JOB gets a small plug in this article by CNNSI's Marcotti. Overall it's a nice recognition of the talent factory in Amsterdam. On the same note, can anyone out there list any reasons why the Dutch league isn't or wouldn't be a frequent destination for Yanks Abroad in the future. Just curious. Apologies if this has been posted before. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/inside_game/gabriele_marcotti/news/2003/02/20/marcotti_insider/
the lack of americans playing in holland baffles me as well. it is a good league, but not world class and i know many of our best players could start and even star there. there are no strict work permit regulations so what is the deal?
A player has to be very technical and tactical to get a look in Holland, and especially among the big clubs. Germans will take a player based more on athleticism, figuring that the player will develop the tactical part out and that the technical consistency will happen over time IMHO. The smaller clubs in Holland can't afford to pay Yanks also. I think they have a non-EU rule that says that non-EU players have to have a high minimum salary requirement, much higher than EU players. To answer your question, it's an economic situation IMHO. Smaller country, smaller league, less population and less revenue. Great development league, and we are seeing with Ajax that if they get the right formula of players they can compete with the big boys at times.
True a non EU player must earn 500k€ a year which is much higher then the 127k or something the EU set for non EU players.
This is just from memory, but that was 500K NLG (Guilders) just a couple of years ago. 500K Euro is doubling of that figure. Are you sure that is right?
minimum in holland. true, a good reason why more americans are not playing in the dutch leagues is the minimum salary they must be paid. when i was there we were told that the minimum a non-EU player had to be paid was around 350K american dollars. so, barring a high profile american player with a substantial resume or national apperances, the dutch would rather shell out their dough to a domestic player of equal quality, and pay out only for 'high profile' players, or even their own. makes sense, protects their own players and only allows quality players to earn their money. we'll begin to see more americans playing there in the near future, as we continue to develop better players, both technically and tactically, IMO.....unless they all stay here in the states and boost the MLS.....