WASHINGTON • For some 25 years, American players have been carving out a modest presence overseas.
Many have been goalkeepers and defensive types. Some have arrived with scoring portfolios forged in Major League Soccer. Several were dual nationals, born and trained abroad.
Intra-European transfers involving king's ransoms and glamorous suitors were reserved for the likes of David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar; for Manchester United, Real Madrid and Barcelona; for Brazilians, Argentinians and Spaniards.
Certainly not for Americans.
Christian Pulisic, 20, busted that mould on Wednesday when English Premier League titans Chelsea signed him from Borussia Dortmund for £58 million (S$99.7 million).
The fee was more than three times the previous record for a US player - in May 2017, defender John Brooks left German club Hertha Berlin to sign for Wolfsburg for €20 million (S$31 million) - and around the 25th largest in the sport's history.
Pulisic will remain with Dortmund this season, then in August become the first high-profile American, not including goalkeepers, to suit up for an English heavyweight.
Brian McBride and Clint Dempsey did score goals for Fulham, but the Cottagers operate in the shadows of London brethren. Claudio Reyna and DaMarcus Beasley liked the ball at their feet. John Harkes played for trophies at Wembley. Tim Howard, Kasey Keller and Brad Friedel were world-class goalkeepers.
Pulisic has always been different. His electric skill set - initiated in Hershey, Pennsylvania, by parents who played at George Mason University and took him abroad in early 2015 - belies the reputation of Americans being hard workers, supporting actors and little else.
Amid gains in the sport since the late 1980s, the US has developed few creative male prospects suited for the world's brightest stages.
Where has Freddy Adu gone?
In terms of dynamic attackers, the closest comparison to Pulisic was Landon Donovan. Their acceleration and confidence with the ball are eerily similar.
Donovan, however, spent the bulk of his decorated career in San Jose and Los Angeles before retiring last year, never making a European breakthrough despite opportunities in Germany and England.
As a teenager, Pulisic was starting regularly in the Bundesliga, which sits in the top tier of European circuits with the Premier League, Spain's LaLiga, Italy's Serie A and France's Ligue 1. Dortmund also typically qualify for the Champions League, the continent's elite club competition.
Given his high-level experience at such a young age, he was one of the top five transfer targets this winter despite his lessening role at Dortmund. Bumped from the line-up by English teenager Jadon Sancho, he has appeared in 11 of 17 league matches, starting five and scoring once. He has continued to start in the Champions League.
Given his profile and cost, the Blues, whose last of six English titles came in 2017, are almost sure of thrusting him into the line-up next summer. Beyond his contributions on the field, Chelsea are, no doubt, counting on a marketing bump. Through pre-season tours and TV exposure, European clubs have made great strides in recent years appealing to US audiences.
Given the historical England-US ties, and that NBC Sports' presentation of the EPL is akin to the National Football League which is still the most-watched sport, Chelsea are eyeing an uptick in exposure and jersey sales.
NBC is certainly thrilled about building coverage around an exciting US player. Two defenders and a defensive midfielder comprise the current US contingent in the EPL.
Pulisic's move is also seen as a victory for US men's football which, in the wake of the World Cup qualifying fiasco, has fallen off the radar and begun major renovations.
Before his transfer, Pulisic was already the centrepiece of the programme. Wearing Chelsea colours and competing in the sport's most popular league, he will soon inherit a role no American has ever taken.
WASHINGTON POST
via @YouTube"
Destiny Beckons (1) (on hold at the moment) - Wattpad
Football: Solskjaer has restored United's culture and identity, says former treble teammate Schmeichel Manchester United have earned 29 points in the league since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was
Solskjaer has restored United's culture and identity, says
SINGAPORE, 9 MAY 2019 - Philippe Aw's national Under-15 team will take on DPR Korea, Hong Kong and Guam in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-16 Championship 2020 qualifiers later this year. Singapore will host all the matches in Group
The Gays and Tennis - Part 13 - the Data Lounge
Football: Toffees aim to start new year on winning note. but that is football and we have another game to turn it around in a short space of time. "Yes (we have goals in the side) but we
Everton 0 Leicester City 1: Vardy strikes in NYD scrap
Solskjaer extends perfect record as Manchester United beat
A host of big-name footballers are behind a campaign to raise money for a private search for missing footballer Emiliano Sala The campaign has raised £130,000 from almost 2,000 people in just a
May 02, 2019 · Arsenal, Chelsea in strong positions in Europa League semis. The possibility of an all-English final in the Europa League grew stronger after Arsenal and Chelsea moved into strong positions in the
Arsenal favourites for Europa League, says Valencia's
I think the contract is expired and I'm now under contract with Manchester United," Solskjaer told Norwegian podcast Fotballklubben. "I think we need a new contract there [at Molde]."
Solskjaer confirms his contract in Norway has expired
Porto progressed to the quarter-finals of the Champions League after Alex Telles' penalty secured a 3-1 victory over Roma three minutes from the end of extra-time. Porto go through with extra
UEFA: FC Porto go through with extra time VAR penalty kick
West Ham's Michail Antonio speaking to Sky Sports: It is beautiful. We came here and put ourselves in history and it is only right West Ham did it. They are a big rival for us, it goes way back so
Tottenham vs West Ham: Michail Antonio scores winner as Spurs
Crowds flock to Argentine village to pay tribute to footballer Sala Sport > Football > Britain > France > Crowds flock to Argentine village to pay tribute to footballer Sala By Alexandre PEYRILLE, published 16 February 2019 at 17h52 BST , updated on 16 February 2019 at 21h24 BST .
Crowds flock to Argentine village to pay tribute to
Substitute Javier Hernandez scored a late brace including a stoppage-time winner to help West Ham United beat Huddersfield Town 4-3 in a roller-coaster Premier League clash on Saturday. The Mexico international, whose diving header had made it 3-3 with six minutes left, nodded the ball in again from Felipe Anderson's cross to send the London
West Ham leave it late as 'Chicharito' double downs spirited
global.espn.com/football/report?gameId=513534
Get a report of the West Ham United vs. Huddersfield Town 2018/2019 English Premier League football match. West Ham leave it late as 'Chicharito' double downs
Playing the OLE United way LONDON • With big names like Mauricio Pochettino and Zinedine Zidane being bandied about, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's appointment as Manchester United manager has largely been seen as a stop-gap measure until the summer.
Forget 'the Man United way', let Ole Gunnar Solskjaer be
Almoez Ali scored with a spectacular overhead kick for a record ninth goal of the Asian Cup to set Qatar on their way to a first continental title with a stunning 3-1 win over four-times champions
Football: Ali on target as Qatar stun Japan to win first
Ajax, who have won the trophy four times, most recently in 1995, reached the last eight of Europe's top competition for the first time since 2003 Holder Real Madrid were sensationally knocked out of the Champions League Tuesday after being thrashed 4-1 at home by an outstanding Ajax Amsterdam who
Shellshocked Madrid knocked out of Champions League by
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar