You would think from the accolades last week that Zinedine Zidane had just retired. In fact DaMarcus Beasley somehow compared Claudio Reyna to Zizu before the 2006 World Cup saying:
"On the field, technically he’s our best player. He’s so smooth. He’s very nonchalant. He always reminds me of [Zinedine Zidane]."
Let’s get one thing straight. Claudio Reyna was no Zinedine Zidane. He was not even the best American soccer player. I would put Brad Friedel, Brian McBride, and John Harkes ahead of him.
Yes, Reyna was able to play a dozen years in Europe and he set records for largest transfers paid for an American player on multiple occasions. But his career was average at best.
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Reyna was a midfield player, and midfield players usually fall into three categories: defense players (think Claude Makelele), creators (think Cesc Fabregas) or scorers (think Frank Lampard). Reyna stats show that he never was able to fit into any of these categories.
In Germany he played 74 games and scored six goals. At Rangers, it was 10 goals in 64 games and while in the Premier League he scored seven goals in 105 games. So in Europe he played 242 goals and scored 22 goals or one every 10 games. These are the sort of numbers that you would expect from a professional who had an average career.
Reyna's time in MLS was an unmitigated disaster with three assists in 29 games in over 18 months while tying up one of the Red Bulls designated player spots. The signing was a bad move by the New York Red Bulls as Reyna was well past his best when he came to America for one final paycheck.
The only reason that the media did not criticize his signing or performance was because he was “Captain America.” If he had been from any other country other than the U.S., his signing and performance would have been roundly criticized.
Well the super-hero has retired and a close examination of his career shows that he was simply average.
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about 1 month ago
perhaps a little to nonchalant then, teeheehee.
about 1 month ago
I'd say you have been pretty harsh mate. A really good player and there was nothing average about him.
It's not all about scoring goals...check the likes of Viera's scoring record.....or was he average at Arsenal too?
about 1 month ago
I have to agree with Andrew, this is a very harsh assessment. Reyna was never a goal scorer and you talk about three categories and only tell us how he does not fit into one of those categories.
When playing with the national team, he controlled the midfield incredibly well and led that team to the quarterfinals in 2002 and was named a member of the all-tournament team. So are you saying that the crop of the world's best players that year was "just average"?
about 1 month ago
I didn't think this site could top the stupidity of its last few soccer columns. Congratulations.
Most every country takes notice when one of THEIR best soccer players retires. Zidane or not. Reyna wasn't out their to score goals, directly create goals, or constantly win every tackle. He was the safe haven for anyone in trouble with the ball. He'd then fine that safe pass that'd maintain possesion as the ball moved up the field. He was always there on both sides of the field. For many of his teams he was a solid, dependable leader. He was the first US player named to an all-tournemant team in the World Cup. He was a regular starter for Rangers and a couple of EPL and Bundesliga teams.
The Zidane comparison may have been a bit much, but I'll take Beasley's opinion over any here ever time. By many measures Reyna may not have been great but he was by no means average. And as a US player he was great, blazing trails across Europe. Friedel can't do anything but help the stereotype that Americans can only play in goal. Harkes had 12 goals in 164 games in England (mostly during 6 years before the foreign invasion of the EPL). I love McBride but he played about 6 seasons in Europe, mostly after Reyna's prominence. Reyna's 12 years in Europe was special. Fault him for being injured if you must but not for being average.
from about 1 month ago
he may have been a reasonably good player on occasion but I think the thing is, that in terms of greatness or above average players who are part of championship winning sides, he was not. he played for average European sides. so in terms of European play he was an average player. in terms of the United States he was a great player as the country has not had many.
He will never be remembered as a great player outside of the United States because he was in the literal sense of the word 'average'.
he was not a headline grabber in Europe and he performed the task that thousands of other players do. he did his job, which was to play football at top level. even though to reach this level it takes above average skills compared to the 'average' joe, upon reaching the top level many footballers who were stars where they grew up find that compared to some of the other talent around they are 'average'. Reyna could never ever be seriously compared to Zidane because everyone knows Zidane was not average and no one would EVER even call him that. that is the main difference to me. you would get more of the public who would say Claudio who? than say Zidane who?
he was average. it has nothing to do with lack of goals or anything like that. he never really stood out unless he was playing for the United States. the teams he played for in Europe benefited from him turning up and doing his job but he was never INDISPENSABLE was he? run of the mill European professional, thats all.
about 1 month ago
I have nothing but fond memories of Claudio Reyna. Remember when he almost chipped Ollie Kahn from 50 yards in the 2002 WC quarterfinals? He looked great in that tournament, and deserves a pat on the back for not murdering Jens Jeremies after being victimized after a dive.
He was like a poor man's Cesc Fabregas. Not known as a goalscorer, but definitely solid on the ball, rarely wasted possession, and was great at setting up teammates. And beyond his skills on the field, he'll be known as somebody who helped take the US from being an absolute joke in 1998 to some respectability on the pitch.
about 1 month ago
It's really irritating how somehow the haul of goals a player has is somehow a mark of a good player. I mean, he may or may not have fit any sort of category but I really feel that he was a great composed player on the ball. Really, does he need to be any more than that? As far as I'm concerned the mark of his success is that he was a regular starter in Europe, Wolfsburg, Rangers, Sunderland, and Manchester City. So ok, they aren't Real Madrid or Manchester United, but they aren't bad teams either...
about 1 month ago
US football is in its infancy. This guy was good and I believe will serve to inspire some other little Claudinhos out there who could one day put the US on top.
Don`t beat up on your heroes dude. In Brazil first came Garrincha then Pele then the flood gates burst open with too many to mention.
Reyna was above average.....great is still to come...and he will.
about 1 month ago
I think the fact that he doesn't fit into one your three "supposed" categories is an indicator of how good a player is - Eric Cantona did not fin into any conventional model for a forward but, my God, he was immense!
Before you start, I am not comparing their abilities.......
about 1 month ago
Listen, vieria scored 20 goals in the unbeaten season, so dont make me start about his goal-scoring rate!
about 1 month ago
Wow, I did not realize that Ryna had so many fans:) What I was trying to point out was that in my opinion Claudio Reyna was an average soccer player. Look at the three big clubs that he played at: Rangers, Sunderland and Man City. Was Reyna one of the top 50, 75, or 100 players ever to play at these clubs? The answer is no.
Yes he had a great World Cup in Korea but 5 games does not make him a great player. Friedel was the Premiership goalkeeper of the year a couple of seasons ago. I don't recall Reyna ever making an all-premier team.
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