Djorkaeff On MLS, Beckham’s Effect and More

By: Dave Martinez | November 10th, 2009

djorkaeff Are we at all sure that Youri hasn’t been hired by Red Bull already?

The French legend has been planting seeds in France, playing Red Bull ambassador in the hopes of attracting his countrymen stateside through interviews like the one he had with football-ravageur, a French footy outlet.

He has some great insights on the successes and short comings of David Beckham, the measure of MLS against other leagues and the possibility of including more French players to the league structure.

Here are some of the highlights:

ON MLS:

What I appreciate in this moment in the United States is that the league is growing by one, even two teams a year . . . Seattle and Philadelphia add a little more quality to the American championship. There will be Vancouver the next year. Everyone hopes for Miami. It is only the beginning. The Americans want a true perenniality in their championship. I think that there will be even more great names. The history of (David) Beckham effected people, but that was also a beautiful story of marketing to promote (American) football. There will be others following his footsteps, I am sure.

WHERE DOES MLS RANK?

It is a good level. I would say between the top of the table in League 2 and the bottom of the Ligue 1 table. It is true that there is not much difference. The Americans are very competitive in everything they do.

HAS TRAINING IMPROVED IN MLS?

Yes, enormously. They rely increasingly on it. When you look in Europe, there are many U.S. investors in major clubs: in England but also in France, with PSG. All they have learned in Europe, they will transmit to the United States. This is where they will be more interesting.

THOUGHTS ON SEBASTIAN LETOUX, THE NEW FRENCH PLAYER IN MLS

He is good and in addition he plays. It’s pretty weird. I must receive a phone call a week from players motivated for the United States asking me for advice. It’s a bit complicated to go. That is why many French break the figure. They think that having played in France, even in England, opens doors. But Americans work differently. You see it in basketball. It must be a name. There circuit is a bit complicated, therefore there are not much French in the United States. I think there will be more next year.

THE FRENCH PLAYERS THAT YOU SPEAK OF ARE USUALLY AT THE END OF THEIR CAREERS?

Yes. The only problem is that Americans want to invest in the young. They will go against their current policy, because with Beckham it went well marketing side but not on the field. They would put the same amount but it goes well on the field.