From Chris Richards to Tyler Adams, an increasing number of American soccer gamers are taking the Premier League by storm and asserting themselves as common fixtures in essentially the most broadly seen league in sport.
These children are following within the footsteps of a number of gamers who’ve left a everlasting legacy on the opposite aspect of the Atlantic Ocean and loved an outstanding profession in England’s top-flight while additionally contributing to the success and stability of the US Males’s Nationwide Workforce.
At the moment, we’re having a look on the 10 greatest American soccer gamers within the historical past of the Premier League.
10. Carlos Bocanegra
Carlos Bocanegra (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
After profitable the MLS Defender of the Yr in 2002 and 2003, Carlos Bocanegra took his abilities to London and joined Fulham in January 2004.
Primarily a middle again, Bocanegra emerged as a fan favourite due to his relentless work price and talent to deputize throughout the backline and midfield. He made 116 appearances and even wore the captain’s armband for the Cottagers earlier than transferring to Rennes in June 2008.
Bocanegra bounced round from Saint-Etienne, Rangers and Racing Santander earlier than spending the ultimate two years of his profession in his house state of California with Chivas USA.
USMNT LEGEND Carlos Bocanegra names his ALL-TIME USMNT XI | McBride, Pope, Donovan 🔥 | Morning Footy – YouTube
Watch On
9. Jonathan Spector
Jonathan Spector was 17 when he left the Chicago space for Manchester United , the place he struggled for minutes and was despatched out on mortgage to Charlton Athletic earlier than becoming a member of West Ham on a everlasting deal in 2006.
The American right-back emerged as a key determine in West Ham’s backline, racking up 115 appearances earlier than dropping right down to the second division and racking up 179 appearances for Birmingham Metropolis. Spector then spent two years at Orlando Metropolis, changing Kaka as membership captain in his second season, earlier than retiring after a short stint within the Scottish Premiership with Hibernian.
8. Brian McBride
Brian McBride performed at Fulham between 2004 and 2008 (Picture credit score: Alamy)
After plying his commerce on mortgage at Preston North Finish and Everton , Fulham bought Brian McBride’s rights from from MLS for $1.5 million in January 2004.
It did not take lengthy for McBride to justify their outlay, profitable the membership’s Participant of the Yr award for 2005 and 2006 and incomes the captain’s armband. Such was his legacy that Fulham renamed a bar in Craven Cottage ‘McBride’s’.
He departed in 2008 after scoring 40 targets in 154 appearances, returning to his house state of Illinois and spending the ultimate two years of his profession at Chicago Hearth.
7. Antonee Robinson
Antonee Robinson is acknowledged as probably the greatest left backs in England (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
Out of the 1000’s of soccer golf equipment in England, none have solid such a robust reference to america nationwide crew as Fulham.
A complete of 16 Individuals have suited up for the Cottagers, the newest being Antonee Robinson . Born and raised in England, Robinson developed at Everton’s academy and frolicked at Bolton Wanderers and Wigan Athletic earlier than becoming a member of Fulham in 2020.
He has emerged as one of many most interesting left-backs within the division due to his pinpoint crossing and tireless operating up the flanks, and he’s proudly persevering with the ‘Fulhamerica’ custom below Marco Silva .
6. Brad Guzan
Brad Guzan performed for 3 English golf equipment
In 2005, Brad Guzan was chosen by Chivas USA with the second choose of the MLS SuperDraft.
Guzan later made the transfer throughout the pond in 2008 and joined Aston Villa , the place he would emerge as a key determine between the sticks, making 171 appearances and serving to them attain the 2010 League Cup Ultimate and the 2015 FA Cup Ultimate.
He additionally loved stints at Hull Metropolis and Middlesbrough earlier than returning to the States in 2017. At practically 41 years previous, Guzan remains to be going robust in purpose for Atlanta United and placing his world-class reflexes to good use.
Brad Guzan’s WILD Saves vs. Messi – YouTube
Watch On
5. Geoff Cameron
Geoff Cameron emerged as a significant cog for Stoke’s protection
Geoff Cameron emerged as probably the greatest midfielders in Main League Soccer and guided Houston Dynamo to the 2011 MLS Cup Ultimate earlier than finally taking his abilities to Stoke Metropolis, the place he impressed along with his bodily construct, tenacious defending and take-no-prisoners mentality.
Delivering crunching tackles and very important interceptions and excelling throughout protection and in defensive midfield. The American heart again made 186 appearances for Stoke Metropolis between 2012 and 2019 earlier than spending three years at QPR, the place he performed 91 instances, finally closing out his profession in 2022 following a swan track at Cincinnati.
4. Kasey Keller
Kasey Keller performed in 4 World Cups (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
Kasey Keller blazed the path for future American goalkeepers when he departed the Pacific Northwest for the primary time in his life and made the transfer to English aspect Millwall in 1992.
Keller racked up 57 clear sheets in 201 Premier League appearances for varied golf equipment akin to Leicester Metropolis – the place he received the 1997 League Cup – in addition to Tottenham Hotspur, Fulham and Southampton , while he additionally loved success in Spain and Germany for Rayo Vallecano and Borussia Monchengladbach.
Keller returned to the States in 2009, profitable three U.S. Open Cups earlier than calling it quits on a rare profession.
3. Clint Dempsey
Clint Dempsey is the USMNT’s joint-all-time main scorer (Picture credit score: Alamy)
Considered arguably America’s biggest males’s soccer star of all time, Clint Dempsey delivered a spellbinding profession on the membership and worldwide stage.
After making the transfer to Fulham in 2006, Dempsey excelled at Craven Cottage and even helped them attain the UEFA Europa League Ultimate, earlier than taking his abilities to Tottenham. Alongside the likes of Herculez Gomez and Michael Bradley, Dempsey performed a pivotal position in USA’s historic 2010 World Cup, while he additionally received three Gold Cups with the Stars and Stripes.
All instructed, Dempsey racked up 57 targets in 218 Premier League appearances earlier than transferring to Seattle in 2013.
2. Tim Howard
Tim Howard spent 13 years in England (Picture credit score: Alamy)
Boasting the eighth-most caps (121) within the historical past of the United States males’s nationwide crew, Tim Howard is a verified legend for the Stars and Stripes.
He left his native New Jersey in 2003 and spent three years as a backup for Manchester United earlier than transferring to Everton, the place he thrived in purpose between 2006 and 2016. Howard emerged as one of many Premier League’s most dependable goalkeepers with 133 clear sheets in 399 appearances, however above all, he’ll be remembered most fondly for his record-breaking 16 saves vs. Belgium within the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
1. Brad Friedel
Brad Friedel locked it down in purpose for varied English groups
Brad Friedel didn’t begin his skilled journey in MLS, however with Danish aspect Brondby and Turkish giants Galatasaray.
He then spent two years with the Columbus Crew earlier than transferring to England, the place he would signify Liverpool , Aston Villa and Tottenham. The height of his profession got here at Blackburn Rovers (2000-2008) the place he received the League Cup and was named within the PFA Workforce of the Yr.
Friedel registered 132 clear sheets in 450 Premier League appearances earlier than finally retiring in 2015 – to today, no North American or South American participant has come near matching his file of 450 appearances.
