In world football, those who played in the most prestigious European leagues have always been considered the best players . This list includes such championships as Italian (Serie A), Spanish (La Liga), English (Premier League), German (Bundesliga), French (Ligue 1), Portuguese (Ligue Portuguese) and Dutch (Eradivisia). Of course, this does not mean that the best players of a certain championship are representatives of his own nationality. In world football, transfer rotations occur seasonally. Famous clubs spend a lot of money for acquiring a talented player who can play in a completely different league.
We all know that the American Football League (MLS) does not stand along with the leagues listed above. Unfortunately, standard football in the USA is not as popular as we would like. In view of this, the MLS league is slightly inferior in terms of excellence and quality to European leagues. However, some American football players are sometimes driven to a new professional level. Talented players who have established themselves in the MLS league often generate interest from European giants. In this article, we will consider the famous American football players who have conquered the highest European football leagues.
Clint Dempsey and his football story
Clinton Drew Dempsey is an American midfielder and striker, now playing for the Seattle Sounders team. From 2007 to 2013 he played in the English Premier League - first at Fulham (from 2007 to 2012), and then at Tottenham Hotspur (2012-2013). Wedge Dempsey is one of the best football players in US history. All American football players sometimes admit it. After all, Dempsey's merits force him to show due respect. Wedge Dempsey is the first United States national team footballer to score in three world championships. Also, this talented guy is considered the second scorer of his team (after Landon Donovan).
By the way, Clinton has every chance to take the first line, because he still stands for the US team, unlike his competitor Donovan. Dempsey’s merit and records do not end there - this player is one of the five leaders of the US team in the number of matches played (again, there is every chance to take a higher place, due to the fact that the player is still a player of his national team).
Clinton Dempsey Biography
He was born on March 9 in 1983 in the city of Nakodoches, Texas (USA). From his story it is known that the guy grew up in a very poor family. Poverty and difficult life circumstances led to the fact that the family could not save enough money to buy a house, so I had to live in a trailer. This caravan was located in one of the parks of the city of Nakodoches, where many people lived in addition to the Dempsey family. Boring everyday life was embellished only by football, which was taught to Clinton by local Mexican children. As a child, Dempsey always wanted to be like all the famous American football players. His list of idols included such names as Casey Keller, George Pope, Hugo Perez and many others.
Once, during another trip to Dallas, a young Clint convinced his parents to turn a couple of miles in the opposite direction in order to get to the shows in one youthful football club. The boy lived up to his request, and he was accepted into the club. Soon, parents made a serious choice, their eldest daughter Jennifer showed good results in tennis. In view of this, Clinton temporarily had to forget about football because of the banal lack of parental money. When Clint turned 12, a terrible tragedy occurred in the family - Jennifer's sister died due to a serious illness with blood vessels. Young Dempsey swore on her grave that he would devote all his goals scored to her. In 2001, Clinton Dempsey was admitted to Furman Paladis University, where until 2003 he played in the student football league and was the undisputed leader.
Dempsey's Football Career History
In 2004, at an annual draft in the MLS League, Clint Dempsey joined the New England Flag Revolution team. Along with this, he was recognized as the best debutant of the season. Having shown his character and high football professionalism, in the same year he was invited to the US team. In 2005, he became the top scorer at the CONCACAF tournament (he scored a goal against such teams as Spain, Brazil and Egypt). In 2006 he received the award of the best player in the national team. In 2007, he became the best player of the year in the English Premier League (for Fulham). In 2014, he became the author of the fifth fastest goal in the world championships - he scored a goal against Ghana at the 29th second.
Best U.S. football player ever - Landon Donovan
Landon Timothy Donovan is an attacking midfielder and striker. Known for his appearances for such clubs as Bayer 04 (Germany), Los Angeles Galaxy (USA), Everton (England). Donovan tops the list of the best American football players in US history. And he holds this title by right, because he is the top scorer of his national team (57 goals for the US team). In addition, playing for the Los Angeles Galaxy, Landon Donovan is the top scorer and distributor of the American League MLS in its entire history (144 goals and 136 assists).
Landon Donovan Biography
Born March 4, 1984 in Ontario, California (USA). Born in a good and noble family - mother Donna Kenny-Cash was a primary school teacher at school, and father Tim Donovan was a hockey player in a semi-professional Canadian league. At the age of six, he enrolled in the football section of Cal Heath School, where he scored seven goals in his first training match. In 1999, he studied at the IMG Football Academy in Florida. Here he studied various disciplines and played football professionally. Here, an amazing story happened to him, during which a young football player almost lost his leg. After another school day, Landon went to his favorite golf course to relax after a hard workout. By some miracle, a crocodile appeared on the field, which attacked Donovan. Fortunately, everything worked out, and Landon was not injured.
Landon Donovan's Sports Achievements Nicknamed Captain America
In the first season for Los Angeles Galaxy, Donovan scored fourteen goals (and 8 assists) and became the second scorer in the League of MLS. The debut season of the player was so impressed by the football community that he was included in the symbolic team of all times of the MLS League. The next season, “Captain America” continued to demonstrate a high-quality game, scoring 12 goals and giving the same 8 goals. With the arrival of David Beckham at Los Angeles Galaxy, Landon Donovan abandoned his captain's armband in favor of a world football star. In 2007, he became the top scorer in the North American League.
In 2010, it was rented by the English club Everton. Here Donovan quickly adapted and began to prove his competence on the field. Not to say that Landon scored a lot in the Premier League, but his game was considered the best in the club in tactical terms. Due to his vision of the field and quality layout, Landon has repeatedly been recognized as the best player of the month in the English Premier League. After the lease, Everton undoubtedly wanted to extend the agreement with the player, but Galaxy refused the offer.
Legendary American goalkeeper Tim Howard
Timothy Matthew Howard is an American goalkeeper who has been defending the goal of the English Everton for 11 years, where he has become a true legend. From the end of 2016 to the present, Tim has been playing for the Colorado Rapids Club (USA). The following can be distinguished from the football player’s achievements: winner of the English Super Cup 2003, FA Cup 2004, League Cup 2006, gold medalist of the CONCACAF 2007 championship. Tim Howard also has countless personal rewards.
Tim Howard Biography
Born March 6, 1970 in the city of North Brunswick, New Jersey, USA. His father was African American and his mother was Hungarian. When Tim was 3 years old, his parents divorced, and the boy stayed with his mother. However, the father did not forget about his sons (Howard has a brother Chris) and provided them with all the material. One day, his father insisted that the boys start playing sports, and bought them a lot of sports equipment. My father did this in order to understand what kind of sport the guys gravitate towards. Tim chose basketball and football. It is also known from his childhood that in the sixth grade Tim was shocked with the diagnosis of Tourette’s syndrome.
Club career and achievements of Tim Howard
Howard began his football career with the MetroStars team (USA). Here he lost for about 5 years and was the undisputed leader of the team, adequately defending his gates. In 2003, Manchester United (England, Premier League) made a proposal for the transfer of Tim Howard. As a result, the young goalkeeper agreed and signed a four-year contract, the amount of which amounted to 4 million dollars. In Manchester, Howard almost immediately replaced the legendary French goalkeeper Fabien Barthez. In 2003, the “Red Devils" became the owners of the Super Bowl of England. The final match against the London Arsenal reached the penalty shoot-out stage, where Tim Howard repelled a decisive blow and gave his team a victory.
In 2006, Howard was leased to Everton. The fact is that a new goalkeeper came to Manchester - Edwin van Der Sar, who took the place at the base. Spent the season at Everton was very successful, both for the team and for Tim himself. Soon the team bought a talented goalkeeper for $ 3 million, and Howard became a full-fledged Everton player. Here in the 2008/2009 season he became the new club record holder - the largest number of dry matches in the history of Everton.
In the English Premier League season 2011/2012, Tim Howard scored his first career goal. In the match against Bolton, Tim hit the ball with a heavy blow from his own penalty area, that he flew over the goalkeeper of the opposite team. This goal was the best in the Premier League 2011/2012 season. Thanks to this, Howard became the fourth goalkeeper of the Premier League, who managed to score from the game (statistics dates back to 1992). By the way, Tim did not celebrate this goal because of solidarity with the goalkeeper of Bolton, because he called his goal scored "cruel."
American football players in the Premier League
Josie Altidor is a striker who has played for Hull City and Sunderland. Now stands for the Canadian club Toronto and the US national team. Josie is the best US footballer in the Football Player of the Year nomination in 2013 and 2016. In 2008, he signed a contract with the Spanish club Villarreal, the amount of which was a record in the history of transfers of American football players - 10 million euros. In 2011, he signed a contract with the Dutch club AZ Alkmar, in which he achieved incredible heights - he won the Dutch Cup in the 2012/2013 season and was the club's top scorer (38 goals in 68 matches).
Matthew “Matt” Miazga is the first American football player at Chelsea. Matthew was born on July 19 in 1995 (Clifton, New Jersey, USA). A young soccer player plays the defender, is a backup player. From 2015 to the present, he has been playing for the U.S. national football team. He joined the English club in January 2016 for $ 5 million (contract for 4.5 years). In 2016, to receive gaming practice, he was sent on loan to the Vitesse club (Holland), where on October 1 he scored a goal against Groningen.
Bradley Michael is a midfielder who played for Aston Villa in 2011. Now plays for the Canadian football club Toronto. Bradley gained fame after a successful game at two world championships for the US team in 2010 and 2014. Born July 31 in 1987 in the city of Prison, New Jersey (USA). Best known to the football community for his appearances for clubs such as Borussia Mönchengladbach (Germany, Bundesliga 2008-2011), Chievo (Italy, Serie A, 2011-2012), Roma (Italy, Serie A, 2012-2013 ) Achievements: finalist of the Italian Cup 2013, gold medalist of the CONCACAF 2007 Cup, football player of the year in the USA 2015.
List of American Football Players in Europe
European scouts are constantly monitoring talents from the MLS League. After all, there is a huge accumulation of talents whose transfer price does not exceed $ 10 million.
Famous American football players perform well in Europe. In support of what has been written, we can cite the example of Christian Pulisic, Mikkel Diskurod, Freddy Adu and many other players. Over the past ten years, many talented players have moved from the League of MLS to more status championships. Let us give an example of American football players in European clubs.
Christian Pulisic
American footballer playing as a midfielder for the Dortmund Borussia. In 2016 he was called up to the US national team. Christian is the youngest player on our list, he was born in 1998 (September 18). He has high hopes, believing that this is the future pearl of American football. For Dortmund club Pulisic played more than 30 matches, in which he managed to distinguish himself 5 times.
Mikkel Diskerud
An American of Norwegian descent for Ruseborg, Stab k (Norway) and Gent (Belgium) as a midfielder. Now plays for the New York City. Over the course of his career, he scored more than 20 goals.
Freddy adu
An eminent talented American football player (born June 2, 1989), who has exchanged 7 European clubs. In the career of this striker, one can single out performances for Benfica (Portugal) and Monaco (France). In these teams he was a real leader and beat goals without knowing the word “stop”. Over the course of his career, he scored more than 50 goals.
The popularity of football in America is growing
The names of American football players over the past twenty years are becoming increasingly recognizable. Many new talents appear that immediately attract attention from famous clubs from around the world. Along with this, the football population in the United States is growing rapidly. Perhaps in ten years the US team will claim victory in the World Cup, no one excludes this fact.