Five American-born footballers returning from playing overseas due to the ‘Boomerang Effect’

United States Men’s National Team manager Jurgen Klinsmann has made no secret of his desire to have his players competing in Europe.

From training to match competition, Klinsmann is convinced that the regimen existing in European football produces a more complete player ready to compete against the world’s best teams.

While not ruling out players from Major League Soccer, his recent statements belie a deep-seeded disdain for American club team techniques and tactics. That puts him at odds with MLS President Don Garber, who is trying to improve the league’s product and expand its brand. Let’s take a look at some of the players who have recently returned to the United States after stints in Europe, why they chose to return and how it might affect the USMNT in the future.

Brek Shea

After two years on loan from Stoke City (English Premier League) to lower division clubs in England, it was announced earlier this week that Brek Shea has signed on with MLS expansion team Orlando City FC. While the Potters paid a transfer fee to Dallas of 2.5 million pounds in January 2013, Shea made only five appearances for Stoke in those two years.

Short-term stints at Barnsley and Birmingham failed to increase his stock with Potters manager Mark Hughes, who has allowed Shea to return on a free transfer back to the United States.

At 24 years of age, it would seem that his best days as a player lie ahead of him. And Shea already has 27 caps for the U.S. squad. But after failing to latch on to the World Cup roster in Brazil this past summer while playing in Europe, one can assume that Shea will be a long shot to earn a roster spot on the current squad under Klinsmann. From a player’s perspective, though, game experience is a critical component in development. Shea failed to garner any playing time in England and received no interest from other overseas teams, hence his return to MLS.

Shea can expect to receive significant playing time in Orlando, and should prove to be a valuable asset for the team when their inaugural season kicks off in March against another MLS expansion teamNew York City FC.

Michael Bradley

The son of former USMNT manager Bob Bradley had played in Europe for several teams over the course of a decademost recently for AS Romabefore deciding to return to the MLS (Toronto FC).

While Bradley continued to play for the USMNT, Klinsmann was less than cordial regarding his return to MLS, stating that “his decision to go from Roma to Toronto was a huge disappointment.” While Toronto FC sacked their manager, Ryan Nelson, in August during the team’s subpar season, Bradley himself stated that he has no regrets about returning to MLS. He felt his skills have in no way diminished. At 27 years old, the midfielder would seem to have more quality years of competition on the pitch ahead of him, and has proven to be a valuable asset for Toronto FC.

Bradley’s future with the USMNT is less clear, but he is focusing on club play at this stage of his career and is letting the chips fall where they may. Of course, one of those chips is his salary, with Toronto FC paying Bradley $6.5 million in 2014six times what he earned at AS Roma.

Jermaine Jones

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As the son of a U.S. Army soldier who was stationed in Germany when he was born, Jones lived most of his early years overseas after his parents divorced. Playing briefly for the German national team before switching over to the USMNT, Jones has 48 caps behind him.

In terms of club play, his entire career was spent in the Bundesliga, most recently with Schalke 04. While Jones’ best days may be behind him at age 33, he signed with the New England Revolution earlier this year, and was instrumental in the Revs advancing to the finals before succumbing to the Los Angeles Galaxy 2-1 in extra time. Jones’ first World Cupplaying in Brazil earlier this yearmay have been his last. It seems implausible that Jurgen Klinsmann would include a thirty-seven year old MLS players in his World Cup line-up in 2018. However, Jones seems to relish his stint with the Revolution, and he and his wife seem to be settling well in the States.

Clint Dempsey

After beginning his professional career in the MLS, playing for the New England Revolution in 2004, Dempsey was signed by Fulham in 2006. He was then traded to Tottenham in 2012, playing for the Spurs for two seasons.

The soccer community was shocked in 2013 when it was announced that the Seattle Sounders had signed the talented attacking midfielder to a four-year contract and paid Spurs a transfer fee of $9 million. Dempsey has been a mainstay of the USMNT since 2006, becoming an anchor of the team as Landon Donovan’s influence waned.

And while Dempsey has been an integral part of the USMNT since he joined, he will be 35 years old when the 2018 World Cup begins. Given his age and his return to MLS, it would seem unlikely that Dempsey will be a part of that squad. However, given that his salary is $6.7 million per year (surpassing the total salaries of 15 MLS teams) and that he is playing in front of some of the most rabid passionate fans in the United States, Dempsey seems to be in a good place for the next stage of his career. All that remains for him is a championship, and Seattle might just accommodate him before he hangs up his cleats.

DaMarcus Beasley

One the most humble USMNT players on the pitch, Beasley recently announced his retirement from international football earlier this week. Beasley’s incredible journey spanned fourteen years and 122 games for the USMNT, both in the top ten of USMNT history.

Arguably the most versatile player to don a USMNT uniform, he started his career as a striker and attacking midfielder. Yet when Klinsmann was in dire need of a defender, Beasley was able to step in and compete at the highest level during the World Cup.

While currently playing for the Houston Dynamo, his earlier stints found him playing in the Netherlands, Scotland, Germany and Mexico. In recognition of his service to the USMNT and a fine club career, we salute his humility, versatility, team play—and, most importantly, clutch goals such as the ones in this video clip which highlights his best career moments with the team.

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