Picking an MLS All-Star XI Capable of Competing in Europe's Top Leagues
This season, a number of players have swapped life in the European leagues for Major League Soccer, but who could genuinely compete if they went the other way?
United States internationals Jermaine Jones, Jozy Altidore, Sacha Kljestan, Mix Diskerud, Juan Agudelo and Brek Shea have all pitched up at various MLS sides in 2014/2015, not to mention Kaka, David Villa, Sebastian Giovinco and the soon-to-be-arriving Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard.
In this slideshow, we cast our eye over the division and pick an all-star XI who have the skills to cut it in Europe's top leagues. The choices are based on performance levels from last season, while age also played a factor in who made the list.
Set up in a 4-3-3 formation, we also include a selection of honourable mentions. Due to what we perceive as a lack of outstanding full-backs currently playing in MLS, you will notice that all our defensive choices are centre-backs.
Those who have already played a significant number of games for European clubs will not be included, so no Robbie Keane, Michael Bradley or Clint Dempsey here.
This is not an exhaustive selection. Is there anyone you feel is missing? Let us know below!
Honourable Mentions
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- Diego Fagundez: Centre-forward, 20, New England Revolution
- Amobi Okugo: Defensive midfield, 24, Orlando City
- Matias Laba: Central midfield, 23, Vancouver Whitecaps
- Luis Gil: Attacking midfield, 21, Real Salt Lake City
- Kyle Beckerman: Defensive midfield, 32, Real Salt Lake City
- Matt Besler: Centre-back, 28, Sporting Kansas City
- Nick Rimando: Goalkeeper, 35, Real Salt Lake City
- Andrew Farrell: Centre-back/Right-back, 23, New England Revolution
- Graham Zusi: Attacking midfield, 28, Sporting Kansas City
- Perry Kitchen: Defensive midfield, 23, D.C. United
- Dax McCarty: Central midfield, 27, New York Red Bulls
- Darlington Nagbe: Right wing/Attacking midfield, 24, Portland Timbers
GK: Bill Hamid, D.C. United
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Major League Soccer's Goalkeeper of the Year in 2014, Bill Hamid came through the ranks at D.C. United and has racked up 131 appearances for the club since making the step up to the first team in 2009.
Despite having just two senior international caps to his name, the 24-year-old looks every inch the heir apparent to the United States No. 1 shirt, when Tim Howard, Brad Guzan and Nick Rimando are no longer part of the picture.
With 37 goals conceded last season, the Black-and-Red enjoyed a hugely successful campaign with Hamid in between the sticks, one in which the 'keeper made a whopping 110 saves—ending the season with the best save percentage in the Eastern Conference (per the official MLS website). It was a far cry from a dismal 2013, in which D.C. United finished last in the Eastern Conference and overall in MLS.
Nick Rimando is another stopper who deserves a mention for his performances for Real Salt Lake City. However, at the age of 35, a career in Europe is unlikely.
DF: Matt Hedges, FC Dallas
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Matt Hedges received his first call up to the United States men's national team in January, following an impressive Major League Soccer season with FC Dallas in 2014.
A solid, experienced and consistent defender, Hedges has played over 100 games for the Texan team and, at the age of 23, was made the side's youngest-ever captain by manager Oscar Pareja.
He may have made just one substitute appearance (coming on out-of-position at right-back in place of DeAndre Yedlin against Panama), but the 25-year-old looks like he has what it takes to become a regular fixture in Jurgen Klinsmann's plans. He also seems to have all the attributes of a defender who could prosper in a European division.
As seen on the MLS website, in 2014, Hedges' passing accuracy outstripped that of Omar Gonzalez and Matt Besler, who both went to the Brazil World Cup with Klinsmann. His block ratio was also far higher, although Gonzalez was statistically better in the air.
Last term, Hedges also notched three MLS goals, whereas Besler managed none.
Hedges has played every minute of MLS football for FC Dallas so far in 2015.
DF: Omar Gonzalez, LA Galaxy
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In 2012, Omar Gonzalez dipped his toes into the waters of European football when he went on loan to Nurnberg.
However, a cruciate ligament tear—suffered on his first day of training, cut his stay short on German soil.
Now, at the age of 26 and following almost 200 games with LA Galaxy, maybe Gonzalez could try Europe once again.
Dominant in the air, strong in the tackle and a good passer of the ball, the 6'5" centre-back has won three MLS Cups and two Supporters Shields in his time with Bruce Arena's side. In 2014, he started 22 MLS fixtures, scored a career-high four goals and was named an MLS All-Star, to the MLS Best XI and was a finalist for Defender of the Year.
The U.S. international reacted to speculation linking him with a move to Europe during the summer 2014 transfer window, telling the official LA Galaxy website, "I still want to ply my trade in Europe, but right now I'm committed to the Galaxy."
DF: Steve Birnbaum, D.C. United
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With his MLS career still in its infancy, Steve Birnbaum looks like an exciting prospect for club and country in the years to come.
Whether that club will be D.C. United or somewhere in Europe remains to be seen.
The 24-year-old joined the Black-and-Red in January 2014, selected as second overall in the MLS SuperDraft. After spending the first 10 games of the campaign watching from the bench, he got his chance when Jeff Parke was injured in June.
Birnbaum went on to make the centre-back position his own, playing every minute of every league game for the rest of the season and getting shortlisted for the official MLS website's Rookie of the Year award.
As reported on D.C. United's website, "The University of California product helped anchor a defense which finished the year tied for the lowest goals allowed per game (1.09) in Major League Soccer, including a league-fewest 12 goals surrendered at home."
In early 2015, the centre-back's efforts were rewarded with his first call-up to represent the United States senior team. He made his bow in a friendly against Chile on January 28.
DF: Chad Marshall, Seattle Sounders
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Chad Marshall has become an integral part of the Seattle Sounders since signing for the side from Columbus Crew in December 2013.
At 30, he is the oldest player in this slideshow, yet his performances for Sigi Schmid's side have demonstrated that he could still be good enough for a move to a European side.
Granted, not a top-of-the-table outfit with aspirations of silverware, but Marshall could still provide an excellent defensive option for a number of mid-to-lower table teams.
Last term, the centre-back was voted Major League Soccer's Defender of the Year for the third time in his career—making him the only player to scoop the honour on so many occasions.
He made 31 MLS starts last season en route to the Sounders' Supporters' Shield win.
Mid: Lee Nguyen, New England Revolution
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New England Revolution's Lee Nguyen has some history of playing in Europe, having been on the books of PSV Eindhoven for three years (two appearances) and at Danish Superliga side Randers, where he made 23 outings between 2008-2009.
These days, based on his performances at Gillette Stadium, perhaps the attacking midfielder would make a much bigger impact if given the chance with a European team.
In 2014, the 28-year-old enjoyed a career-best season in which he notched 20 goals and four assists in 37 games for the Revs—the fourth-highest scorer across MLS and the most by a midfielder in the division's history.
Nguyen was also an MLS Most Valuable Player candidate and earned his first call-up for the United States men's national team since 2007—appearing in friendlies against Colombia, Chile and Panama.
As described by Liviu Bird for Sports Illustrated in November:
"Nguyen's vision is his best characteristic. He frequently looks over his shoulder to check his positioning compared to the opposition, which seems like common sense, but it's amazing how few MLS players do it frequently, including some in the U.S. national team pool. He always wants the ball at his feet, driving the team forward and initiating attacks.
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Mid: Wil Trapp, Columbus Crew
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Little over two years ago, Wil Trapp was still playing college soccer with University of Akron. These days, the 22-year-old is fast becoming one of the most exciting young midfielders in Major League Soccer.
He impressed as captain of the U.S. under-20's in 2013 at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Turkey. He got his first taste of MLS football in the same season and ended his first campaign with the honour of being named U.S. Soccer's Young Male Athlete of the Year.
In 2014, Trapp's trajectory continued its upward trend, being a full season in which he started 28 games, notched three assists and one goal, not to mention receiving his first call up to the U.S. senior team for a friendly against Chile.
He also received plenty of praise, including this from Goal, "Trapp enjoyed a breakout 2014 as one of the key reasons for a dramatic turnaround by Columbus, emerging as one of the most complete, and unique, midfielders in MLS."
Former New York Red Bulls striker Thierry Henry also told assembled media that Trapp "owned the show," following last season's 3-1 defeat at the hands of Columbus Crew (per the MLS website).
Crew's vice-captain looks like one of the most likely players to alert clubs in Europe in coming years.
Mid: Fabian Castillo
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In March 2011, Fabian Castillo swapped Colombian side Deportivo Cali for FC Dallas, penning a three-year deal with the MLS side.
He has made 125 appearances since, turning in some explosive displays down the left wing—scoring 23 goals and registering 17 assists for the Toros. Castillo has also recently inked a five-year extension to his contract, designed to keep him at Toyota Stadium until 2019.
Castillo has flourished over the last season under the tutelage of his countryman and club manager Oscar Pareja, with the 2014 season seeing the 22-year-old notch a career-high 10 MLS goals.
"If Castillo's first couple of years in red and white were a struggle to find his true footballing voice, then last season was his emancipation," wrote Bryan Kay in the Guardian in March.
So far in 2014/15, Castillo has registered one goal and two assists. As Pareja recently told the MLS website, "If we can increase it this year and then keep putting numbers there and finalizing him scoring goals, I think we'll have a player that can easily be sold to Europe for I don’t know how many millions, which is great for him and great for the club."
CF: Erick "Cubo" Torres, Houston Dynamo (on Loan at Chivas Guadalajara)
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On loan at Chivas Guadalajara until June 2015, Houston Dynamo striker Erick "Cubo" Torres has been turning heads.
The 22-year-old, who came through the ranks at Guadalajara, signed for Houston during the 2014 winter transfer window—on the condition that he was loaned straight back to the Liga MX side.
Described as one of Major League Soccer's "most marketable young stars," as seen on Goal, Torres was on loan with Chivas USA between June 2013-December 2014. He scored 22 goals in 44 games before the former MLS side folded in October 2014—the most by a Mexican player in MLS history, according to Houston Dynamo's official website.
He ended last season as MLS's eighth-highest top scorer with 15 goals.
Called up for the first time to Mexico's senior international squad last August, Torres bagged his first goal for El Tri in an October friendly against Panama after being brought on as a substitute for Javier Hernandez.
Strangely, Torres has found it difficult to break into the Guadalajara side of late. Yet, when brought on as a sub against fellow relegation candidates Puebla, he scored two crucial strikes in a 2-1 comeback win—ESPN FC's Tom Marshall described them as "the two most important goals of his fledgling career."
CF: Dom Dwyer, Sporting Kansas City
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Second in Major League Soccer's scoring charts last season was Dom Dwyer, with 23 strikes to New York Red Bulls' Bradley Wright-Phillips' 32.
A name hardly known outside of the MLS arena, many in England may be surprised to hear that Dwyer is an Englishman who began life in Norwich City's youth setup. Picked up by Sporting Kansas City in 2012 after playing college soccer, the 24-year-old has turned in 72 appearances for Peter Vermes' side, scoring 30 goals along the way.
A 2013 loan to Orlando City (then playing in the USA's third division, the United Soccer League) helped to spark his career, with Dwyer scoring 19 goals in 15 games for the side.
In 2013, Dwyer won the MLS Cup. In 2014, he was named both Offensive Player of the Year and co-Most Valuable Player, as well as receiving MLS All-Star honours. Dwyer also set his side's single-season record with 22 goals, second most in MLS. His 24 career goals in the regular season now rank ninth highest in his team's history, as seen on the club's official website.
Dwyer is also one half of football's "power couple" in the United States, having married U.S. women's national team striker Sydney Leroux earlier this year, as seen on ESPN FC.
The striker's career certainly seems to be heading in the right direction. We think there's a lot more to come from Sporting KC's No. 14.
CF: Gyasi Zardes, LA Galaxy
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Last term, LA Galaxy strikers Robbie Keane, Gyasi Zardes and Landon Donovan were responsible for a total of 52 Major League Soccer goals, with the 23-year-old Zardes responsible for a career-best 17 strikes.
Mentored by the likes of Keane and Donovan, Zardes is a homegrown player at StubHub Center, and it would not come as much of a surprise to see him making the leap to Europe in coming seasons.
Called up for the USMNT for the first time in January, he has appeared in recent friendlies against Chile, Panama, Denmark and Switzerland, playing on both the right wing and as a centre-forward.
He registered his first assist against Panama in a 2-0 win and was also named Man of the Match—all in his first start for Jurgen Klinsmann's side.
Described by many as the USA's "breakout player" following the national side's winter camp, Grant Wahl described Zardes' performance against Panama on Sports Illustrated's website: "Bursting inside and upfield from his spot on the flank, Zardes put the Panamanians on their heels and waited until the very last second before Clint Dempsey would have been offside to slide an inch-perfect pass to the U.S. captain, who showed the kind of cool on his finish that gets you multimillion-dollar club deals."
All player information and stats come from MLSsoccer.com, ESPNFC.com or Transfermarkt.com, unless stated otherwise.
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