By Andrew Dixon - MIAMI, FL (Jul 22, 2009) USSoccerPlayers -- Lost amid the discussion surrounding David Beckham’s return to MLS from Europe last week was that United States Under-20 World Cup standout Danny Szetela has made his way back to Major League Soccer.
Though I'm sure it's not the ending he wanted when he left Columbus a few years ago, it's certainly not the end of the World. Several players who have started with MLS or went to Europe very early in the career have come back to the League and taken leading roles.
It would be easy to include the players who were on the National Team in the mid-1990's and helped launch the League, but I'm moving up the time line.
Wade Barrett
SJ Earthquakes/AGF Aarhus/SJ Earthquakes/Houston Dynamo
I think of Wade Barrett and I can't help but think of those Earl Graves type sideburns he used to rock.
The William and Mary product has simply been one of the steadiest left backs in the short history of the League and a major contributor to MLS' second great dynasty. He's basically been an automatic starter from the time he stepped on the field for San Jose.
By the time he left MLS to go to Denmark, he had become an All-Star, a finalist for Defender of the Year, and won a MLS Cup medal. He signed with AGF Aarhus in 2002 and started off well, helping the club avoid relegation before suffering a string of injuries that saw him loaned to Fredrikstad in Norway before ultimately being released.
He returned to San Jose in 2005 and basically picked up where he left off, starting 30 matches and being named team captain on a Supporter's Shield winner. He has since captained the team to back-to-back MLS Cups and still shows little signs of slowing down.
Underrated in my opinion.
Taylor Twellman
1860 Munich/Revolution
A MAC and Herman trophy runner-up after his sophomore year at Maryland, T2 had an excellent showing at the U-20 World Cup in 1999 and signed with 1860 Munich. Though the side was in the Bundesliga at the time, Twellman never saw a match in the top flight, relegated to toiling away with a 4th division amateur side.
After two seasons with seemingly little chance of advancement, he returned to the US, signed with the Revolution, and, well, has basically torn up the League ever since. One of the best pure strikers MLS has ever seen, Twellman lit it up with 23 goals in his first season and hasn't looked back. Now with 101 goals in 174 appearances, an MVP award, and two MLS Best XI appearances, only injuries and surgery have slowed him down.
Has never quite made his mark on the National Team but he has certainly excelled in MLS. His experiences in Germany undoubtedly have been a major factor, if for nothing else than the motivation to prove he never belonged in the 4th division.
Landon Donovan
Bayer Leverkusen/Earthquakes/Bayer Leverkusen/Galaxy
Conventional wisdom is that I'm supposed to be upset and disappointed that he hasn't made his name in Europe somewhere. I'm supposed to be calling him out for his supposed lack of ambition and desire.
Later for that. I've loved watching this cat play and I've never really felt those who want to knock him down. I'm glad I've been able to see him so many times courtesy of MLS because I believe he is the most talented US National Teamer of his era.
Yeah I said it.
LD first made noise at the 1999 U-17 World Cup where he was awarded the Golden Ball as the tournament's MVP ahead of guys like Michael Essien and Thomas Hitzlsperger. His display caught the eye of Bayer LEverkusen and at age 17 he signed a contract with the Bundesliga club, making him the youngest American to do so.
However, after toiling with the reserves and playing at a level he once described as inferior to the US high school level, he was loaned out to San Jose Earthquakes v. 1.0. Anybody remember how long it took him to become a bona fide superstar in this League? In 87 appearances over the next three years, he scored 32 goals led the Quakes to two MLS Cups ('01 and '03), and was named to MLS' Best XI in 2003.
At the conclusion of the 2004 season, he reluctantly returned to Leverkusen to resume his career. After seven matches, he decided he was done with Germany and headed back to MLS, this time with the LA Galaxy. He scored a dozen goals for a mediocre LA side that scrapped into the playoffs, inspired them past his old club, and went on to capture his third MLS Cup Medal.
He's been good with good teams, good with bad teams like last year's Galaxy(20 goals another MLS Best XI). He's done everything in this League but win an MVP, including being named to MLS All-Time Best XI in 2005.
To me he's the gold standard.
Frankie Hejduk
Tampa/Leverkusen/Columbus
Certainly one of the more colorful figures in US Soccer history, my earliest memory of Frankie Hejduk was his seemingly bodacious prediction that he would win a spot on the 1998 World Cup side. Then he missed a flight for a Qualifier, only to get that ticket to France.
Hejduk started making his mark with the Tampa Bay Mutiny in MLS in '97, after spending most of '96 with the Olympic team, establishing himself as the first choice right back for the next two seasons. After a solid display at the '98 World Cup, he signed with Bayer Leverkusen and helped them secure a Champions League berth at the end of the 98-99 season. Two coaching changes led to him sitting on the finest benches in Germany. He was off to Switzerland with FC St. Gallen, but his impact was minimal there.
Back to MLS he came, establishing himself as one of the most durable and dependable right backs in the League. A near automatic starter, he played his way back onto the US National Team at a time when most players would be talking about focusing on their club career.
His goal in last year's MLS Cup was what this guy has always been about.
Eddie Lewis
San Jose Earthquakes/Fulham/Preston N. End/Leeds/Derby/LA Galaxy
Seems like forever since he’s been away, Eddie Lewis returned to steady the Galaxy's back line. Considering what he walked into, it's worth noting that he left England on his terms.
Lewis played four seasons with the San Jose Clash, earning MLS Best XI honors for the 99 season. 29 games, 14 assists, and four goals. His ability to cross the ball from the wings seemed to make him a natural fit in England. He moved to Fulham in the English First Division, helping them gain promotion to the Premiership before becoming a fan favorite at Preston North End and Leeds United. He appeared in 27 matches in his one season with Derby County before returning to MLS in 2008.
LA's defense is not the sieve it's been in seasons past and Lewis' veteran leadership may pay dividends down the road for LA.
Brian McBride
Columbus Crew/Preston North End (loan)/Everton (loan)/Fulham/Chicago Fire
The only player to appear on both this list and last week’s, McBride has been quite effective since his return to MLS.
Though McBride had a brief stint in Germany with VfL Wolfsburg in the 1994-95 season, he was the first player selected in MLS’ inaugural draft. He immediately established himself as the anchor of Columbus’ attack and the face of the franchise.
Despite numerous injuries, (including one incurred during a loan spell with Preston North End), National Team call-ups, and other able forwards such as Stern John, Dante Washington and Jeff Cunningham, McBride still managed to score 62 goals, a club record he shares with Cunningham.
McBride could have spent the rest of his career at Fulham, but made the decision to return to MLS with Chicago. He's been a crucial part of their offense since the middle of last season and the Fire will need substantial cover as he rehabs from injury.
