Finally, this Mexican trio makes an impact in Europe

	Ricardo Osorio (left) and Pavel Pardo were instrumental in helping Stuttgart win its first Bundesliga title in 15 years. AP
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Mexico's well-kept secret might be on the verge of spreading all across Europe.

In years past, the Mexican league has fielded strong teams with talented players who were a mystery to most outside the country. While Cruz Azul, Club América and Chivas de Guadalajara carry a certain mystique in Mexico, they're out of sight and out of mind across the pond.

But that may change soon. After the success of three World Cup veterans in Europe, Old World clubs may soon look to Mexico as a viable option from which to stockpile players.

After all, two noteworthy clubs did just that this season and were rewarded handsomely. After strong performances at the 2006 World Cup, Ricardo Osorio and Pavel Pardo joined Bundesliga outfit VfB Stuttgart. With key contributions from both, die Roten claimed their first Bundesliga crown in 15 years.

Meanwhile, Carlos Salcido latched onto Dutch side PSV Eindhoven and helped boost the club to its third consecutive Eredivisie crown.

Even though Pardo was the only one of the three to hoist a Mexican league trophy, the trio took with them to Europe poise, determination and skill. That they even left seemed a bit odd at first. After all, the list of triumphant European-based Mexicans is short: Rafael Márquez was a star at AS Monaco before joining Barcelona; current national-team coach Hugo Sánchez is one of the Spanish league's all-time greats; and Gerardo Torrado had successful, albeit brief, spells with four Spanish clubs.

Other Mexican stars, however, had little success in their own transatlantic jaunts. Jared Borgetti did little to distinguish himself with Bolton Wanderers in '05. Cuauhtémoc Blanco and Francisco Palencia, meanwhile, had brief and unsuccessful stays with Spanish sides Real Valladolid and Espanyol, respectively, earlier this decade.

Another '06 World Cup standout failed miserably in his own short stint abroad. Francisco "Kikín" Fonseca bombed in Europe even though he seemed poised for success. He caught Portugal's attention after scoring against the Portuguese national team in a 2-1 loss in the World Cup last summer and was snatched up by SuperLiga power Benfica. But Fonseca's goal-scoring prowess didn't carry over from the Mexican League -- he moved back across the Atlantic in January and joined Tigres UANL.

But where Kikín and Co. failed, the current trio of champions succeeded almost immediately.

Osorio and Pardo surprised many in Mexico by leaving Cruz Azul and América, respectively, for Stuttgart. Not largely followed in Mexico, the Bundesliga and its style of play seems less suitable for Mexican players than most other top European leagues.

Of all the big leagues, Spain seems the most logical destination for Mexicans for more than just the common languages. La Liga is probably the most-followed foreign league in Mexico and beloved Mexican coach Javier "Vasco" Aguirre has found success on the sidelines of Osasuna and Atlético Madrid.

Nonetheless, Osorio and Pardo set out to conquer new frontiers together. A former América captain and a veteran of the '98 and '06 World Cups, Pardo showed his worth almost immediately. He started in all 33 Bundesliga contests, one of only three Stuttgart players to do so. His wealth of international and Mexican League experience was immeasurable in the Stuttgart midfield.

Osorio, meanwhile, also made a surprising switch. Overshadowed by Márquez and Salcido on the Mexican national team's back line, Osorio possesses speed, strength and a deft touch. But his career path was nondescript compared to Pardo. Osorio won his first cap in '03 and quickly became a fixture on the right side of Mexico's defense. Despite a standout effort in the World Cup, his Stuttgart move raised eyebrows.

While Pardo and Osorio had each other to count on in their journeys abroad, Salcido went it alone. A longtime standout with Chivas, Salcido had a large following in Mexico and was gaining in popularity with national hero Márquez.

Like Osorio, Salcido won his first cap under former Tri coach Ricardo Lavolpe. A tough left-sided defender, Salcido also has a finishing touch and isn't afraid to go forward. Such progressive attributes on the field led him to follow a diverging career path as well.

Like his German-based compatriots, Salcido found instant success. He quickly became a fixture at PSV and played in all but one Eredivisie match. He scored one goal -- a 20-yard bullet against Excelsior last November -- but made his mark with his defensive prowess as PSV captured its third straight league title and reached the quarterfinals of the Champions League.

Some younger Mexicans are already in place with European clubs. Carlos Vela (Arsenal) and Giovanni dos Santos (Barcelona) are bound for success. But budding Mexico-based talents such as Andrés Guardado of Atlas and Guillermo Ochoa of América can take solace and perhaps draw inspiration from their elder countrymen's successes abroad. Perhaps it will swing open the door to Europe for future generations of Mexicans.