Probably a variety of reasons, but for the most part I would assume.... (not necessarily in any order) 1) Language 2) Not a massive pay increase 3) Mexican and South American teams don't seem to go searching for foreign talent There are probably others, but those would be some reasons.
True enough. I misread the original post and thought it asked why we didn't have MANY americans playing in mexico or south america. Looking back I see it says "any". So...... just realize there ARE Americans playing in at least some Mexican and South American teams. By the way..... here's a link to one of the relatively recent updated lists from the amazing and talented DMN https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showpost.php?p=7389149&postcount=66 This is just a single post from the thread that's stickied at the top of the YA board.
i should have used 'many' instead of any. i figured that there were probably a couple guys who were already playing down there.
It seems like there are an increasing # of american youth in mexico. It seems like several of them are trying to get on with the mex nat teams though based on some of the posts on the youth board.
Other than playing in the UK, is language really the reason Yanks don't consider playing in CA and SA Spanish-speaking nations? I don't think it's nearly as big a factor as #s 2 and 3. Justified or otherwise, toss in possible perceptions of the relative safety in some CA and SA nations relative to Europe. At least for now, Spanish is the most frequent foreign language taught in US junior and senior high schools. In most of the US, we're exposed to more Spanish than any other foreign language (people, TV, movies, etc.). Finally, most Nortes Americanos generally view Spanish as easier to learn than German, Dutch, French, even Italian and Portuguese, and other languages spoken in European nations they generally consider as options. Playing style and other considerations aside, it's surprising to me that more Yanks don't try to play in Spain.
The pay in SA sucks unless you're a superstar. Mexico is viewed as a lateral league to the MLS, not like Mexico is going to win the WC anytime soon, eh? The pay in the Spanish league is not that great outside of the big teams either from what I hear, and generally a player has to be supremely technical to play in that league. The U.S. does not produce many supremely technical players.
Good question....I've never understood why americans don't play in the Mexican League. The poster who said that the Mexi League is level with the MLS is smoking something. Level of play is higher....and pay is WAY higher also. Only thing I can think of is that us Americans are so Eurocentric that we shy away from the more "unknown". Even though Europe is across the pond...more Europeans speak English...and seem to be more a more like minded people culturally. Think about it though....Mexico is a short plane ride away from any US city...good level of play...the poster that said Spanish is an easy language was correct (I'm bilingual...learned Spanish at age 23)....good pay. And...fans are WAY more passionate about soccer..without the problems of hooliganism and ultra-crazy groups that we see in Europe. The Mexican League is a really great league in all aspects. I can only think of two legit reasons that more Americans don't play in Mexico...one...security reasons. Kidnappings are rising..so is crime. Americans are popular targets. And....pure speculation....Mexican clubs don't want to sign Americans.....and Americans don't want to play in Mexico. Kind of a mutual disrespect....one that is unfortunate.
We did have several USA players in Mexico prior to MLS starting up.... Marcelo Balboa (Leon) Kle Cooiman (sp?) played somewhere in Mexico I believe Tab Ramos (Tigres)....he also played in Spain (Figueres and Real Betis) Mike Sorber (UNAM Pumas) Christopher Sullivan (Yucatan) Daniel Hernandez played in Mexico just a year or two ago (not sure who with). Hugo Perez played in El Salvador at some point in his career. Alexi Lalas was loaned to Emelec (in Ecuador) in 1997. Roy Lassiter spent several seasons in Costa Rica. Goalkeeper Johnny Walker played for many years down in Chile (U. Catolica) Cobi Jones played in Brasil (for Vasco De Gama) at some point. Also, I believe Eric Wynalda was loaned to Emelec, or maybe a club in Bolivia, around the same time Lalas was down there.
Comparison of the two leagues (with quotes from Dominic Kinnear, formerly of Necaxa): http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/davis/3572571.html Also, Cle Kooiman captained Cruz Azul: http://www.soccerhall.org/Monthly Column/MC.July.2004.htm (in Spanish): http://www.univision.com/content/content.jhtml?cid=78295 (Article also mentions Sorber, Scott Benedetti, and Richard Allan Adams) Hernandez played for Necaxa: http://www.nhsoccer.com/rev/roster/hernandez.htm Roy Lassiter played at Turrialba, Carmelita, and Alajuela: http://www.ussoccerplayers.com/players/roy_lassiter/ Wynalda was loaned to Club Léon: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Wynalda
Does the Mexican League have a limit on foreigners? I noticed that a work permit can be obtained if you have a job offer. http://www.mexperience.com/liveandwork/immigration.htm#Artists
There's a limit on foreigners: https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showpost.php?p=6568706#post14 Discussion starting on message #8 of this thread: https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=292221
Since it might be relevant....or maybe it belong s to the youth forum too.... the article here http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/14351355.htm mentions in hte last paragraph.... "The U.S. men's Under-20 team is going to Argentina next week for three exhibition games. Among the players on the roster are two South Floridians -- 16-year-old Josmer Altidore of Boca Raton, who plays for the MLS Red Bulls in New York, and 18-year-old Nicolas Torres, a Miami resident, who plays in Argentina for second-division Club Deportivo Espanol." if anyone has more info on the player....position he plays.... I mean Gomez -not a bad player- was breought to DCU from the Argie second division, no?
If so, it was just a downturn in his luck ... relegation, maybe? He spent several years in Argentina's first division wearing a #10 jersey.
No listing of him here (but this site may not have been updated): http://www.universofutbol.com.ar/argentinaextranjeros.htm Martín Alejandro Ferrario's in Argentina: https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=252765
We're talking about Christian Gomez, who is an Argentinian in MLS. FWIW, he joined DC in summer 2004, after playing the 2003-04 season for Argentinian club Arsenal, for whom he scored six goals. In both halves of that year, Arsenal finished 7th in Argentina's first division.
No, I was looking for Nicolas Torres. This website - I can't tell if it's the club's official website - doesn't list him: http://www.la55.com.ar/plantel.htm
Yeah, I somehow forgot what the thread was really about. BTW, I couldn't track down any info on Torres, either.
This sounds interesting ("El líder Tigre también pasó a Temperley: 3-2") http://www.ole.clarin.com/jsp/v3/pagina.jsp?pagId=934450 Edit: It's from March 2005, though. Torres would have been just 17 then.
Considering that they break 'em in young down there, that seems about right. I couldn't find any reports that were older than that one but did see several that were more recent. Here's a list of second-division squads which confirms that there's a midfielder named Nicolas Torres on Tigre. http://www.soy-quemero.com.ar/grandt/planteles.htm
Found the Tigre club page. Their Nicolas Torres is 22 years old: http://www.clubtigre.com/web/futbol.php?qid=1
I didn't say that the level of play was considered the same just that the jump itself is seen as a lateral move. The best players in the world play in the European leagues, and that is just a fact.