http://fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfootball/news/newsid=682019.html#fulham+offers+american+refuge -------- Fulham offers American refuge (FIFA.com) Thursday 31 January 2008 For over two centuries, the USA has stood as a beacon for European immigrants in search of increased opportunity and personal freedom. It seems, though, that in the world of football at least, the favour is not one readily returned. Wild-haired, guitar-plucking defender Alexi Lalas is still the only American to have plied his trade in Italy's Serie A. Danny Szetela is his only countryman in Spain's La Liga, and he has yet to make his league debut for Racing Santander, while Benfica recently made Freddy Adu the sole American working in Portugal's top flight. Germany, Scandinavia and the Netherlands are exceptions to the rule of US exemption, but even in those friendly ports American players are few and far between. There is, however, one rather gleaming example of a club in a major European League where Americans are more than welcome... -------- Photo Gallery: Fulham's five Americans http://fifa.com/newscentre/photogallery/gallery=681707.html#626957