Shevchenko eyes eventual MLS move

For those of you who hadn't seen it, here is a story on Chelsea striker Andriy Schevchenko saying that he wants to finish his career in MLS. Sheva told SI.com that he wants to play in MLS before his career is over.

This really shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone in the US. His wife is American and reports have been around for a while that they will eventually settle here.

Where will he actually play if and when he comes here? I would go with DC since his wife grew up there. Not a bad player to replace Jaime Moreno when he leaves, is it? Then again, maybe his wife, who is a model, will want to live closer to New York? An Angel-Shevchenko strike force with Claudio Reyna dropping from a DP to regular MLS salary would be a nice coup for the Red Bulls as well.

Comments

[toucan]

that would be absolutley dangerous.
But I don't think Claudio will take that big cut in pay.
But hey, we can always dream...

[Pete]

Claudio Reyna is on the Red Bulls?

[Tim]

When does his contract with Chelsea end? Is this going to be something that happens next year or three to four years down the road?

[Pete]

By the time he comes to MLS (I'd say 3 or 4 years), his wife will be pretty much past it as a model, so I doubt NYC would be that much of a draw.

From an ethnic pandering perspective, I think he'd be a much bigger hit in Chicago or Toronto than New York.

[EdTheRed]

Maybe he could team up with Reyna and JPA in a magical world where the league makes a mockery of its own salary cap and DP rules...oh, wait, that's actually very possible...

[Hydrid+E85]

His wife is American.

So I wouldn't be surprised if he decided to settle in America after his Chelsea days are over.

Keep in mind, the Chelsea bench players could easily beat any current MLS team.

[Jasen]

yea everyone, keep that in mind.

[2006 MLS All Star]

Okay, we'll keep that in mind.

[JonnyG]

If he could only score four goals for Chelsea, how many could he be expected to score for an MLS side? One tops? He's a bit of a washout.

[A Diddy]

I'm not so sure, Hybrid+Eurosnob. I just looked at this Chelsea roster and, holding aside the 11 players with the most appearances, there are only three players who would be clear "stars" in MLS: Shaun Wright-Phillips, Joe Cole, and Robben.

After some careful consideration, I do not think that Chelsea's bench (even granting the talent of those three) would *easily* beat any MLS team. I think RBNY, New England, or last year's edition of DC could give them a run for their money, even win, perhaps. In fact, we'll see how they do against a mid-table MLS team when they play Galaxy this summer.

Keep in mind, condescending, remarks from Eurosnobs are not well received among fans of MLS teams.

[A Diddy]

See roster here:
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/team/squad?id=363&cc=5901

[DCU Fan]

Checking into a hotel tonight, a young bellman saw my Soccer Hall of Fame license plate. So we got into a discussion of soccer, EPL, MLS, etc. He being a big EPL fan stated "MLS is were players come to retire". Then in the room I started reading about Schev's interest in "retiring here".

I think this is a bad direction for MLS (or should I start saying the "new NASL") if we become the retirement home for European football.

[bri8733]

I heard Andriy's wife or some of her family live in Brooklyn, so NY is always possible if that is true.

[K.B.]

As far as DP money, does Schevchenko, in Tim Lieweke's words, "move the needle?" I'm not sure.

[Russ]

Huh? I thought he was headed back to Milan for the yearly Crespo swap?

you all know what I mean...

Mourinho "you want Sheva back?"
Ancelloti "we will give you Crespo for him"
Mourinho "sold"

Hey Ives hows about Crespo joining the MLS eventually? any rumors there? ;-)

[Edik]

HE SHOULD GO TO CHICAGO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 IT IS THE BEST PLACE FOR HIM TO FINISH HIS CAREER.