Former Arsenal legend and current New York City FC coach believes America’s Major League Soccer is evolving at the same pace as Premier League was growing back in his day.
Vieira recalled on his experience while growing up in France where Premier League was the fourth or fifth choice League, and it suddenly grew in to a Superpower. Vieira still remembers how he saw Premier League grow from strength from strength in his Arsenal days, and he feels the same way with MLS.
Speaking with Omnisport, Vieira said: “I think the MLS is growing up really well. I think when you look at the MLS and where it was 10 years ago and where it is now it is growing so fast and it is growing in the right way.
“The MLS now reminds me of the Premier League when I was there a few years ago.
“Because even in France when we were talking about the Premier League, it was the third or fourth league because everyone was talking about the Italian league or the Spanish league or even the Dutch or the Portuguese league — the English league wasn’t at the top.
“But obviously in the last few years that has changed a lot and I think the MLS will go the same way.”
Vieira explained how he is enjoying the challenge of being a coach in MLS, as it is completely different from the European Leagues. Managers cannot go and buy players after offering them higher money, there are certain criteria which have to be met before signing a player.
Vieira explained: “In Europe, if you want a player, you just go out and buy them. Here, you can’t do it unless you have all these certain criteria. It is really interesting, really fascinating.
“Because this is all about coaching as well — having the balance in your roster and spending your money the right way. I like it. I really do like it. Of course I still have a lot of the rules to learn to understand, but next to [NYCFC directors David Lee and Claudio Reyna], I’m getting it.”
Vieira concluded by saying that Chinese Super League could potentially pose a threat to the European and American Football in coming years. Vieira cited at the rapid financial overhaul in China and how they have snapped players like Lavezzi, Teixeira and Jackson Martinez away in recent times.
If the trend continues, we could see many players heading to Chinese football leaving rest of the leagues to ponder about their next move.
Image credit: getty, Quotes credit: ESPN
