Soccer Blooms On U.S. Soil Major League Soccer Attracts Plenty Of Foreign-Born Talent

Major League Soccer has become a modern-day Ellis Island, a gateway into soccer’s New World for foreign-born players. They come with impressive resumes and are increasingly raising the stature of the fledgling MLS abroad.

“I had a good feeling about the United States,” says Dallas Burn midfielder Alain Sutter, a Swiss international who played two years in the German Bundesliga. “I cannot explain it. I felt good during the (1994) World Cup, it was such a positive atmosphere. Then it was something I feel after.”

That feeling has attracted 47 players from 23 countries on four continents, and they are not benchwarmers.

Nineteen of the 36 players taking the field at Giants Stadium on Wednesday night for the league’s second annual All-Star Game are foreign-born. Three of the league’s top four points leaders and three of the top four goal scorers are foreigners.

Americans have seen this soccer invasion before. But the last time, in the old North American Soccer League in the 1970s and ‘80s, there were virtually no limits and the players who arrived came because they couldn’t get starting jobs in their own countries.

Now, only five foreigners are allowed per team (it will return to four after 1999), and playing for a national team is nearly a necessity.

“In the early ‘70s, I went over and got foreigners that didn’t start at home,” Kansas City Wizards coach Ron Newman remembers. “Now, we go over get the Mo Johnstons. If you have not played for your country or if you don’t have a long, strong pedigree, you don’t make it here.”

Of the 47 foreigners in MLS, 35 have appeared in their national colors.

And while many of the foreigners have been brought in from countries or regions like Latin America to appeal to a specific segment of MLS fans, the cheers are as universal for a back-healed touch by Tampa Bay’s Colombian midfielder Carlos Valderrama as they are for goal by U.S. national team and San Jose Clash forward Eric Wynalda.

“They bring personality,” says New England and U.S. national team defender Alexi Lalas. “Not that American players don’t have personality, but they add spice to the mix. An American fan can always see an American player. Foreign players just add something extra, give it personality.”

They also bring credibility.

Two years ago, a transfer market for players from an American league was virtually non-existent.

But 1-1/2 years after MLS’ kickoff, a recent publication listed 10 players - seven of them foreigners - that teams from other countries would be willing to pay $1.1 million or more to acquire.

Admittedly, many of the foreign stars that have come to MLS are in the final stages of their careers. And the best players are out of the league’s price range. So don’t expect to see the likes of Liberian forward George Weah or Brazilian striker Ronaldo anytime soon. MLS’ budget and maximum salary of $192,000 a year make it impossible to attract a player like Ronaldo, who can command a transfer fee of more than $27 million before they start discussing salary.