Major League Soccer
Oh, Canada! Toronto FC Nabs Striker Jozy Altidore
According to a TSN report, the U.S. international striker is on his way to Toronto FC, Jermain Defoe is heading to Sunderland, and two of the most prominent American national teamers now play in Canada.
BY
John Godfrey
Posted
January 13, 2015
8:08 PM
IF THE REPORT IS TRUE, it makes sense on a number of levels.
Sunderland’s Jozy Altidore has been stuck on the bench all season in the English Premier League, and needed a change of scenery. Jermain Defoe got off to a great start with Toronto FC last year but grew disenchanted with management changes and made it clear he would rather be back in the U.K.
According to this TSN story, the players will swap clubs and continents, with Altidore joining Michael Bradley in Ontario and Defoe headed to northeast England.
It’s a massive piece of good news for Major League Soccer, which has rebounded quite nicely from the Frank Lampard debacle earlier this month with high-profile signings of Altidore and Mix Diskerud.
But it’s also hard to believe the league wouldn’t prefer to see Altidore, who has scored 25 goals for the United States in 76 international appearances, playing for one of the 17 American teams in MLS. From a marketing perspective, Altidore would likely have a much bigger impact playing below the 49th parallel, where he, and the league, would benefit from ardent U.S. national team support.
Regardless, Altidore clearly needed to get out of Sunderland. Are you glad he came back to the league, or are you disappointed that he didn’t try to catch on with another European team?
How do you think this development will sit with a certain blond helicopter pilot? Will he give Altidore a huge compliment on his decision to come back to North America?
Which European-based American international will be the next to sign on with Major League Soccer?
We will be all over this news in the days ahead. For now, tell us what you think below.
John Godfrey is the founder and editor in chief of American Soccer Now.
