Harry Watkinson
The greatest British and Irish players to feature in the MLS
Gareth Bale has joined a relatively short list of British and Irish players who have made the move to the MLS, after joining Los Angeles FC this summer on a free transfer.
This article breaks down the most notable examples, looking at their MLS career stats to see who has faired the best over the pond.
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Bradley Wright-Phillips (New York Red Bulls, Los Angeles FC, Columbus Crew)
After playing in the English football league for nine years, Bradley Wright Phillips has made a name for himself as being one of the most prolific strikers in MLS history.
After struggling at the beginning of his career with Manchester City in 2004, he scored just two goals in 32 matches and didn’t look like a player with Premier League quality.
He was much more successful in the lower divisions, with some good stints at Southampton, Plymouth Argyle, Charlton, and Brentford.
But in the US, he was very prolific. The striker scored 118 goals in 236 matches, the majority of which at New York Red Bulls. Wright-Phillips is the sixth-highest goal scorer in MLS history and the most successful British player in terms of goals.
Played: 236
Assists: 30
Assists per game: 0.13
Goals: 118
Goals per game: 0.5
Trophies: Supporters Shield 2013, 2015, 2018 (New York Red Bulls), Campeones Cup 2021 (Columbus Crew).
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Dom Dwyer (Atlanta United, Toronto FC, Orlando City SC, Sporting Kansas City)
The only player on this list who is still currently playing and has spent his entire career in the US, Dom Dwyer moved from Surrey to Texas and fulfilled his dream of becoming a footballer after being told he would never play at a professional level due to injuries as a youngster.
Thus far, he has played 285 matches in the MLS, the most of any British player – scoring an incredible 116 goals and lifting four trophies in the process. The striker was often linked with moves back to the UK but opted to stay in the US and that seems to have been a great decision given his success.
He even earned himself a call-up to the US national team in 2017, which was permitted given he has never played for England. He is currently playing for Atlanta United, where so far this season he has scored three goals in 10 matches.
Played: 285
Assists: 25
Assists per game: 0.09
Goals: 116
Goals per game: 0.41
Trophies: MLS Cup 2013, US Open Cup 2013 and 2015, Eastern Conference Playoffs 2013 (Sporting Kansas).
Robbie Keane (LA Galaxy)
Irish footballing legend and a top goal scorer wherever he played: Robbie Keane can certainly consider himself an MLS legend.
With three MLS Cups and a Supporters Cup, two of the most prominent American honours, along with an average of 0.62 goals per game, making him one of the most prolific in the division's history. He is also the 17th highest scorer in the league’s history with 105 goals in 170 matches for Galaxy.
Some eyebrows were raised when he left London for Los Angeles in 2011, but I think it’s fair to say that becoming a footballing legend in America was worth the risk.
Played: 170
Assists: 42
Assists per game: 0.25
Goals: 105
Goals per game: 0.62
Trophies: MLS Cup 2011, 2012, 2014 and Supporters Shield 2011.
David Beckham (LA Galaxy)
An early pioneer of American soccer, David Beckham made global headlines when he joined LA Galaxy in 2007, elevating the MLS’ profile massively.
He played 124 games in total for Galaxy, which was disrupted by injury and two loans to AC Milan. Beckham’s American career really took off in 2011 when he led the team to an MLS Cup with some excellent performances, including some trademark free-kick goals and even one directly from a corner. They then won a second successive MLS Cup in 2012, with him being a key player once again.
He left for Paris Saint Germain in 2013 as one of the most important figures for the growth of football in America, scoring 20 goals in 124 games and making 42 assists. He is also now the owner of his own MLS team Inter Miami, who are managed by his ex-teammate Phil Neville.
It’s fair to say Beckham has left his mark on football in the States.
Played: 124
Assists: 42
Assists per game: 0.34
Goals: 20
Goals per game: 0.16
Trophies: MLS Cup 2011, 2012. Western Conference 2009, 2010, 2011. Western Conference Playoffs 2009, 2011, 2012. Supporters Shield 2010, 2011.
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Wayne Rooney (D.C. United)
Another extremely high-profile signing, Wayne Rooney joined DC United in 2018 after departing from his boyhood club Everton.
He did not win any trophies while playing in America but he certainly left his mark, with 25 goals in 52 matches. Some of his goals were sensational too, namely one from about 10 yards inside his own half.
He also arguably made one of the best assists of all time for DC, running half the length of the pitch to make a last-ditch tackle to stop his team from conceding a certain goal, then producing an amazing 50-yard pass which his teammate headed home to secure a last-minute 3-2 win. Sublime.
Played: 52
Assists: 14
Assists per game: 0.27
Goals: 25
Goals per game: 0.48
Trophies: 0
Steven Gerrard (LA Galaxy)
Another English footballing legend from Merseyside, Steven Gerrard finished his playing career at LA Galaxy after just one full season with the club in 2016. He linked up particularly well with his former Liverpool teammate Robbie Keane, who often finished off chances that Gerrard created.
He got 15 assists in 39 matches and five goals, averaging 0.69 goal involvements per game. Despite clearly struggling with fitness, he still stood out in the league, with technical ability far beyond that of his teammates – except perhaps Keane and Ashley Cole.
The now-Aston Villa manager retired after stating he found “difficulty in the long journeys needed to travel for away matches.” But even if he wasn’t on top form, his quality stood out in the MLS.
Played: 39
Assists: 15
Assists per game: 0.38
Goals: 5
Goals per game: 0.13
Trophies: 0
Frank Lampard (New York City FC)
Frank Lampard is another legendary English midfielder to have finished his playing career in the MLS. In two injury-disrupted campaigns, he scored 15 goals in 31 matches, continuing his prolific scoring form which trademarked his time in England.
He became the first New York City player to score a hattrick, netting three against Colorado Rapids in 2016. In his only full MLS season and the last of his playing career, Lampard scored 12 goals in 19 games, finishing the 11th highest top scorer in the league.
Not bad for a 38-year-old midfielder on his ‘last legs,’ eh?
Played: 31
Assists: 4
Assists per game: 0.13
Goals: 15
Goals per game: 0.48
Trophies: 0
