It is hard to argue against the fact that Major League Soccer has hosted some of the best athletes to ever try their hand at the sport. From David Beckham to Zlatan Ibrahimović, MLS has attracted greats from across the globe.
The league is not all about enticing the elite foreign players, however, as some of the homegrown talent have proven themselves to thrive in all areas, thus making a name for themselves on the world stage.
There are more than a few reasons that help to shed a light on why Major League Soccer is continuing to shine and grow in popularity across the globe.
Perhaps you are looking to start following a team, or maybe you are an aspiring sportsperson yourself, whatever the situation may be, here are some key aspects to bear in mind for any sports lover.
The Talent!
As mentioned before, the local talent is great and displays a positive gradient in terms of the U.S. attitude towards nurturing and growing their players.
It is a talent pool that includes the likes of Claudio Reyna, Tim Howard and of course Carli Lloyd, the two-time world cup winner with over 290 appearances for the U.S. women’s national team.
In the past, big names have joined the MLS from top-flight European clubs, for example the signing of Thierry Henry by the New York Red Bulls. These events give the league a boost of popularity, perhaps simultaneously inspiring younger generations to pursue a professional career in the sport.
Global Enterprise
Associations such as the Bundesliga, La Liga and the Premier League, have proven to be more than capable of producing world-class players with their preferred style of training and professional development.
Although this provides an incredibly high skill ceiling for the newer and arguably less established MLS to strive for, there is a fantastic opportunity to help grow the U.S. players of the future with Soccer to Football, a great service that offers up a slice of that well-respected and much loved European system.
Including training local talent, buying and selling players has forever been a key aspect of the game, as it helps to not only bring in wealth for the clubs, but allows players a chance to grow and garner support from all over the world.
The Supporters
As with most sports, the heart and soul of the entire spectacle are the fans. If the atmosphere is flourishing, it could be a telling sign that the league is doing the same.
It is the supporters who help nurture and care for that atmosphere. With their traditions and rituals from the weird to the wonderful, they breathe a special kind of life into the game.
Perhaps you are one of those fans, watching every game and cheering at the very top of your voice as soon as the first whistle blows.
Whether or not you have found your team or you are yet to decide, MLS is certainly worth keeping your eye on.
