MLS Designated Player Rule Email

So far in my research, I have learned a lot about the designated player rule.  Not only have I learned how it works but I have learned why it is in place.  After research and getting in contact with Kyle McCarthy, a technical coordinator for the Philadelphia Union, I can now understand the rule and its importance to the MLS.

The way the designated player rule works is each club gets a salary cap of $3.49 million.  The maximum salary for a single player is $436 thousand.  Each team gets 2 designated player slots, with the option to purchase a 3rd.  The designated players have no salary cap, nor do they count towards the $3.49 million salary cap.  The rule was introduced in 2007 so the MLS club LA Galaxy could sign David Beckham, also why the rule is sometimes called the Beckham rule.

The rule is very important the the MLS.  In the 70/80s the NASL (North American Soccer League), went bankrupt due to unnecessary and crazy spending.  The league had no time to build up and quickly collapsed.  To make sure the same mistake does not happen again, the MLS introduced salary caps.  Each year the salary caps change.  For example, back in 2007, they introduced the Designated Player Rule.  This allowed clubs to spend a little more money and sign some big names.  Players like Villa, Beckham, Henry, Gerrard, and Lampard, all legends at their former clubs, got to play in the MLS.  This brings much more popularity and income into the MLS.  Who wouldn't want to go out and watch a legend like Lampard or Gerrard play.  Here in the US, we don't get the chance to watch these top class players in person.

Another reason the rule is so important is the future of the American National Team.  We need the MLS to give our future soccer stars a place to play.  If we go and sign a bunch of Europeans and South Americans that have already developed into top class players, the MLS popularity would increase but our national team would take a hit.  We have a lot of good athletes here in the United States and it is only a matter of time before we get our first super star player.