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Bumper crop New MLS recruits could rival Class of '96
Posted: Friday March 10, 2000 01:03 PM
Is it me or is Major League Soccer's crop of new foreigners this season the best since the league's very first season in 1996? Perhaps this group is even better. Let's see. We have Lothar Matthaeus, Khodadad Azizi and Adolfo Valencia, just to drop a few names. And a league spokesman says MLS is not finished signing foreign players. In a few days, MLS might add the name of Bulgarian international star Hristo Stoichkov, who would be allocated to the Chicago Fire. They may not necessarily match the personality and glamour of the "Class of '96," when the league had to fill 10 full rosters from scratch, this year's group certainly holds its own. That Class of '96 included the wily Colombian Carlos Valderrama, who is still threading pin-point passes with the Tampa Bay Mutiny, classy Italian Roberto Donadoni and the fashion conscious and attack-minded Mexican goalkeeper Jorge Campos. In fact, at least one MLS coach rates this crop higher than the 1996 edition. "It's better than the first year," Columbus Crew coach Tom Fitzgerald said. "Overall, the influx of good foreigners this year is the best we've had. The quality of player on the field will show that." Only time will tell whether what type of impact these foreign bodies make on the league. So, who which foreigner players could wind up being the class of the "Class of 2000?" Here's a quick look: Lothar Matthaeus (Germany), defender-midfielder, New York/New Jersey MetroStars -- I don't know how much more I can say about this incredible physical specimen, who is still at the top of his game as he is about to turn 39. Just his disciplined training habits should lead his teammates by example and start the team turning around last season's abysmal 7-25 finish. The big question is whether coach Octavio Zambrano will use the German international at central defense or defensive midfielder (and perhaps build the attack through him). The gut feeling here is that Matthaeus is in such incredible shape that he can continue to play at the first division level for at least another two years. Khodadad Azizi (Iran), forward, San Jose Earthquakes -- Another former player from the German Bundesliga (FC Koln), the 28-year-old Azizi is a legitimate scoring threat and can create goals as well. The U.S. National Team can tell you that; the crafty veteran set up Iran's lone goal in a 1-1 tie in a Jan. 16 international friendly. Azizi, who also played in Iran's 2-1 win over the U.S. in the 1998 World Cup, probably is most famous for scoring twice in the final minutes to help Iran turn a 2-0 deficit to Australia into a 2-2 draw and a ticket to France '98. Adolfo Valencia (Colombia), forward, New York/New Jersey MetroStars -- The former Colombian international admitted why he decided to move from the Greek first division to MLS: to regain his spot on the Colombian national team. He wants to be seen by the powers that be, so he obviously has motivation to do well with the MetroStars. Valencia, 32, a former teammate of Matthaeus' at Bayern Munich, is expected to burn defenders with his speed. He will team up with yet another Colombian international, Alex Comas. If they can make beautiful music up front, the MetroStars will be a greatly improved team. And how knows? Valencia's chances of making the Colombian team could be greatly improved as well. John Wilmar Perez (Colombia), midfielder, Columbus Crew -- The Colombian invasion isn't just limited to the MetroStars. Perez, who has made 23 appearances for Colombia, is expected to be the long-elusive playmaking No. 10 the Crew has been searching for since Doctor Khumalo failed to deliver in 1996. The 30-year-old Perez, who will team with Robert Warzycha, came off the bench to rally Colombia past the U.S. in the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup. In fact, the former Deportivo Cali star was named Colombia's best player of the tournament by the media. Manuel "Junior" Agogo (England), forward, Chicago Fire -- The rich keep getting richer. Agogo, an English citizen who was born in Ghana, was signed as a discovery player after a tremendous training camp. Agogo, who is only 20, is an exciting player to watch thanks to his moves and speed. A member of Sheffield Wednesday's organization (English Premiership), he was loaned out to several other English clubs. Miklos Molnar (Denmark), forward, Kansas City Wizards -- Another training camp sensation, Molnar is far from a marquee name in this country, but he is expected to give the Wizards' attack some needed pop with his speed and an outstanding shot. Molnar, 29, who performed for the Danes in the 1998 World Cup, most recently played for Sevilla (Spanish Second Division). Another Wizards player to watch is Trinidad & Tobogan forward Gary Glasgow, 23, a discovery player who scored 14 goals with the Richmond Kickers (A-League) in 1999 after 15 with New Orleans in 1998. He's definitely worth a shot. Remember the last Trinidad player from the A-League who moved to MLS? Stern John forged a reputation as a goal-scoring terror with the Columbus Crew before the league sold his contract to Nottingham Forest (England) last year. Martin Machon (Guatemala), midfielder, Miami Fusion -- Wait a minute! Wasn't there a Martin Machon who starred for the Los Angeles Galaxy in 1997 and 1998? There sure was. Machon, who played with Santos Laguna (Mexican First Division) last year, has returned to MLS for at least one more season. While he isn't a new foreigner, Machon, 27, a standout defensive midfielder, is expected to make an impact and help shore up a woeful defense. Hristo Stoichkov (Bulgaria), midfielder-forward, Chicago Fire -- OK, OK, he hasn't signed with the league yet but Fire general manager Peter Wilt feels the 34-year-old will and be allocated to his club. "I'm confident we'll work out a deal for an allocation to bring in Stoichkov," he said. Stoichkov will be a great find -- on and off the field. He is a true personality. His desire to win is matched by only his desire to score. Through the semifinals of the 1994 World Cup, Stoichkov had connected for six goals through the semifinals, tying him with Russia's Oleg Salenko (but since Salenko had played fewer games, he was going to be declared the goalscoring champion). During a supposedly meaningless third-place match, Stoichkov was so frustrated in missing a shot that he pounded his fists in frustration after he fell to the ground in the penalty area. Stoichkov never scored that elusive seventh goal. A few years later, Stoichkov showed he can be a charmer as well. Joining in a protest over the firing of Bulgarian coach Dimitar Penev, Stoichkov sat out the early qualifiers for France '98. When he wanted to return to the team, he sent new coach Hristo Bonev a peace offering -- a bouquet of flowers. He was welcomed back. Michael Lewis covers soccer for the New York Daily News and is editor of Soccer Magazine. To submit a question or comment to Michael Lewis, click here.
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