Signed for Arizona United, I think it's the league where LA Galaxy's reserve side play. Nearly 33 years old I wonder how long and how much hes on over there
Interesting to look at the teams and see the English players that play in the USL. A lot of teams with one or two English players in them but not heard of any if any.
One of my pals is American and he said it's not great for the average player out there. One or two "stars" like Kaka are on big whack but the rest of usually not much more than a couple of grand a week if that. It's more a way of life move for ageing players. Doubt Rambo would be a "star" name so probably not on a great deal
Called beckham rule int it? Where they can have a couple on big money. ***** league anyway Bradley right Philips is one of best players
Yeah mate that's its nickname I think. Designated player rule. You can offer that player whatever wages or pay whatever transfer fee for him but you can only have so many in your team ( I think ) I think it's a maximum of 3, cos New York have Pirlo, Lampard and Villa. You'd have to feel a bit peeved off though if you were outperforming at 38 year old and he's literally on about 400x your wage
Ramage is playing tier 3 Beckham rule only applies to MLS - that's top tier. Second tier is NASL. Ramage is playing in the third tier - USL. I used to be involved with a USL club. USL is considered professional in the North American context but in reality it is somewhere between fulltime and parttime. USL is unique as there is no salary cap nor a salary floor, so there is a very wide range of salaries. Most contracts are seven or eight month deals. Each team will have a few guys that make their fulltime living from the game. Many will play indoor or winter football in minor leagues overseas or do other jobs throughout the year. Many work for their clubs in non football capacities. There will be a few on enough to afford meals and transit and to share a club-rented apartment with four or five other guys. Average USL wage is reported to be about £300-400 per week. Arizona United has new owners, and they're affiliated with the LA Galaxy so Ramage might be on a bit more if he's been signed by the parent club or owners are green and splashing the cash. I'd imagine he's there with a view to transitioning into coaching or managing, but I can't see them paying him more than £600 per week, max.
Most foreign players fall into three categories: - young guys that went to college in the US and have graduated - young guys that haven't made it at home and are trying to catch on with MLS - old guys with a bit of a resume looking to transition into a full time gig coaching/managing a youth club It's a tough league to play in. Salaries are low, clubs are not stable, attendances highly variable and often made up of disinterested kids. League structure is always changing, and there is no promotion or relegation so it's very hard to work your way up the pyramid in North America. Of course there are a few that manage it, but it's not a great spot for development.
Thanks for that TorontoRed! Very interesting. Sounds very very complicated to me though! Saying that, it's only recently taking off over there isn't it. I think Arizona have only been going since 2014. Some fantastic players going over there in their twilight though
Hey thanks. I'd imagine that Arizona have some money, in the USL context. Frank Yallop as coach is a big name, that's a big drop down for him. USL was probably pretty similar to non-league. Working with them was amazing because we had such access to the players - one on one access, you knew them by name, chatted all the time, sometimes rode the same buses - but you soon realized that it was a very hard life for these guys. Distances over here are huge so the foreigners are very isolated. Wages near poverty. We had a few that were second or third tier South American pros that were playing for the club only as their way to get their permanent residency, and once they were permanent or citizens they quickly found "real" jobs. We had more than a few players just disappear midseason. One, we found out, was fleeing the mob back home. Another was tens of thousands of dollars in debt from pursuing pointless pay-for-play trials in Europe and did any job he could for the club to get by - he eventually had his contract cancelled after it was discovered that he busted his knee moonlighting for a local ethnic team in an unsanctioned league. Another got confronted by an irate lover in mid training - turned out he had a small family in more than a few cities he'd played in. Another was traded to us after beating up his manager at another USL club. We once sold a player to our arch rival in return for a free motel stay later that season when we had to play them away. A visiting team had to forfeit a game against us after a number of their players were rounded up the night before by police - busted for frequenting the ladies of the night. It's gotten a bit more pro since, but if I had appreciated it back then, I would have written about it or made a documentary. Quite the experience.
