MLS may always be a "retirement home" for European stars, and that's okay

“How old is he?”

This was the archetypical Major League Soccer transfer question articulated by theScore’s Joseph Casciaro shortly after rumours surfaced that Manchester City’s 31 year-old bench warming English defender Joleon Lescott would be travelling overseas to help out the Portland Timbers.

This news follows reports linking former Chelsea midfielder and England veteran Frank Lampard, 35,  to New York City FC. Should he make the move, he’ll join former Atletico Madrid and Barcelona striker David Villa, 32.  

This latest round of incoming designated players will no doubt feed into the perception of MLS as a retirement home for past-it European stars. Earlier this year Chelsea striker Samuel Eto’o articulated the prevailing mood in Europe regarding the American top flight when speaking of his post-Stamford Bridge future:

"I have proven that I could do better than youths. And I wish to also say that I am not going to the United States or to the Middle East. I will continue at the top level.”

There is a theory in MLS circles which maintains that the league won’t properly compete with Europe unless it stops signing aging European stars and starts focusing on developing young talent.

This, however, is a false dilemma. Major League Soccer clubs don’t necessarily sign DPs at the expense of younger, equally talented stars. Moreover there is an argument to be made for letting prospects play against or alongside waning greats to improve their form.

The thing is, courting older stars isn’t some sort of conscious strategy on the part of the league politburo. It’s borne out of economic necessity. MLS is not and perhaps never will be among the best leagues in the world, despite commissioner Don Garber’s bullish prediction for 2022.

The league competes in a packed North American pro sports market, and while average attendances are admirable -- third best of all pro leagues in the U.S. and eighth best among pro soccer leagues around the world -- MLS TV ratings are dismal. U.S. NHL games garner triple the TV audience of MLS matches. And ratings fuel the biggest source of income in world football—broadcast rights.

While a new, speculative $90 million, eight year TV deal struck last month with Univision, ESPN and Fox worth five times the previous one may lead to a slight loosening of the maximum team wage bill (currently $3,100,000 per club), as it stands MLS doesn’t have the budget to compete for players in their prime. There is simply no way to sugarcoat this. It is what it is. MLS simply cannot does not have the financial means to compete with European clubs for top talent.

In order to mitigate this MLS developed the designated player rule, allowing clubs to sign up to three players above the maximum club budget. Yet without the threat of relegation and with very limited space available on club rosters, teams are more inclined to spend DP money on a brand-friendly name who will up attendance and attract sponsors. Additionally, because MLS isn’t as competitive as European leagues, it also must pay more money for less talent.  

There are some people (google Ted Westervelt) who think the solution to all this would be to establish an American top flight with promotion/relegation and (presumably) no rules on transfer spending, similar to the European model. The theory goes that soccer would grow exponentially in the USA if club investors were allowed to spend as much as they’d like to build teams to compete with the best Europe has to offer, eventually justifying the enormous initial outlay required to make this possible. Imagine a team based in New York poaching Messi, Ibra or Ronaldo.

There are many reasons why this is impractical, financially reckless, and built on a wildly optimistic premise about the nature of sports fandom in the U.S.A. Even so, no one could say definitely it wouldn’t “work.”

Here in the real world, MLS and US soccer might focus on player development, so that while the league itself may not be the best of the best, it might at least one day produce the best players.

Even here the task is monumental, and in some ways beyond the scope of MLS. Player development isn’t an exact science, but it requires widespread interest, lots of avenues for prospective players to start a career, and world class coaching at every level. The US seems to be moving in the right direction, but it’s not going to become Spain overnight.

For now, the “retirement home” reputation may diminish, but it won’t disappear. And that’s okay.