MLS has long been derided as a retirement home for aging stars. But some young English players are choosing to kickstart their careers in the States
Over the last decade, Major League Soccer has attracted its fair share of British footballers. Since the league’s watershed moment with David Beckham’s acquisition, the likes of Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Jermain Defoe and Ashley Cole have taken their talents to North America.
Of course, they all had one thing in common: their careers were in their twilight years when they made the move to MLS. It took a few years for Beckham’s superstar sheen to settle down enough for him to play quality football. Gerrard struggled to adapt to the league after his love affair with Liverpool. Lampard notoriously had his New York City FC debut delayed by over six months due to a stint with Manchester City and nagging injuries. Defoe arrived over the age of 30 and didn’t stick around long, while Cole had declined a previous LA Galaxy offer, saying that he wasn’t “ready to relax on a beach yet.”
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