Long-Range Goals: The Success Story of Major League Soccer

All over world, soccer is known as the Beautiful Game and is most popular sport. But in United States, professional soccer still has a hard time catching on. It has had some successes here. The American Soccer League of 1920s, Pele and other international stars in North American Soccer League's glamorous 1970s, indoor soccer phenomenon of 1980s, and U.S. women's win in Women's World Cup of 1999 all hinted that American public is ready to embrace pro soccer. In its short history, Major League Soccer (MLS) has survived and even started to thrive, drawing steady crowds and loyal fans. In Long-Range Goals, Beau Dure profiles teams and players, including D.C. United, Los Angeles Galaxy, Landon Donovan, Freddy Adu, and Coach Bruce Arena, who are all vital to MLS. Some of triumphs include an expansion of league and its ownership group, contribution of MLS players to a strong U.S. World Cup showing in 2002, and construction of soccer stadiums nationwide. At same time, MLS has occasionally stumbled, during costly legal battles with players and seeing two teams fold, but its investors have remained strong, figured out how to make money, and support league. From league's formation in 1993 to David Beckham era, this book reveals all action on and off pitch: politics, lawsuits, management of its teams, and savvy business deals that helped MLS rebound. It also revels in big personalities of its stars, grace of its utility players, and obstacles league faces in meeting its long-range goals.