http://www.fansfc.com/rangers\news.asp?newsid=120405 If this story can be believed: Everton Celtic Rangers Auxerre Lazio
Frankly I think it's more than merited that he's getting this kind of attention. I also believe that he's perfectly happy in LA, close to home, a fan favorite, and a big star in a league that's just his size. He is only 23 and has many good years left in him before he jumps the pond.
There is a quote from Ruiz on either the MLS or the LA board where he mentions there has been interest from Everton and another European team.
There's a Spanish language article where he says it's Everton, and he specificies the other team is also English. Everton doesn't make any sense to me; if you've got Rooney and Radzinski, why would you go for Ruiz? I'm not downgrading his ability, but his style doesn't seem to fit there.
His style would fit most anywhere. The guy can flat out play. He's underrated in the air around the goal, he has great agility, he puts the ball on frame when given a half chance and he's a solid athlete. I'm sure there will be some here who downplay his success because it came in MLS. Yeah, whatever. Just look at some of the goals he scored. He picks the ball out of the air just fine and unless the air makes the ball move different in Europe there's zero reason to believe he can't be successful there assuming he can adapt culturally.
He's essentially a Mo Johnston style player. Absolutely no regard for his own safety when it comes to getting the ball in the back of the net. What's not to like?
In England's work permit rules for foreign players, in addition to the 75% starts for your national team in "A" games for the previous two years, it also states that the national team must be ranked 75th or higher in FIFA's world rankings. Guatemala is currently 78th, I believe. I guess he hopes his nats have a good year if he's interested in England.
The Fish? Pardon my naiveté, but "The fish" moniker intrigues me. Fish=Pond Jumper? Fish=Flopper? Fish=Smells like a dead carp? Where does that nickname come from?
Everton? Why Not? This stuff goes in cycles ... MLS gets no respect, then you get some MLS guys scoring goals at the World Cup and McBride knocking in one for Everton and boom, now the pack is scouring MLS for bargains. At any rate, if McBride is good enough to help out Everton in a pinch, Ruiz is good enough to help them even when they get some of their guys back. He's definitely better than McBride. Which is no knock on Brian, Ruiz is the best all-around striker MLS ever had. And he's 23. For a guy who's, what, 5' 9"?, Ruiz has a heck of an air game, too. Basically, the guy is too good for MLS. I'd love to have him in the league for another year, but I'm not counting on it.
How much longer is he under contract for? Hopefully MLS will be able to get some cash when he goes overseas, instead of holding on to him until his contract is over and then he goes away with no transfer fee to MLS. The Quake fan in me wants to see him sold ASAP , but if it's good for the league for him to stay another year or two and continue tearing things up so he draws a bigger transfer fee when he does go, then that's OK too.
s I'm sorry sir, but you've already exceeded your quota of sarcasm for one day. I'm gonna have to ask you to tone it down. Sheesh, I thought I was facetious. geez.
I also remember reading about the 75th or higher ranking. And FIFA agrees with you and has Guatamala ranked 78th currently.
These "rules" can be appealed and even McBride did not qualify by the letter of the law but sometimes they just let things slide for various reasons. McBride did not have 75% for the 1st year in the qualifying two years but did last year. The fact that he was injured during a large part of that year made him acceptable and without an appeal. Ruiz's agent could argue on some grounds also, perhaps.. "This FIFA poll is mostly voted on by a bunch of Eurosnobs and it is mostly BS!!" That would likely do it! (joking)
Perhaps you're right, but this article from Nov. 2002 indicates otherwise: http://www.pe.com/sports/other/stories/PE_SP_ngalaxy26.e7df.html Maybe the contract is for 3 more years with an option for a 4th.
Re: The Fish? His spanish nickname, Pescadito, translates to "little fish" in english. He earned it in Guatemala, might be best to ask someone from there for more details. Or you could do a web search for "Carlos Ruiz" Pescadito, language Spanish.
I think it's top 70, not top 75. Guatemala misses either way, but if it's 70, they're a bit further. You can get around it on appeal, if the player is of sufficient stature. George Weah, for example. But it's gonna be tough for Ruiz at this stage of his career.