ronaldo now dominate Italy's league. I really don't know how good Portugal is.
It's not. And I say this as someone who kind of enjoys watching it. To be really oversimplistic, it's basically Benfica+Porto, then Sporting, then maybe Braga, then 14 teams fighting each other to avoid relegation in mostly-empty stadiums.
The big difference now is that we are actually producing players who are ready to compete at clubs at the best leagues at young ages. And American players are cheap bargains since if you get them before they sign a pro contract in MLS you can get them for basically nothing. So it is a low risk potentially high reward investment. But, German and Dutch clubs are more likely to take that chance since there is not really any foreign player restrictions in those countries. In England there is work permits and most European countries there is a limit in the amount of Non-EU players you can sign. And Americans are going to gravitate towards Germany since it is a country where almost everyone speaks English, the clubs are willing to give chances to unproven players and there is a long history between German and American Soccer.
When we have guys starting at decent clubs in Spain and Italy; then we made it. Germany has always been rather receptive to our boys. And England has been very difficult, but loads of our boys have played there. And it made it easier and easier for the next. but when we have some Yanks in Italy; I feel that's when we have fully been won over.
Fun fact: 8 of 18 teams are either in or within 3 points of the relegation zone right now. If Maritimo hadn't come back from 2-0 down to win 3-2 yesterday it'd be half the league.
As a former Philly STH who now lives in Chicago and whose family lives in Colorado after previously living in Florida and Boston, we're more there than you'd think. /Was born in Minnesota, but who knows, they might actually be decent this year.