Just got the new issue of MLS Magazine in the mail. This issue is all about the storied history of Mexicans in MLS.
Wait, did I say storied? Well, let me see... there has been a long history of Mexicans in MLS as a few high-profile players were in the league at the start. This league has seen a wide array of high-profile Mexicans throughout its history... but storied?
Well, let me rephrase it then: this issue is all about the long and perhaps less-than-stellar history of Mexicans in MLS.
When you consider the proximity to Mexico and the number of Mexican soccer players capable of playing in MLS, it's sort of difficult to imagine why there hasn't been a greater number of Mexicans who have played in MLS. Financial issues are one obstacle I think that has kept more in-their-prime Mexicans from coming here. I know many were hoping Adolfo Bautista would join an MLS team but with a transfer fee and the salary he'd command, even in the DP era Bofo would be too expensive.
But there also hasn't been a great number of young up-and-coming Mexicans head north, perhaps for the same reason. Chivas USA tried to use both the in-their-prime and up-and-coming players but Juan Pablo Garcia left after 18 months and is now mired on Jaguares' bench while Francisco Mendoza is the only real Mexican prospect to blossom in this league.
Perhaps the biggest success story is this issue's cover boy, and that's Cuauhtemoc Blanco. He has far exceeded my expectations and has been a pleasant surprise to many in the league as well. You maybe would expect that given his salary and his starpower but to see it come to fruition on and off the field has been amazing. He's delivered in many ways that the other league's high-priced DP hasn't in that he helps his team win games and not just sell tickets.
Blanco might be the first Mexican to lead his team to an MLS Cup title. I don't know how many Mexicans have won an MLS Cup title.
Quick stream-of-consciousness aside: Jorge Campos was with Chicago in 1998 but I'm not sure if he was still on the team when they won the Cup, he may have been but Zach Thornton was the starting goalie for them in 98... Hermosillo and Hernandez didn't win the Cup with the Galaxy... Abundis was on New England when they were in the 06 Cup...
Okay, so perhaps we have one Mexican player who has won an MLS Cup.
Still, that's not to say there hasn't been a number of talented and prominent Mexicans come through MLS. In this edition, there is an All-Time Best XI Mexicans... let me know if you agree:
G: Jorge Campos
D: Duilio Davino
D: Claudio Suarez
D: Ramon Ramirez
M: Cuauhtemoc Blanco
M: Juan Pablo Garcia
M: Francisco Mendoza
M: David Patino
F: Missael Espinoza
F: Carlos Hermosillo
F: Francisco Palencia
Some of the honorable mentions include Luis Hernandez, Damian Alvarez and Hugo Sanchez.
I think that list is somewhat by default. Duilio Davino for instance hasn't exactly been a pillar of strength and consistency with FC Dallas but the options behind him were slim.
Anyway, with Blanco leading the charge, this may be the first year a Mexican player has a huge influence on an MLS Cup champion... or as we've seen perhaps any influence at all. And then perhaps that can help that history become storied.
Dual-citizen Herculez Gomez was on both the Galaxy's MLS title wins.
ReplyDeleteHe doesn't count if the criteria is Mexican-only, but he did develop his game in Mexico's lower leagues, so I think that counts on some level as Mexican-produced.
Unlike Chivas De Guadalajara, this is limited to Mexicans born in Mexico.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that Missael Espinoza and Duilio Davino are on this All-Mexican MLS team tells you all you need to know about the lack of success most Mexicans have experienced in this league.
ReplyDeleteLet's also not forget that, for the most part, the vast majority of Mexican players came at the very end (Hernandez, Hermosillo) or at the very beginning (Isaac Romo, Armando Bejines) of their careers. That factor alone will skew the chances for success.
I mean, Lothar Mattaeus also played in MLS but nobody would dare put him on an All-German MLS team because of his pervasive apathy.
I think the lack of success Mexicans have had in MLS is due to only one issue:
ReplyDeleteLack of respect for the League and MLS in general. They have come here expecting to steamroll their way around and it never materializes. This happen not only with Mexicans but many Euro players as well.
It's not the sexiest football around but it's a tough league and players that lack respect for it will pay the price.
new england didnt win a cup
ReplyDeleteI didn't say they did. I said that he was on the team when they were in the 06 Cup. They lost on PKs. Had he been in there instead of Clint Dempsey, who declined to take the PK, Abundis might have scored his attempt and Jay Heaps might not have had to shoot.
ReplyDeleteI believe Damian is still the highest scoring Mexican in MLS history with 15 goals.
ReplyDelete