Steve Ralston, MLS original and New England Revolution great, has signed as NASL club AC St. Louis' first player signing.
Ralston's departure from the Revs, announced last week, came as a mild shock to many; through Ralston has been a linchpin of the Revolution midfield for the entirety of their history, he chose not to re-sign with the club. Now landing in his hometown of St. Louis, Ralston steps down to second division soccer.
“This is a day I always dreamed would happen,” said Ralston. “I think anyone who plays professional sports wants to play in their hometown. I am fortunate to get to do just that at this stage of my career. Obviously it is an exciting time for soccer in St. Louis since we now have our own professional team. I am honored to be the first player to become a part of this new franchise.”
The "why"'s seem fairly obvious. Besides the local ties Ralston has to St. Louis, he has coaching aspirations, and he's set to do double-duty with the new club as a player-assistant coach.
What is a major loss for the Revs heading into the 2010 season is a massive coup not only for St. Louis, but for their fledgling league as well. Ralston may not be a household name, and he's not flashy enough to garner attention beyond the hardcore American soccer fan; but as the all-time MLS assists and games played leader, he adds immediate credibility to NASL and AC St. Louis.
“Bringing a veteran leader into our team as a building block of our franchise is absolutely crucial for us,” stated AC St. Louis Chairman Jeff Cooper. “The fact that he grew up in St. Louis and is a well known name to sports fans here is just a bonus. It is not everyday you get to bring home a player that has played the most games in the history of the MLS.”
Ralston's situation is unique, and probably doesn't portend other established MLS players stepping down to Division II. But rarely, if ever, has the second division of American soccer had a player of Ralston's pedigree plying their trade there; whether today's signing is an indication of grand NASL intentions or just a one-off that gives the league a name player at one of their newest clubs (which therefore needs the boost Ralston gives them more than others) it's a noteworthy moment.
One has to wonder what MLS makes of this news.
