How Steven Gerrard Saved Major League Soccer

During the last week, very few positives surfaced for Major League Soccer. The league was flying high on cloud nine over the past few months. Expansion sides New York City FC and Orlando City were both preparing for their league debuts by signing some of the world’s best to help build their squads.

For New York City FC — co-owned by Major League Baseball’s highly successful New York Yankee’s and Premier League giants Manchester City — being the first Major League Soccer club to play home matches in New York (the New York Red Bulls actually play their matches in New Jersey) made the club the league’s crown jewel.

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The club quickly made some major moves, signing both Spanish International David Villa and English International Frank Lampard. However, the high was about come to a quick end; Lampard was loaned to parent club Manchester City to help retain fitness before rejoining New York for the club’s preseason.

Going against the grain of what many thought, Lampard proved he was still a top class Premier League midfielder. Since arriving in Manchester, Lampard has netted five league goals in fourteen appearances, and played a crucial role in helping City advance in the Champions League. He played so well, the powers that be decided that he should remain with Manchester City until the season’s end.

All of what Major League Soccer had tried to prove in the last decade was now gone. Manchester City has turned the league’s crown gem into its B squad. Many MLS fans have begun calling the club Chivas Jr. They have begun to tilt even more in this direction, as others claim the club is nothing but a way for the club to avoid FFP sanctions.

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The news now coming from Manchester City makes things a lot worse. The United Kingdom’s Daily Star reports that Manchester City is considering an extension to Lampard’s loan, one that would keep him at Manchester until the end of next season. That’s right, the end of the 2015-2016 season.

With many believing those actions a slap in the face to MLS, the question now becomes: How can MLS  ever become a top flight league if the world’s elite treat the league as a feeder system and second best? However, one man seems to have provided hope, at least for now.

ESPNFC is reporting that former England Captain and Liverpool Star Steven Gerrard has agreed to join the defending MLS Cup champions Los Angeles Galaxy on an 18 month contract, starting at the end of the current Premier League campaign. The decision by one of England’s greatest ever soccer players to join MLS proves the strength of the league.

Unlike both David Beckham and Frank Lampard, Gerrard’s signing did not make the national papers. But the move proves the class of MLS. Gerrard in his premier league career currently sits on 494 appearances for Liverpool with 116 goals, many coming as the club’s captain. A fitting player to take over for American great Landon Donovan following his retirement.

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Moving to Los Angeles also brings with it great prestige, similar to David Beckham’s star power in the United States. For Gerrard, one wonders if that star power could create another legend. For many within the United States, David Beckham’s career prior to Los Angeles is probably not known, but he is now one of the best known soccer stars in the country.

The damage done to Major League Soccer — by both Frank Lampard and Manchester City — cannot be undone overnight. In fact, it could take years for the league to undo that damage. However, Steven Gerrard has made a statement by signing with the Los Angeles Galaxy. He chose to come to MLS play in the world’s fastest growing league.

As much as Major League Soccer wants to make a name for itself by using home grown talent, the league needs the international star power that Steven Gerrard provides. Gerrard brings with him the world class quality that MLS needs if it wishes to grow even more. For one of the world’s best players to choose MLS, it signals respect. Respect for how MLS has grown, and what the league may one day become.

Just like an NYCFC executive said, “If you don’t want to be here, then leave.” Well Frank Lampard, if you don’t want to be here, then leave, I’ll take Steven Gerrard over you any day of the week.