Soccer House, Chicago
A Special Series By Rob Luker
This is the third installment in a four part series by Clarkson University business student Rob Luker. You can read Part I, American Soccer Ambitions, here, and Part II, The Role of MLS, here.
Part III: The Role of USSF
If Soccer is the product here and MLS is going to be considered the sales department (considering the USMNT doesn’t have to be pushed, really); then what is the United States Soccer Federation’s role in all of this? The USSF has never really been vocal in its governing position of soccer here in the US, and it doesn’t have to be. To me, the USSF is the human resource department of the US soccer business scene. They have to make sure everything is in line and legal, all while sifting through candidates for hire when necessary. Their most famous position, naturally, is head coach of the United States Men’s National Team. This will not be the stage to discuss whether or not Bob Bradley deserves to be the head coach of the USMNT, but if a quick exit comes next June then we may see the position open up.
See the USMNT needs MLS just as much as the MLS needs the USMNT to do well on the pitch to keep soccer in the limelight. The top players for our nation spent some amount of time in MLS, and Landon Donovan, arguably one of the most talented outfielders along with Dempsey, is the American star of MLS. If player development is to be taken seriously in this nation then the USSF must step in and give MLS some sort of incentive to invest in the long term and look away from attempting to buy ready-made talent from outside North America. Right now, this deal seems pretty sweet for MLS, as more American youngsters would be developed properly and MLS would reap the benefits. But, at the same time, the USMNT would see the return on the investment when they make their move to Europe. By insisting on a proper youth system through MLS, the USSF would be molding MLS into a stepping stone for the Premier League, La Liga, and Serie A. This way, the quality of play in MLS would rise with time along with increasing the value of American soccer talent and the league in general, and in turn attract other players looking to make a name for themselves to MLS. From a European coach and management standpoint, I would want them to think of MLS as a fast and physical league; and if a player can prove himself in MLS then the transition should be less difficult into top leagues.
The USSF must also back MLS against FIFA and Sepp Blatter, who over the summer suggested that MLS needs to switch to the traditional November to March schedule that most European leagues follow. This isn’t really debatable in my mind because from November through March cities like Chicago, Boston, Toronto, and even Washington as we have found out recently can resemble Moscow in a weekend’s time. Whether or not future American or International stars would be willing to play in a league which plays an offseason schedule for the most part is something no one knows; but that shouldn’t be USSF’s and MLS’ concern.
With due diligence and time the USSF and MLS can reap major benefits from a proper youth system. The USSF might be under more pressure than MLS because soccer, for the average American sports fan, will only be interesting if the USMNT. If the spotty youth system and constant departure of promising young American talent to lesser leagues continues it will not be MLS to blame but the USSF for not taking care of its own business; which is American soccer as a whole. In the final part of the series, I’ll tell you how I think all of this can happen.
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