Young Americans: Transfers and Lost Dollars

Now here opens a can of worms in American soccer. Just how good are the USA players, how good the system producing them and how proficient the coaches developing their skills? I do not purport to be an expert coach or skilled manager but all I know is that I have followed and watched soccer for over 45 years, know a good player when I see one and a promising kid when exposed to one. I have followed American soccer since 1989 and my gut tells me the USA has lots of promising players, in fact a decent level of good players but nowhere near enough great players! For the purpose of this book and its focus, great players are those that the top European clubs would pay good money to buy. For until America is producing players and enough of them that are good enough to play for Manchester United, Barcelona, AC Milan and Real Madrid it will never win a World Cup. Because teams that do have players populating the top leagues in Europe. For America to compete it will have to adopt a systematic, professional and far-reaching player development system that discovers talent on par with the world’s best. It may not be easy but is necessary and actually can be done. Steve Heighway, the Liverpool youth team coach, who developed Owen, Gerrard, Carragher and Fowler and spent many years coaching youth soccer in Florida, once told me that he thought the talent pool he left behind was better than the one he inherited when he returned to Liverpool.