Good-bye Manchester United, adious Madrid and hello Los Angeles!
Pele tried to get Americans interested in football.ooops soccer. He did get younger children interested but only up to when they were in middle school.
Can David Beckham’s move from from Real Madrid to Los Angeles Galaxy make it more interesting?
Even if he doesn’t he will make £128 million over the next 5 years, (£5.1 million a year), with the Major League Soccer.
It can’t be for the money because Real Madrid offered him more per year, but with his 5 year deal it will establish him as the world’s highest paid footballer.
In America he can endorse up to$10 million in merchandising deals and$5 million a year to the$20 million he nets through deals with sponsors.
The LA Galaxy and the team’s owners, the entertainment and leisure AEG, ( Simon Fuller, the founder of the Spice Girls and Pop Idol), gave him a profit sharing deal that might make his total package to more than$50 million. Not bad for an aging player who is 31 years old.
Beckham and his pop star wife, Victoria, should fit in just fine in LA. He opened a Soccer Academy in Carson, California, last year where the Galaxy stadium is located.
The Los Angeles Galaxy have arguably been the most successful team in MLS history. Over the course of the first decade, the Galaxy were the only club to put their stamp on the postseason every year. But 2006 marked the first time in league history that Los Angeles failed to make the playoffs.
The Major League Soccer, (MLS), is a premier professional soccer league founded in 1996 after the United States hosted the 1994 FIFA World Cup. Now in its 11th season, MLS is experiencing a period of growth highlighted by expansion, the construction of soccer stadiums and new investors.
The original 10 teams were divided into two conferences: the Eastern Conference(Columbus Crew, D.C. United, New England Revolution, NY/NJ MetroStars, and Tampa Bay Mutiny), and Western Conference(Colorado Rapids, Dallas Burn, Kansas City Wiz, Los Angeles Galaxy, and San Jose Clash). In 1998 the league expanded to 12 teams adding the Chicago Fire and Miami Fusion. Tampa and Miami lost money and left in the 2001 season.
In 2004 the league expanded again, adding Real Salt Lake, located in Utah and Chivas USA, which shares stadium facilities with the Los Angeles Galaxy. Toronto FC is the newest team.
Who will be sitting with Posh Spice in the stands? Tom and Katie Cruise.
Thanks for reading my review.
©LL2007