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
Fulham dig deep to deny Newcastle and earn first clean sheet
Warnock on 'most difficult week of career' after Sala disappearance. Cardiff boss Neil Warnock says the disappearance of Emiliano Sala has led to his worst week in football.
Soccer-Warnock says Sala tragedy is most difficult week of
Valencia stroll into Europa semis with Villarreal win 19/04/2019 Oman Observer VALENCIA: Valencia eased into the Europa League semifinals for the first time in five years with a comfortable 2-0 win at home to fellow Spaniards Villarreal in heavy rain on Thursday for a resounding 5-1 aggregate scoreline.
Valencia vs. Villarreal - Football Match Report - April 19
tv5.espn.com/football/report?gameId=538709
Valencia eased into the semifinals of the Europa League for the first time in five years with a comfortable 2-0 win at home to fellow Spanish side Villarreal in heavy rain on Thursday for a resounding 5-1 aggregate scoreline.
Valencia stroll into Europa semis with Villarreal win - Reuters
"This is the job that I always dreamt of doing and I'm beyond excited to have the chance to lead the club long-term and, hopefully, deliver the continued success that our amazing fans deserve," said Solskjaer in a club statement. "From the first day I arrived, I felt at home at this special club.
adjectives - "continuing success" VS "continued success
Login Sign up; V-Varen Nagasaki v Niigata "liveStream"(live) From: Aarhus vs Brentford 2 LIVE Stream# by sucacmoweb1973. 0 1 17 days ago. 00:00. 00:05. Like Like.
Warriors - Hougang United LiveStream: - spreaker.com
LONDON (REUTERS) - Manchester United's Ander Herrera and Paul Pogba struck first-half goals to claim a 2-0 win that dumped FA Cup holders Chelsea out of the competition and secured a place in the
United dump holders Chelsea out of Cup to pile pressure on
FA Cup London, Jan. 5, 2019 (Reuters/NAN) Manchester United's Ole Gunnar Solskjaer enjoyed his fifth successive victory since being named interim manager as his much-changed side beat second-tier strugglers Reading 2-0 at home in the FA Cup. Saturday's victory was in the third round of the
FA Cup Roundup: Manchester United, Chelsea through to next
Neymar heads to Qatar for medical assessment | Football News
Football: Hugo Lloris warns Spurs teammates against complacency in Premier League title race London - Complacency is the biggest threat to Tottenham Hotspur's hopes of toppling Premier League leaders Liverpool, warned Spurs captain and goalkeeper Hugo Lloris on Friday (Jan 11), two days before they host rejuvenated Manchester United at Wembley.
Hugo Lloris warns Tottenham Hotspur against complacency
BARCELONA (REUTERS) - Barcelona have one hand firmly on the La Liga title after winning 2-0 at Alaves on Tuesday (April 23), leaving them 12 points clear at the top of the table with four games to
FC Barcelona on verge of Liga title after beating Alaves
finalkickoff.com/fc-barcelona-on-verge-of-liga-title-after-beating-alaves/
FC Barcelona has one hand firmly on the La Liga title after winning 2-0 at Alaves on Tuesday, leaving them 12 points clear at the top of the table with four games to play. Should second-place Atletico Madrid lose at Valencia on Wednesday or against Real Valladolid on Saturday, Barcelona will be champions before they face Levante that evening.
Barcelona on verge of Liga title after beating Alaves | The
Bologna players celebrate after scoring their side's first goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Lazio and Bologna at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome on May 20, 2019.
Bologna earn 'miracle' Serie A survival in six-goal Lazio
Low savours 'good signal', Football News & Top Stories - The
Yorke, 47, said: "This game was so big for the club. The constant talk was that we hadn't won it since 1968, this was our chance. "Before we went out, the gaffer told us to go out and make
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer explains why Paul Pogba is his champion
Five great Champions League comebacks. a penalty during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg football match FC Barcelona vs Paris Saint-Germain FC at the Camp Nou stadium in
Great football comebacks to inspire Liverpool in Champions
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar