By Andrew Dixon - MIAMI, FL (Jul 14, 2009) USSoccerPlayers -- Don't get it twisted: the thing most American soccer fans will remember about the summer of 2009 will be the Confederations Cup. Yes, the Gold Cup is nice and I hope we win. The soap opera version of Major League Soccer is kinda fun too.
But to me the second event thus far is Oguchi Onyewu's signing with AC Milan. An American signing for one of the biggest clubs in the world is simply amazing. I'm not spending this column debating whether his style of play will mesh with Serie A or whether he'll be in over his head. I'll let the more learned American soccer pundits debate that.
No, today I'm simply giving props to the American players who started playing in the States, have gone over to Europe and made this happen with ground breaking and respected European sojourns. They didn't accept any limitations or listen to the haters. They simply went there to be the best they could be and open doors for other American players so that a day like this could occur.
Showing love by position and not by order of importance:
Kasey Keller/Brad Friedel/Tim Howard
I know they've all had three distinct careers, but I morph them into one because of their similar stories. They've all had extended careers in Europe to become respected first choice keepers at a time that Americans were having a hard time getting regular playing time. You might think that doesn't hold for Howard, but I don't remember it being easy for Americans at elite clubs when he made the move to Old Trafford.
Keller is the dean of this group. After leaving the University of Portland he made several stops around Europe with Millwall, (where his onfield exploits so enthralled the club's fans that it was rumored they were naming their kids after him), Leicster City where he really came into his own, Rayo Vallecano in La Liga, back to England with Tottenham, to Germany and Borussia Mönchengladbach where in two seasons he became a fan favorite and captain (one of only two Americans to captain a Bundesliga side) then back to England to help Fulham escape a near certain drop.
Brad Friedel moved around several different clubs including Newcastle, Brøndby, Galatasaray, back home at Columbus, back to England and Liverpool before becoming a legend at Blackburn Rovers. There he did everything from earning a spot on the 2002-03 Premiership Starting XI, saving two penalites in one match, and scoring against Charlton in open play. In all he made 287 appearances, setting the English Premier League record for most consecutive appearances in the process, before moving on to
Aston Villa.
Tim Howard's story is probably the most familiar, going from the Metrostars to arguably the biggest club on the planet with Manchester United. In his first season, he experienced ups and downs before recovering to be named to the 2003-04 PFA Best XI (the only United=2 0player to do so) and become the first American to win an FA Cup medal.
After a tough second season and a third spent riding the bench behind Edwin Van de Saar, he was loaned to Everton where he became the first choice keeper. He has since made 100 appearances in an Everton shirt. Howard led the league in shutouts in 2008-09 and memorably saved two penalties against his old club to help Everton advance to the FA Cup Final.
Steve Cherundolo-Hannover 96
Closing in on 300 appearance for Hannover, Cherundolo kept a lot profile, joining the side when they were in the 2nd division. Overcoming early injuries, he helped the team gain promotion to the Bundesliga and has basically never looked back.
He's one of the club's vice captain and his fluency in German as well as declining a chance to move to Bolton FC has earned him a permanent spot as one of the club's most popular players. He's one of the steadier right backs in the Germany and has made that spot his own.
Alexi Lalas - Padova
Of all the players who got some shine after the 1994 World Cup, few capped a bigger move than the current ESPN talking head Alexi Lalas. Still sporting the borderline iconic red hair and long goatee, Lalas became the first American player to play in the prestigious Serie A after signing with Padova.
Thrown directly into the starting lineup, he made 33 appearances and scored twice (I remember him running, leaping the sign boards when he scored his first) but couldn't help the team avoid relegation. Loaned back to Padova after being signed by MLS, he made another 15 appearances in his second season before leaving in February '96 for New England.
Carlos Bocanegra - Fulham/Rennes
The two time MLS Defender of the Year moved to Fulham in January of 2004 and was basically on the field from the jump. By 2007, he was captain. With Fulham in transition, he landed Landed on his feet at Stade Rennes in Ligue 1 last season. Bocanegra played in all 38 league matches and notching goals in the UEFA Cup and Coupe De France final. One of the most consistent American outfield players.
Joe Enochs St. Pauli/Vfl Osnabrück
Every once in awhile I'd read stuff about a player abroad I'd never really heard of named Joe Enochs. If this cat came up and smacked me in the face I probably still wouldn't know who he was. But when you become the first American player to have a testimonial match played in your honor, you get love from One Grown Man.
Enochs truly worked his way up the ranks starting with St. Pauli's fourth division farm club and helping them gain promotion. He turned a spot on the first team to move to third division VfL Osnabrück where he became nothing short of a legend. He helped them gain promotion to the second division and though they suffered an immediate drop, they gained promotion two other times.
In all, Enochs made a record 359 appearances for Onasbruck until he retired in 2008, earning himself a well deserved testimonial match, admiration from his fans, and a lasting tribute through the creation of a children's section named in his honor. All things considered, he is a true American soccer success story.
John Harkes - Sheffield Wednesday/Derby County
One of the legends of American soccer in my book, Harkes' trailblazing story should be familiar to many.
After starring at the University of Virginia in the mid-80's and having a good showing at the 1990 World Cup, he signed with Sheffield Wednesday. 82 appearances, the first American to play in the Premiership, and a new standard for what it meant to be a Yank Abroad. During his time there, he scored the goal of the season against English legend Peter Shilton that prompted newspaper headlines of "Harkes, the Herald Angels Sing!" He also was the first American to play at Wembley Stadium when Wednesday reached the League Cup final in 1991, the first to score in a league final, and the first to play in the FA Cup Final (both in 1993).
He moved to Derby County in 93 where he made 67 appearances and made 12 appearances on loan to West Ham while waiting for the start of Major League Soccer.
Harkes was may be more known in the States for his national career and the controversial exclusion from the 1998 World Cup side. But he probably wouldn't have been named captain in the first place without his accomplishments abroad. Harkes' talent and determination to succeed helped kick the door open for American outfield players.
Claudio Reyna - Bayer Leverkusen/VfL Wolfsburg/Rangers F.C./Sunderland/Manchester City
If Harkes helped open the door, Claudio Reyna ran up and barged through like his name was Search Warrant. When you talk about C-Reyna, you're talking about one of the great American midfielders of all time.
After dominating the college scene at UVA and missing the 1994 World Cup only because of injury, he moved to Germany with Bayer Leverkusen. Seeing limited playing time, he initially made his mark on loan to VfL Wolfsborg. Making 48 appearances over two seasons, he was eventually named captain, the first American to be named captain of a Bundesliga side.
A coaching change eventually led to a reduced role and Reyna was off to Scotland to sign for legendary club Glasgow Rangers. Playing a variety positions in the midfield, Reyna diversified his game during his 64-match stay in Glasgow. He spent time with Sunderland and Manchester City before finishing his run in MLS.
Reyna enjoyed a respected career in Europe, playing with some big name clubs and led through his ability and talent as much as his determination. Some have called him the most talented American born player of his era, and I wouldn't argue too much against it.
Eric Wynalda - Saarbrücken/VfL Bochum
For my money, the best ever to play forward for the United States, he was the first American to play in the Bundesliga. Wynalda scored 21 goals in 61 appearances during his time with Saarbrücken when they were in the first and second division. After signing with VfL Bochum 1994, he spurned several offers in South America after his impressive campaign in the 1995 Copa America, remaining in Germany before coming back to the US for the start of Major League Soccer.
There are those who minimize his overseas career as being inconsistent. But I think Robin Fraser said it best. "I have to give a lot credit to players like Eric Wynalda... who said 'I'm going to go overseas and make it work, no matter what.' It was a time when it was very difficult for Americans."
Nuff said.
Brian McBride - Wolfsburg/PNE/Everton/Fulham
While I loved Wynalda, you can't argue with McBride's European club career. The big man from Chicago kept plugging away at lower division clubs like Wolfsburg (94-95) before turning a loan to Everton into a remarkable run at Fulham.
It was there that McBride became a borderline superhero. Teammates praised his tireless work rate and his ability to withstand punishment. He scored 40 goals in 153 appearances and came back from a freak knee injury to captain the team through its miraculous escape from relegation in 2008. Fulham wanted him to stay, one of the few stories that ends with the player making the decision on his terms.
Want to know how you make your mark as a player for a club? How do you measure the impact you've made? How about having the club rename its official pub in your name? Fulham's pub is now known as McBride's Sports Bar.
Andrew Dixon is a soccer writer based in Miami and a weekly columnist for USSoccerPlayers. Contact him at: golnoir@golnoir.net
