Throughout the week, rumors have grown that top English Premier League clubs including Liverpool and Manchester City have been tracking United States international and FC Dallas winger Brek Shea. The possibility of such a high-profile move for the 21-year old is an exciting possibility for American soccer fans.
Seeing an American consistently compete for league titles and regularly play deep into the Champions League would be a first for American soccer and indeed a major step forward. To be sure, Shea is the most electrifying talent to be produced by the country in recent years. The lanky midfielder possesses a willingness and ability to take on defenders that is rare in American soccer.
Shea would not be the first American to be lured overseas, nor will he be the last. But as the Americans that have gone before him have proved, a move from the MLS to a top-notch European club is no easy task. Shea would be wise consider the experiences of countrymen abroad before agreeing to a move. Three major things he’ll need to succeed come to mind:
Maturity
Case in Point: At age 17, Landon Donovan joined German club Bayer Leverkusen as a highly-touted prospect. Donovan’s stay at the club was turbulent and unproductive as he struggled to adjust to life in a foreign country at such a young age. He left the club in 2001 for the MLS having failed to establish himself in Germany. He would later say, “I recognize Leverkusen wasn't the problem, I was…I just wasn't ready for it."
Lesson to be learned: Making a successful switch to Europe is as much a personal and emotional challenge as it is a test of soccer skill. Even though Landon Donovan is arguably the most talented American soccer player ever, his undoing was his lack of preparedness for such a cultural and personal change.
Playing Time
Case in Point: The fierce competition for playing time in top European clubs has detoured the careers of numerous American hopefuls. Most notably, Jozy Altidore signed with Villarreal in 2008, representing a unique opportunity for an American to make an impression in La Liga. Unfortunately, having to compete with top attacking players like Guiseppe Rossi and Joseba Llorente at Villarreal, Alitdore struggled to distinguish himself amongst such stiff competition. Altidore made only 9 appearances for Villarreal before leaving the club on a series of loans.
Lesson to be Learned: Making a move to a top club is great but only if you can secure regular playing time at the club. Shea should to consider who he’ll be competing with for a spot in the starting eleven. Without consistent playing time, players’ confidence and form suffers.
Skill
Case in Point: In 2007, American phenom Freddy Adu left Real Salt Lake for Portuguese power Benfica. At the time, Adu was praised as the next great American soccer talent and perhaps the greatest ever. Since the move, Adu has for played for five other clubs in five countries, and perceptions about the level of talent Adu possesses have changed. Adu is a very skilled player and is reemerging as an American international. But in retrospect, the hype surrounding Adu in 2007 appears to have been misplaced.
Lesson to be Learned: Shea has proved himself to be a force to be reckoned with at the club and international level. But what Adu’s foray into Europe demonstrates is that a tremendous amount of skill is needed to succeed at top clubs. We probably won’t know if Shea possesses that level of skill until he tests himself abroad.
Shea will need each of these things if he is to succeed at a top European club. Signing with a team like Liverpool or Manchester City would be a thrilling opportunity, but also one fraught with pitfalls.
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