An impending paradigm change is going to have far-reaching consequences for every team in the Major League Soccer (MLS) market.



The addition of superstars like <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/inter-miami-set-to-showcase-new-main-shirt-sponsor-in-2024-20231124-WST-472449.html">Lionel Messi</a>, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba marked a turning point for <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/mls-tv-schedule/">MLS</a>, which has started to attract more A-list players from across the globe since this year.



What seems to be another beginning will take place in 2024. Reports from writer Caleb Pongratz indicate that Major League Soccer is getting ready to increase the number of <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/mls-changes-designated-player-rule-20100401-CMS-8545.html">Designated Players</a> (DP) permitted on each club to four.



The designated player rule allows MLS fanchises to sign players outside their salary cap structure.



Currently, up to three Designated Players are allotted to each squad. Major League Soccer’s upper management would have had a whole new perspective had Messi joined the league. 



Additionally, it would allow every club to recruit one additional star player.



<h2>What does it mean for MLS teams?</h2>



This huge deal might change how the clubs compete in the league and impact the roster dynamics. Teams could bolster their rosters with star power and expertise for a long time because of the three Designated Player spots.



They have an even better chance of putting together a strong team and improving our performance on the field now that they have an extra DP spot. It has been an important factor in the MLS’s success in luring superstars from across the world.



The first designated player in MLS history was David Beckham and the rule is sometimes referred to as the Beckham rule. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="670" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20231125_WST_472524_David-Beckham-Designated-Player-1200x670.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=670" alt="" class="wp-image-472656" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/11/David-Beckham-Designated-Player-1200x670.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/11/David-Beckham-Designated-Player-300x168.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/11/David-Beckham-Designated-Player-768x429.jpg 768w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/11/David-Beckham-Designated-Player.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure><figcaption>David Beckham was the MLS’ first Designated Player</figcaption></figure>



There has been an exceptional history of DPs in the American top flight, including players like Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Andrea Pirlo, David Villa, Robbie Keane, Robbie Henry and Kaka. 



The opportunity to attract top talent from across the world increases dramatically when the addition of another Designated Player is considered.



This move aligns with the league’s ongoing efforts to improve and increase its standing among football leagues worldwide. 



With this opportunity, many sides can further establish themselves as a dominant force in the Major League Soccer, raising the bar for future seasons.



The opportunities this transformation brings will not materialize right away, but it is critical to be ready for them. Speculation and talks about the possible players who may join teams as the fourth DP are certain to happen. This will both thrill supporters and stir arguments about the makeup of their future lineup.



This may work out well for Inter Miami since they want to recruit Lionel Messi’s former <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/barcelona-tv-schedule/">Barcelona</a> teammate, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/luis-suarez-on-brink-of-new-move-and-reunion-with-barca-stars-20230723-WST-444868.html">Luis Suarez</a> by 2024. Since each club may now field a roster of four players, he stands to gain from the recently enacted franchise player legislation.



<h2>How does Designated Player rule work?</h2>



Teams in Major League Soccer are allowed to sign a maximum of three players whose wages are above the league’s pay ceiling according to the Designated Player (DP) rule. 



Consequently, clubs are able to compete for the services of prominent foreign players. A wage limit was put in place to ensure that clubs were not financially disadvantaged.



To improve player quality without going over budget, MLS has introduced programs such as Designated Players and allocation money, which are not cap-exempt. 



In 2023, the limit was $612,500 per DP, with the exception of players who joined during the Secondary Transfer Window, who had a budget charge of $306,250.



Photo credit: IMAGO / PA Images IMAGO / Icon Sportswire

MLS set to introduce new DP rules in 2024 impacting all clubs

A sea of change is coming to the American Major League Soccer, and it will have an effect on every team in the league.

MLS set to introduce new DP rules in 2024 impacting all clubs - World Soccer Talk

<a href="http:\/\/www.majorleaguesoccertalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/6a00e54ef2975b883300e55372b5fa8834-800wi.jpg"></a><div><figure class="image"><a href="http:\/\/www.majorleaguesoccertalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/6a00e54ef2975b883300e55372b5fa8834-800wi.jpg"></a></figure></div>Many times on this site, I’ve bemoaned that fact that American internationals face hurdles to return to MLS when their career in Europe has either stagnated or are failing to provide them with growth opportunities. &nbsp;This year there has been a change for the better with players like Charlie Davies, Benny Feilhaber, and Freddy Adu (!) coming home from overseas to gain valuable playing time in the domestic league. &nbsp;So because of all these successes, the case of Eddie Johnson stands out as an absolute oddity.
<a href="http:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/soccer-insider" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Steve Goff at The Washington Post goes through the entire affair</a>, but here is a quick summary: Johnson and his agent allegedly agreed to a contract with MLS this week and thus Johnson was subject to the allocation process. &nbsp;This is the same process by which the three aforementioned players landed on their current teams. &nbsp;MLS and Johnson found an unidentified team that had agreed to the salary conditions negotiated by the league, but in the past few hours Johnson pulled out of the agreement allegedly dissatisfied with the terms.
As Goff notes, Johnson could still sign with a team as a free agent but I would be shocked if that happened considering only one team wanted him through allocation. &nbsp;At age 27, he still has some good years ahead of him and it was not that long ago (2006) that he took the pitch for the U.S. in the World Cup. He’s scored over 50 career goals in all competitions in all leagues, which while not spectacular also isn’t bad. &nbsp;In his last season in MLS (2007) he scored 15 goals for Kansas City so he has shown he can play well in the league.
Yet only one team wanted to take a flier on him, despite the fact at least three of the top 10 teams in the most recent allocation order could use a striker. &nbsp;While salary was certainly a part of it (he would have cost over $200k against the cap) his time in England was less than impressive. &nbsp;Besides Los Angeles, teams are also beginning to seriously question older overseas players and focus more on younger, more affordable signings. &nbsp;It is probably not a coincidence, <a href="http:\/\/www.majorleaguesoccertalk.com/mls-announces-youth-designated-player-initiative/13642" target="_blank" rel="noopener">as Earl points out</a>, that the new DP rules came out when they did.
Would you support your team signing Eddie Johnson? &nbsp;Is there a team that would be a good fit in MLS, or is his timing in coming back to the States wrong?

Do You Want Eddie Johnson on Your Team? - World Soccer Talk

Do You Want Eddie Johnson on Your Team?

<div style="float: right;margin-left: 5px"><a href="http:\/\/view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/sports/san-jose-earthquakes/image/10039446?term=Dwayne+De+Rosario" target="_blank"><div><figure class="image"></figure></div></a></div>
Toronto FC is the type of club that MLS would love to be successful.&nbsp; They have a loyal and dedicated fan base, Toronto is a growing soccer market that hosted the 2008 All Star Game, and the team has a good core of players almost made a playoff run last year.&nbsp; Despite all this, the club’s offseason has been an absolute debacle to date.&nbsp; And with today’s Dwayne De Rosario news, a bad offseason could be turning even worse.
As an update, MLS 2010 Best XI player Dwayne De Rosario was caught on camera practicing with Scottish club Celtic this morning.&nbsp; De Rosario is under contract and Toronto FC today <a href="http:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/despite-tfc-denials-de-rosario-trains-celtic" target="_blank">released a statement</a> saying he has not been given permission to train with any club.&nbsp; Celtic management is praising his training and it looks like they could offer a deal in the approaching transfer window (although all transfer rumors must be taken with a grain of salt).
While I am sure the rest of this story will be revealed in the coming days, it is a damning indication of the current chaos of the Toronto front office.&nbsp; If the details of the story are true and the club’s best player went for a tryout without their knowledge, it is a huge breach of contract by the player but also stunning the club had no idea where he was or what he was doing.&nbsp; Clubs should not have ankle bracelets on their players, but someone somewhere with connections in the organization should have heard something before now.&nbsp; Jurgen Klinsmann is incredibly connected, someone must have dropped him a line at some point!
Which leads to my second scenario – the club has known what is happening and wanted to keep it a secret.&nbsp; If that’s the case, then misleading fans by denying any knowledge of the training would be a huge blunder.&nbsp; As I said, this is speculation based on the facts as have been reported.
But none of this is surprising after the offseason in Toronto, which has to leave TFC fans frustrated and confused.The team is the only one in MLS that does not have a head coach and general manager after last season’s firings, and the lack of direction is showing.&nbsp; Hiring Klinsmann was supposed to provide credibility to the front office, but there have not been any visible signs of his impact on the organization.&nbsp; Earlier this month Klinsmann said the team would be “clearing up” the GM and head coach situation before Christmas.&nbsp; Here’s hoping they are negotiating with two great surprise picks after this delay.&nbsp; <a href="http:\/\/www.majorleaguesoccertalk.com/toronto-fc-does-the-unthinkable-it-listens-to-fans/10399" target="_blank">It’s not like fan-management relations are at an all-time high.</a>
On the field this team has had one focus – clearing cap space.&nbsp; While this is not a terrible goal in general, the direction is has taken the club is not a good one.&nbsp; So far this offseason, TFC has released or declined the options on eight players, traded one (Joseph Nane) to Colorado, and had one (O’Brian White) taken by Vancouver in the expansion draft.&nbsp; In player acquisitions, they have gotten one player – Nathan Sturgis.&nbsp; So while the team has gotten less expensive, the depth has been drastically hit.
So where does this leave Dwayne De Rosario?&nbsp; He is the team’s second DP, so if he is transferred to Celtic the club frees up a decent amount of money and a second DP space.&nbsp; This would allow them to begin making a complete overhaul of the roster with a goal of using the Superdraft and a key DP-signing or two to make this club a competitor in the weaker Eastern Conference.&nbsp; But again it goes back to management – what has the front office done to give fans confidence in the team?&nbsp; It will be interesting to see what TFC looks like in March 2011.

Toronto FC Continues Its Befuddling Offseason with De Rosario Controversy - World Soccer Talk

Toronto FC Continues Its Befuddling Offseason with De Rosario Controversy

<a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/SEATTLE-FANS.jpg"></a><div><figure class="image"><a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/SEATTLE-FANS.jpg"><img loading="lazy" src="https:\/\/ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https:\/\/images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/WST_20101207_WST_11045_SEATTLE-FANS-600x398.webp&amp;width=600&amp;height=398" alt="SEATTLE FANS" width="600" height="398" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-85053" srcset="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2013/09/SEATTLE-FANS-600x398.jpg 600w, https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2013/09/SEATTLE-FANS-150x99.jpg 150w, https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2013/09/SEATTLE-FANS-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2013/09/SEATTLE-FANS.jpg 1600w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a></figure></div>
Overlooked in the American World Cup hype was the move by Seattle to sign their young striker Freddy Montero to an extension which also makes him a designated player.&nbsp; Montero, 23, becomes Seattle’s third DP, joining Blaise Nkufo and Alvaro Fernandez.&nbsp; More importantly, the signing prevents the young talent and 2009 Rookie of the Year from moving to Europe for more money and allows Seattle to keep their nucleus of talent in tact.
The designated player rule was originally known as the “Beckham Rule” because it was supposed to allow clubs the financial flexibility to sign international stars like Beckham (and later Thierry Henry) outside of the normal salary cap.&nbsp; Later, the Galaxy used the rule to compensate Landon Donovan and keep him in Los Angeles, compensating him for his talent and PR value.&nbsp; But a club like Seattle is now using the DP rule to build the club from within and avoid losing high-priced players, as well as finding international talent.&nbsp; Consider:
<ul>
<li>Nkufo is a former Switzerland international who was a leading scorer for FC Twente in the early 2000s.&nbsp; Seattle used the DP rule to lure him to the U.S.</li>
<li>Fernandez is a Uruguay international who began his career in a variety of South American clubs, but is reaching his peak in the U.S. after signing with Seattle in the summer.</li>
<li>Montero was originally loaned to Seattle from Deportivo Cali before MLS negotiated his transfer to Seattle.&nbsp; He is now firmly on Seattle’s payroll as a DP.</li>
</ul>
<div style="float: right;margin-left: 5px"><a href="http:\/\/view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/sports/united-real-salt-lake/image/9465337?term=Alvaro+Saborio" target="_blank"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" src="https:\/\/ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https:\/\/images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/WST_20101207_WST_11045_united-real-salt-lake.webp&amp;width=234&amp;height=386" border="0" alt="SANDY, UT - JULY 31: Alvaro Saborio of Real Salt Lake celebrates his goal against DC United during the first half of an MLS soccer game July 31, 2010 at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah. (Photo by George Frey/Getty Images)" width="234" height="386"></figure></div></a></div>
Also joining the growing designated player list is Alvaro Saborio, Real Salt Lake’s first DP.&nbsp; Saborio’s rights were transferred from Swiss club FC Sion after scoring 12 times in MLS play for RSL and being named Newcomer of the Year.
Looking at the current designated players (current defined as players who are playing in MLS and have a DP contract) you see a definite trend emerging of teams using the DP rule to lock-up their own players or players-on-loan to them rather than going out and grabbing big international names.&nbsp; A good reason for this is the lack of huge stars that would find MLS clubs with DP spots available as attractive places to play.&nbsp; But another is a smart use of the rule – clubs can lock up their own talent, control the player’s contract, and pay them somewhat their worth.
So who’s next for the designated player tag?

The obvious choice would be Colorado’s Omar Cummings, who despite scoring 28 goals since 2008 only made about $80,000 this past year.&nbsp; Colorado recently said they would strive to keep the forward after <a href="http:\/\/www.goal.com/en-us/news/114/mexico/2010/12/01/2240837/estudiantes-have-target-colorados-omar-cummings" target="_blank">Estudientes</a> and possibly some European clubs have targeted him.&nbsp; But to increase his pay to a level to tempt him to stay in the U.S., they would almost have to slap a DP tag on him.
Who do you think will be the next current MLS player to become a designated player?

Which MLS Star Will be the Next Designated Player? - World Soccer Talk

Which MLS Star Will be the Next Designated Player?

<div style="text-align: center"><a href="http:\/\/view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/entertainment/red-bulls-angel-reacts/image/10131040?term=Juan+Pablo+Angel" target="_blank"><div><figure class="image"></figure></div></a></div>
Not even 24 hours after crowning its champion, MLS was back to business by requiring its clubs to list its protected players for the expansion draft.&nbsp; The expansion draft is just one of several drafts taking place this offseason for MLS, and the unprotected list for this draft has some interesting names.&nbsp; Most notably is the number of designated players left unprotected – seven, which is two more than the number protected by clubs.&nbsp; But since no club has yet to win an MLS Cup with a DP, maybe this is not surprising.
You can see the entire list of players <a href="http:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/mls-releases-unprotected-list-expansion-draft" target="_blank">here</a>.&nbsp; The unprotected players can be sorted by a few general categories:
Designated Players – Not David Beckham, but some of the lesser name DPs have been left unprotected.&nbsp; Some are disappointments that the club is looking to shed the salary of.&nbsp; But some of the more “name” DPs exposed include the Red Bulls Juan Pablo Angel and Seattle’s Blaise Nkufo.&nbsp; Maybe the best of this group is the Quakes’ Geovanni.
Past Stars – MLS’s second-leading goal scorer is available, as Jeff Cunningham was made available by FC Dallas.&nbsp; Also, as part of their rebuilding, the Crew put Guillermo Barros Schelotto on their list, making a veteran leader available for either expansion team.&nbsp; And instead of being placed in the re-entry draft, Sporting KC’s Jimmy Conrad was left unprotected.
2010 Playoff Stars – Colorado is protecting most of the starters from its MLS Cup-winning club (with the notable exception being Anthony Wallace) but FC Dallas is exposing a number of its big names: Eric Avila, Atiba Harris, captain Daniel Hernandez, and Dax McCarty.&nbsp; Playoff qualifiers Seattle (Nyassi) and Real Salt Lake (Grabavoy) also made the decision to possibly part ways with some key contributors.
Players Leaving – Yes Jonathan Bornstein is leaving for Mexico, but MLS rules still state he needs to be placed on the unprotected list.&nbsp; Just a weird quirk.
Players Not on the List – One player that was expected to be on the list was Brian Carroll, but the Crew traded him today to the Philadelphia Union.&nbsp; While Carroll is reunited with his former coach and Columbus clears more cap space for rebuilding, I am sure Vancouver and Portland executives were looking seriously at drafting him.&nbsp; There are also quirky decisions scattered throughout the league, like New England holding on to two keepers.
Obviously factors like need and cap space will factor into who is selected, but pretend you are the GM of one of these expansion teams.
[polldaddy poll=4131631]

Seven DPs Left Unprotected in Expansion Draft - World Soccer Talk

Seven DPs Left Unprotected in Expansion Draft

<div style="float: left;margin-right: 5px"><a href="http:\/\/view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/sports/freddy-adu/image/5307291?term=Freddy+Adu" target="_blank"><div><figure class="image"></figure></div></a></div>
The news that Wolves and U.S. national team keeper Marcus Hahnemann is <a href="http:\/\/soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=839906&amp;sec=england&amp;cc=5901&amp;cc=5901" target="_blank">open to retuning to MLS</a> in 2011 got me thinking about other Americans abroad.&nbsp; As the MLS has matured in a good and competitive soccer league, it is no longer absurd to think a world-class player could play in MLS.&nbsp; This is true of younger players who are the future of the USMNT and may want to be close to the coaching staff to increase their chances of making the squad.&nbsp; And, as we have seen with some of the designated player signings, MLS is a good location for older players who may want to market themselves or play in the U.S.&nbsp; For Americans, it is a chance to return home and play in front of family and friends.
With that in mind, here are five Americans I want to see return to MLS in the near future, either to further their development or to spend the rest of their career.&nbsp; I tried to be realistic with this list and not include those players who obviously are benefiting from playing overseas, so you will not see a Tim Howard or Michael Bradley below.&nbsp; But who did I miss or do you disagree with my selections?&nbsp; Sound off in the comments.
Freddy Adu
I will admit I am firmly pro-Adu.&nbsp; His time in MLS was marred with unrealistic expectations, and his time overseas has seen him bounce from club to club.&nbsp; He is still on the national team radar, however, and there is a slight chance he could get the call up for the South Africa friendly.&nbsp; To be honest, I think the level of play in MLS has exceeded that of Aris (his current club), but the stumbling block may be his price tag.&nbsp; He is making decent money overseas, but I hope he considers a return stateside to be closer to the USMNT coaching staff.
Marcus Hahnemann
Sort of an obvious choice, I look forward to a possible return by the keeper.&nbsp; Even at 38, he is a top notch keeper and would be a good edition to a West Coast club, where he could be close to his Washington home.&nbsp; And, even though Tim Howard is the #1 keeper, he still has a chance at taking over the top spot if Howard is injured or through poor play.&nbsp; Vancouver currently has Jay Nolly penciled in as their starter, so there is an opportunity there.
Herculez Gomez
While he has only been gone from MLS for a season, the US men’s national team starter excelled for Puebla, tying for the lead in goals scored and setting the record for most goals scored by an American.&nbsp; His MLS career was filled with bad coaching matches and untimely injuries, but I would still like to see him maybe play for a Chivas and provide them with some star power.
Jay DeMerit
This is an obvious one.&nbsp; Jay DeMerit is looking for a job, and the prospects of a top-flight European league are slim.&nbsp; He is a former MLS prospect, has international club experience, and played in the most recent World Cup.&nbsp; What’s the downside here?&nbsp; Someone who needs a defender should come in and swipe him up as soon as January rolls around.
Michael Parkhurst
The defender was a member of his boyhood club the New England Revolution before he departed in 2008 for Denmark.&nbsp; MLS should make an attempt to woo him back after his three year deal expires.&nbsp; He was quality when he played in the states, and if he wants to be a fixture in the USMNT lineup playing in front of Bob Bradley can only help.

Five US Players I Want to See in MLS - World Soccer Talk

Five US Players I Want to See in MLS

<div id="attachment_2399" style="width: 370px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><div><figure class="image"></figure></div>Omar Bravo</div>
Last Saturday morning, while he was in town to promote the fights taking place that evening at Houston’s Toyota Center, Oscar de la Hoya stopped by Estadio Robertson to chat with reporters while watching his Houston Dynamo host the Montreal Impact in a 70 minute practice match. While most of the de la Hoya press conference focused on the impending fights, Houston’s own Juan “The Baby Bull” Diaz, and de la Hoya’s future as a boxer, de la Hoya did discuss the team that his Golden Boy Promotions bought an interest in just over a year ago. In addition to expressing his opinion that a stadium deal among the Dynamo, the City of Houston, and Harris County was going to be finalized soon, de la Hoya also indicated his desire that the Dynamo sign a big name player from Mexico; however, he did not commit to a time from for such a signing and he did not indicate that he had any particular player in mind.
Little did we in the press know that the Houston Dynamo had already set their sights on Omar Bravo and were actively courting the Mexican striker. Bravo made his debut with Club Deportivo Guadalajara on August 20, 2001, and went on to score 101 goals over 258 appearances for Chivas. The only Chivas player with more goals then Bravo is Salvador Reyes who scored 122 goals. This past summer, Bravo parted ways with Chivas and signed with La Liga’s Deportivo La Coruña, where he made 9 appearances and scored his only goal against Málaga CF.
Late last month news emerged that Bravo would be returning to Mexico on a 4 month loan to UANL Tigres – a loan deal that could turn into a permanent transfer. But the news had emerged before a deal was finalized and the Houston Dynamo quietly expressed their interest in obtaining Bravo’s services and signing him as the club’s first designated player.
In his blog on MyDynamo.com on Friday morning, Dynamo COO, Chris Canetti, finally addressed the Dynamo’s close but failed effort to sign Bravo. Dynamo Coach Dominic Kinnear, who is well acquainted with Mexican soccer and Omar Bravo, was very interested in adding Bravo to his team’s offense, giving it that extra offensive firepower that so many fear was lost with the departure of Dwayne De Rosario.
The Dynamo have not provided detailed information on the course and status of the Bravo negotiations, but the Dynamo believed they had a serious shot at landing Bravo and are uncertain as to why he chose to go to Tigres instead of Houston. In the end, Tigres is pay $500,000.00 for the loan and then could acquire Bravo by paying a $4.3 million transfer fee this summer. In light of these figures, it is possible that the MLS front office balked at coughing up the necessary money to bring Bravo to the Dynamo, but the team contends that the league was in full support of the Dynamo’s efforts to bring Bravo to the MLS. More likely, it had to do with Bravo concluding that his best shot at securing a starting spot with El Tri would be playing in Mexico.
After the failed effort to sign Luis Angel Landin earlier in this MLS off-season, it is not surprising that the Dynamo kept their efforts to sign Bravo quiet. What is clear is that the Dynamo, a team that has won two MLS Cups without relying on the designated player rule, is seriously open to signing a designated player and the team has seemingly set its sights on offensive talent from our southern neighbor. That being said, Canetti is still making it clear that the team is weighing several factors in determining who they go after, factors that include age, position, ability, talent, contract status, style, attitude, salary requirements, and, yes, marketability.
Had the Dynamo signed Bravo, who just turned 29 this week, it would have marked the biggest signing going into the 2009 MLS season. Not only did Bravo make a name for himself by playing at and being the poster boy for one of Mexico’s most popular, and hated, clubs, but he has 55 caps and 14 goals for the Mexican National Team, including a brace in Mexico’s match against Iran in the 2006 FIFA World Cup finals, the Dynamo would have legitimized the club in the eyes of football fans in Mexico. That’s not meant as a knock against the Dynamo, who already have a good reputation in Mexico, but Dynamo jersey sales would have shot up south of the border in the same manner that Blanco’s time at Real Valladolid Club de Fútbol legitimized that Spanish side in Mexico and had football fans in Mexico wearing the purple and white kits in public.
One of the interesting points made to me by my colleague Rey Gallegos is that not only have the Dynamo been eyeing soccer players in Mexico, but the club has been pursuing Mexican players who are equipped to handle the physical play of the MLS. Landin stands about 6 feet and has the physicality to handle the rough play of the MLS, while Bravo was an amateur boxer who knows how to employ the physical traits of that sport while on the soccer pitch.
It is the patient yet persistent approach that the Dynamo have shown on the pitch these past few years, resulting in the team becoming on of the top clubs currently in the MLS, that the club appears to be employing in its efforts to sign a designated player. The question is not if the Dynamo will sign a DP, it is when and who will it be? Based on the team’s recent efforts, the answers are likely to be soon and someone who will contribute positively both on and off the pitch.
– Brian Zygo is the Bureau Chief for the World Soccer Wrap – Houston Bureau and a co-host of the 1560 The Game Soccer Show. Special thanks to Rey Gallegos for his insight on Bravo and the Beautiful Game in Mexico.

ALL POSTS TAGGED "Designated Player"

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Beckham Rule

Which MLS Star Will be the Next Designated Player?

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Americans Abroad

Five US Players I Want to See in MLS

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The Long and Winding Road – Dynamo Again Try to Sign an Offensive Weapon from Mexico