Canadians in MLS by Season

[youllneverwalkalone]

I went through the "all time rosters" on wiki to count the following:

1996 5

1997 2

1998 3

1999 6

2000 4

2001 5

2002 1

2003 2

2004 4

2005 3

2006 4

2007 19

2008 18

2009 18

2010 17

2011 22

2012 22

2013 24

Although it looks like we stalled a bit since 2007, many of those guys in the earlier TFC years were really not MLS quality. And the league itself has gotten quite a bit better, despite expansion.

I believe we're at 19 signed players right now for 2013, with Montreal needing to add a 3rd Canadian and several trialists out there. I suspect we'll settle around 25. That's slow progress and a long way from where we probably should be -which I think is about 65 (22*19*3/19).

EDIT: I'm counting 24 today, assuming Opare and Lefebre are Canadian and that Jazic has been released.

[madmonte]

Interesting I was thinking of doing this myself, except going with guys in other major leagues as well to see if the overall Canadian pro soccer player count was rising as well. Thanks!

[Yohan]

Thanks for the leg work. Do you have full list of all the Canadians playing in MLS?

[youllneverwalkalone]

Ante Jazic - Chivas USA

Will Johnson - Portland Timbers

Dejan Jakovic - DC United

Dwayne DeRosario - DC United

Babayale Sodade - Seattle Sounders

Drew Beckie - Columbus Crew

Kofi Opare* - LA Galaxy

Patrice Bernier - L'Impact de Montreal

Karl Ouimette - L'Impact de Montreal

Doneil Henry - Toronto FC

Ashtone Morgan - Toronto FC

Kyle Bekker - Toronto FC

Emery Welshman - Toronto FC

Matt Stinson - Toronto FC

Terry Dunfield - Toronto FC

Quillan Roberts - Toronto FC

Russell Teibert - Vancouver Whitecaps

Bryce Alderson - Vancouver Whitecaps

Caleb Clarke - Vancouver Whitecaps

*unsigned draft pick who may be American

So we need at least one more Montreal player for sure. The Caps will probably sign one or two, though we may lose one or two by way of loan. There's also Porter in the DC camp and TFC will probably sign one or two more guys as well. That would bring us somewhere between 20-25. Hopefully more than 22 to keep moving forward.

I guess Ethan Finley is also a possibility, but he doesn't seem interested thus far.

[Strider]

The Caps will probably sign one or two, though we may lose one or two by way of loan.

You forgot Alain Rochat or did you?

4 signed to roster – Alderson, Clarke, Rochat, and Teibert

3 trialists – Fisk (away with Canada's U-20s), James, and Thomas

2 Residency trainees – Sean Melvin and Sam Adekugbe

via Whitecapsfc

[youllneverwalkalone]

Rochat is one of my favourite players, but he is a Swiss International. Certainly around these parts.

[maccaliam]

Thanks for this YNWA. Good to see the numbers broken down so clearly.

The names either show we are developing young talent and we have a strong future (optimist), or we still haven't got much established talent and most are of the age where quite a few won't actually develop as hoped and won't likely stick around the league for long (pessimist).

It's good we are producing more players in numbers, but it is too early to tell if we are actually producing more quality.

As is true in most other parts of the world, here's hoping with more numbers eventually comes more quality.

[nolando]

Who was the one lonely Canadian in MLS in 2002? I know is wasn't Watson, Onstad or Aunger cause I checked and all were off by one year.

[Yohan]

Who was the one lonely Canadian in MLS in 2002? I know is wasn't Watson, Onstad or Aunger cause I checked and all were off by one year.

DeRo. Duh

[nolando]

DeRo. Duh

Can you tell I'm taking heavy pharmaceuticals? Duh is right.

[MM2]

Detailed stats from 1996 to 2007, maybe somebody would update?

http://insidesoccermagazine.com/canadian-soccer/short-history-canadians-in-mls/

[tmcmurph]

Great list. Thanks for work. It's a very interesting measure of our progress in developing professional soccer players. I'd be curious if our numbers overseas went down in the last few years as more players chose MLS? I'm hoping our Euro numbers stayed the same or went up with MLS being a viable second choice.

This is where the numbers game will work in our favour. The best will always go to Europe. That leaves MLS, NASL, D3 for the rest to try and improve their game and most importantly make a living at it. We simply need a lot more players at all levels in professional environments. As the academies get into full swing we'll see more of the players getting the basic training at a pro level and more will hopefully make Euro and MLS teams.

[nolando]

Detailed stats from 1996 to 2007, maybe somebody would update?

http://insidesoccermagazine.com/canadian-soccer/short-history-canadians-in-mls/

Interesting stuff there. Marco Rizi was a name I wasn't familiar with.

[youllneverwalkalone]

Detailed stats from 1996 to 2007, maybe somebody would update?

http://insidesoccermagazine.com/canadian-soccer/short-history-canadians-in-mls/

One guy I didn't see on that list is Chaka Daley, who played briefly in MLS. Interesting to learn he's gone on to take the head coaching job at the University of Michigan.

[nolando]

One guy I didn't see on that list is Chaka Daley, who played briefly in MLS. Interesting to learn he's gone on to take the head coaching job at the University of Michigan.

You guys pulled out another rare find - Daley looks like he could coach MLS one day.

[Addona]

Ante Jazic - Chivas USA

Will Johnson - Portland Timbers

Dejan Jakovic - DC United

Dwayne DeRosario - DC United

Babayale Sodade - Seattle Sounders

Drew Beckie - Columbus Crew

Kofi Opare* - LA Galaxy

Patrice Bernier - L'Impact de Montreal

Karl Ouimette - L'Impact de Montreal

Doneil Henry - Toronto FC

Ashtone Morgan - Toronto FC

Kyle Bekker - Toronto FC

Emery Welshman - Toronto FC

Matt Stinson - Toronto FC

Terry Dunfield - Toronto FC

Quillan Roberts - Toronto FC

Russell Teibert - Vancouver Whitecaps

Bryce Alderson - Vancouver Whitecaps

Caleb Clarke - Vancouver Whitecaps

*unsigned draft pick who may be American

So we need at least one more Montreal player for sure. The Caps will probably sign one or two, though we may lose one or two by way of loan. There's also Porter in the DC camp and TFC will probably sign one or two more guys as well. That would bring us somewhere between 20-25. Hopefully more than 22 to keep moving forward.

I guess Ethan Finley is also a possibility, but he doesn't seem interested thus far.

Plus, perhaps, Nana to San Jose ...

[RS]

^ Nana's all but confirmed to return to San Jose, according to some beat reporters in that area.

[jpg75]

YNWA, Ethan Finlay is also a Canadian playing in MLS:

http://www.thecrew.com/news/2012/01/sacrifice-pays-crews-three-superdraft-picks

"His father was a Canadian hockey player and the Minnesota-born Finlay (pictured above) first donned skates when he was three."

[jpg75]

Detailed stats from 1996 to 2007, maybe somebody would update?

http://insidesoccermagazine.com/canadian-soccer/short-history-canadians-in-mls/

Will Johnson is missing, he played for the Chicago Fire in 2005.

[tmcmurph]

Just saw this on the Southsiders board:

http://the11.ca/2013/02/12/saskatchewans-beckie-announces-deal-with-the-crew/

Canadian U23 FB Drew Beckie signs with Columbus

[Obinna]

The following is subjective, but it is my attempt to break down where players are likely to features for their teams this season.....

Will Johnson - Portland Timbers (starter)

Dejan Jakovic - DC United (starter)

Dwayne DeRosario - DC United (starter)

Babayale Sodade - Seattle Sounders (bench)

Drew Beckie - Columbus Crew (bench/depth)

Kofi Opare* - LA Galaxy (bench)

Patrice Bernier - L'Impact de Montreal (starter)

Karl Ouimette - L'Impact de Montreal (bench/depth)

Doneil Henry - Toronto FC (depth)

Ashtone Morgan - Toronto FC (starter)

Kyle Bekker - Toronto FC (starter)

Emery Welshman - Toronto FC (depth/starter)

Matt Stinson - Toronto FC (bench/depth)

Terry Dunfield - Toronto FC (starter/depth)

Quillan Roberts - Toronto FC (bench)

Russell Teibert - Vancouver Whitecaps (depth/bench)

Bryce Alderson - Vancouver Whitecaps (bench)

Caleb Clarke - Vancouver Whitecaps (bench/depth)

starter-7 (DeRosario, Jakovic, Bernier, Johnson, Jazic, Bekker, Morgan)

starter/depth-1(Dunfield)

depth/starter-1(Welshman)

Acceptable standard for an international in CONCACAF

depth-1 (Henry)

depth/bench-2 (Teibert, Stinson)

bench/depth-3 (Clarke, Ouimette, Beckie)

bench-4 (Sodade, Alderson, Opare, Roberts)

Again, you may not agree with my evaluation of certain players, but I think for the most part is is pretty good and note it takes into account differences in team strength (minimal in MLS but still slightly present). For example Teibert and Welshman would arguably be switched in ranking if they swapped MLS teams. Also I think it is fair to suggest the minimum international standard we should hold ourselves to is a MLS depth player who ocassionally starts...MINIMUM!

But anyways, this shows two important things:

* only 1 out of 7 of our top MLS quality guys was produced through the academies.

* over half of our MLS players are NOT suitable international quality for CONCACAF.

[nolando]

Apparently Jazic is up for grabs along with any other non-latinos within twenty miles of the joke that is Chivas USA: http://tablet.sportingnews.com/2013-02-15/soccer-inside-dish.html

Imagine a club that only hired caucasian Texans or something. Bet that would go over well.

[finchster]

Apparently Jazic is up for grabs along with any other non-latinos within twenty miles of the joke that is Chivas USA: http://tablet.sportingnews.com/2013-02-15/soccer-inside-dish.html

Imagine a club that only hired caucasian Texans or something. Bet that would go over well.

Would Montreal be interested? They need one more Canadian but I am not aware of their roster needs.

[Kurosawa1555362267]

Would Montreal be interested? They need one more Canadian but I am not aware of their roster needs.

They do need a 3rd canadian and there is a good chance it will be a left back but it won't be Jazic. They will probably sign an Academy player, Maxim Tissot. Of the 3 left backs in camp he is probably the one that played the best. If he keeps it up he could probably see some playing time this year.

[tmcmurph]

I think Jazic could be a nice upgrade over Harvey. While Harvey has improved I really don't like the idea of him being our main LB if we keep Rochat in at DM.