Couldn’t find a thread on this yet (at least in the MLS section). First off I’m not the kind of guy to start wildy speculative rumors out of thin air, so this is not a "George Weah to MLS?"-type thread. The background is, Effe has apparently just dissolved his contract at Wolfsburg after a fight with new coach Jürgen Röber (who apparently told him to lose weight). According to German news reports, he is currently vacationing in Florida and has been quoted as saying "I will never again play in the Bundesliga." We know he and his wife love the U.S. and that he’s talked favorably of MLS in the past. So if Effe ends up in MLS, I for one won’t be surprised. BTW, he’s played very well for Wolfsburg this season and is definitely not (yet) washed up.
Allow me to be the first to invoke MLS' new motto: Talent, Not Tourists. ( https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?postid=920940#post920940 )
I've been flipped off by opposing players and fans enough times. I don't need a player on my own team flipping me off.
I don't think there's anything about it. He's usually doing his vacation in Florida, so that's nothing uncommon. Also, he's injured and didn't play a single game since Röber was hired in Wolfsburg. At the beginning of the season he indeed was very good and still one of the best players in one on one stats, but his performances got worse in the last games. I also thought about the possibility of going to MLS and probably Effenberg wouldn't say no, but I don't think it'll become reality. In contrast to Matthäus one thing would be definite though: Effenberg is no tourist, he wants to win every game - but he's definitely everything but a diplomat towards fans, media and time and again even own players.
Just found this: Effenberg flew to Fort Myers with his girlfriend Claudia Strunz (Little escape to German yellow press: the families Effenberg and Strunz were always good friends, and after some time Stefan E. and Claudia S. were more than that. When this got to the public, these two lost Martina E. and Thomas S. as friends. Irony in this matter: Martina E. lives in Florida with the three kids she has together with Stefan E. - family reunion of the special kind ). Anyway, Effenberg wants to make Florida the center of his life and leave Germany entirely. He has some offers, but could also imagine to quit his career. "I have earned very well over the last years and don't have to worry about my existence." Next to that also his biography will enter the book stores in six weeks. Effenberg spoke about maybe changing to the management of some club, but Ottmar Hitzfeld spoke with him and said that somewhere he will continue his player career and not quit now. Also Hannover's GM said that he would sign Effenberg, but Stefan definitely excluded a further team in Bundesliga.
And today in the news... Effenberg has a Green Card and would not even occupy a foreigner spot in MLS. But: he wants a break now and doesn't want to start that quickly. Because of that he thinks about Qatar in September or October.