The Nation Newspaper

Tag: MLS

  • FULL LIST: Serie A, MLS rank above Laliga, Saudi Pro League in new Opta ranking

    FULL LIST: Serie A, MLS rank above Laliga, Saudi Pro League in new Opta ranking

    What makes a football league truly elite? Is it the star power, the level of competition, financial muscle, or success in international tournaments? With so many factors in play, ranking leagues around the world can seem like an impossible task—until now.

    Data experts at Opta Power Rankings have taken a crack at answering the age-old question by unveiling their definitive list of the top 30 football leagues globally, based on their Power Rankings model. Rather than relying on reputation or revenue, the rankings are calculated using the average power rating of every club in each league—giving a clearer picture of overall competitiveness and quality.

    One of the most surprising takeaways? The Saudi Pro League, despite its recent influx of global superstars and massive spending, falls short of expectations. Not only does it miss the top tier, but it ranks behind several of Europe’s second divisions—and notably, behind Major League Soccer (MLS), which continues to rise in stature on the global stage.

    Read Also: ASUP gives FG 21-day strike notice, lists demands 

    While the Saudi Pro League has made headlines with blockbuster signings and big-money deals, Opta’s numbers suggest that squad depth and overall league quality still have some catching up to do. Meanwhile, MLS’s steady growth, balanced competition, and improving player development are earning it more respect on the international scene.

    Here are the new World rankings by Opta Power Rankings.


    1.       English Premier League –      92.6

    2.       Italian Serie A  –                      87.0

    3.       Spanish La Liga –                    87.0

    4.       German Bundesliga –           86.3

    5.       French Ligue 1 –                   85.5

    6.       English Championship –     80.9

    7.       Belgian Pro League –          80.5

    8.       Portuguese Primeira Liga – 79.8

    9.       Brazilian Serie A –               79.4

    10.   Dutch Eredivisie –               78.8

    11.   Liga Professional Argentina – 78.6

    12.   Major League Soccer –       78.5

    13.   Liga MX –                             78.5

    14.   Japanese J1 League –          77.9

    15.   Croatia Prva HNL –              77.8

    16.   Polish Ekstraklasa –             77.6

    17.   Danish Superligaen –          77.6

    18.   Italian Serie B –                   76.4

    19.   Swedish Allsvenskan –        76.3

    20.   Turkish Super Lig –              76.2

    21.   Spanish Segunda Division – 76.2

    22.   German Bundesliga Zwei – 76.2

    23.   Russian Premier League – 76.1

    24.   Austrian Bundesliga –         76.1

    25.   Swiss Super League –          76.1

    26.   Norwegian Eliteserien –     75.9

    27.   Czech First League –           75.5

    28.   Ecuador Liga Pro –              75.3

    29.   Saudi Pro League –              75.1

    30.   Hungarian Liga NB I –         75.0

  • Kaka ends MLS career on a losing note

    Kaka ends MLS career on a losing note

     

    Football legend Kaka saw his MLS career come to a losing end as Orlando City were defeated by Columbus Crew upon home turf – in a match which is likely to be last ever in the illustrious career of the Brazilian legend.

    A solitary goal from Columbus forward Ola Kamara was enough to separate the sides, following a swift counter attack against the run of play which materialised into a simple tap in.

    Former Ballon d’Or holder Kaka was visibly emotional ahead of the first whistle, pictured by cameras taking in the scenes with a solo tear falling down his cheek.

    The emotional scene was set for the Brazilian, who has recently admitted the constant pain he feels after matches has led to him falling out of love with the game.

    While he is yet to confirm whether he will hang his boots up for good, the Milan legend has admitted the lure of coaching is likely to keep him involved in football.

    Orlando started the game the brighter of the two sides, looking to create opening while spurred on by an energetic home crowd.

    The 20 minute mark saw a shifting in the gears and the main man himself almost breaking the deadlock.

    Cutting in down the right flank Kaka aimed to pull back a cross for the waiting Dom Dwyer in the box – only for a strong deflection from an opposition defender to send the ball hurtling toward the bottom corner.

    Lady luck wasn’t smiling as the effort dashed narrowly wide, though Orlando tails were up and the home side soon threatened once more – Antonio Nocerino going close with two long range efforts before Kaka once more put the opposition on edge with a curling free-kick.

    The hosts began the second as brightly as the first, though an inability to put away their chances soon threatened to change the tide of the tie.

    As masses of supporters decked out in purple shirt emblazoned with the famous No 10 of Kaka watched on from the terraces, Columbus seized upon an opportunity against the run of play.

    Bursting down the left flank Hector Jiménez squared a ball across the Orlando back line to find Kamara in space, while defenders around him flailed at sixes and sevens.

    The striker held his nerve to slot the ball past helpless goalkeeper Joe Bendik.

    It was an unceremonious and anticlimactic end to what has been undoubtedly one of world football’s most decorated careers, with Kaka signing off to leave the beautiful game one legend lighter.

  • Kaka is the highest paid player in the MLS

    Kaka is the highest paid player in the MLS

    Brazilian star Kaka is the highest earner in the MLS, with a host of former stars of European football making up the rest of the top 10.

    While the stars of the United States’ top flight do not match the money earned by the top players in Europe or, in these modern times, China, Kaka’s weekly wage of £108,000 at Orlando City is certainly not to be sniffed at.

    Sebastian Giovinco of Toronto is second on the list with an annual salary of £5.5m, with the Canadian club having two more players in the top 10 former with Premier League players Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore also featuring.

    New York City pair Andrea Pirlo and David Villa earns £88,000 and £85,000 a week respectively, while former Tottenham and Fulham man Clint Dempsey brings in £58,000 for a week’s work for Seattle Sounders.

    Bastian Schweinsteiger is the league’s most recent big name acquisition, following his switch to Chicago Fire from Manchester United, with the German World Cup winning skipper picking up a little over £80,000 following his move.

    The figures released by the league show that former Arsenal and Chelsea full-back Ashley Cole is paid a little over £5,000 a week at LA Galaxy, although he is thought to make more than that when bonuses are taken into account.

    Cole infamously once claimed he left ‘trembling with anger’ when he was told that Arsenal had offered him a £55,000-a-week deal in 2006.

    In his prime he was earning around £200,000 a week at Chelsea but had to take a cut to £35,000 a week to join Roma in 2014.

    Bradley Wright-Phillips earns more than £22,000 a week at New York Red Bulls despite his English career being played out largely outside the top flight, while Midlands journeyman Liam Ridgewell earns nearly £10,000 a week at Portland Timbers.

    There are 84 players making the league-minimum salary of £41,290 annually, which breaks down to £794 a wee

    TOP 10 EARNERS IN THE MLS

    Kaka (Bra), Orlando City, £5.6m

    Sebastian Giovinco (Ita), Toronto, £5.5m

    Michael Bradley (US), Toronto, £5.1m

    Andrea Pirlo (Ita), New York City, £4.6m

    David Villa (Spa), New York City, £4.4m

    Giovani dos Santos (Mex), LA Galaxy, £4.3m

    Bastian Schweinsteiger (Ger), Chicago Fire, £4.2m

    Jozy Altidore (US), Toronto, £3.8m

    Clint Dempsey (US), Seattle Sounders, £3m

    Diego Valeri (Arg), Portland Timbers, £2m

  • Nigerian Super Green FC’s owners eyes MLS

    Nigerian Super Green FC’s owners eyes MLS

    Nigerian owner of Super Green Football Club (SGFC) Maryland-Washington, Richard Opanuga, has attributed his team’s recent admission into American Soccer League (ASL) to a result of doggedness, hard work and focus.

    ‘Zico’, as he is fondly called after the Brazilian legendary attacker, said his ultimate dream is the United States (US) elite league, the Major-League Soccer (MLS).

    “That we are the first among the nine teams in the ASL is not by accident,” he started and added, “we have won nearly every tournament in Washington and our players are carefully recruited over the years. We have talented young Nigerians here and our aspiration is that the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) can tap into our resources to fortify the national teams at all levels.”

    The former striker, who made his mark with the famous Lagos Baptist Academy, was a founding member of Nigeria Football Association. The NFA is made up of ex-Nigerian footballers resident in the U.S

    “I played a key role in forming the NFA and we have a tournament once in a year where we all meet to play and deliberate on how those of us in the Diaspora can help our country in the area of football development.

    “I mooted the idea of Super Green FC from here and with concerted efforts and investment, we are nearer the goal. I’m happy to be a part of this history-making team. The promotion is reward for our hard work and perseverance. We look forward to competing at a higher level when the new season starts.

    “But, beyond that, our players will have the opportunity, through our affiliation as a pro team, to pursue their dream and we will challenge ourselves to ensure we are developing these players.

    “My first goal is always players’ development so as to enable their careers take them to levels they had dreamed before.”

    Zico wishes the Nigeria football authority can tap into their resources. “As an inaugural team to achieve this professional status, we seek more mentoring from big clubs and we are open to partnering with professional sides from Africa, Europe and in Asia. We have been in talk with the Nigerian football authority, and we are fully ready to support our country with our resources, though it has yielded much fruit. Now that we have gained this status as a professional side, I hope they (NFF) will take us more serious,” he added.

    The American Soccer League (ASL) is a developmental league that provides American soccer players with professional playing opportunities as well as a direct pathway into the major soccer leagues around the world.

    The Super Green Football Club will be playing out of Maryland state zoning as a professional side during this season at American Soccer League category and Opanuga declares the team’s readiness to challenge for honours.

    The SGFC has won all the titles in the amateur league in the northeast of America before being drafted by the American Professional Soccer league. SGFC’s identity with Nigeria is clearly defined, starting with its name, Super Green, quite similar to Super Eagles, the senior national team of Nigeria.

    “We are a wholly Nigerian team and we do not hide that fact. We close ties with 36 Lions Football Club Nigeria and we constantly seek professional ethics to enable us focus in exchanging players across the globe through player exchange during off-season. Through this exchange, we have successfully brought in players from Nigeria and they are doing fine here. We have contributed immensely to the MLS too with some of our players being snapped up by teams there. The ASL has seen our commitment and is happy to have us on board,” the finance expert added.

    Opanuga informed that they are open to collaboration with Nigerian clubs and conglomerates. “The MLS is our ultimate goal and we would like to partner with Nigerian clubs and companies to make this a reality. We are open to doing business,” he stated.

  • CMUL inducts first MLS students

    The College of Medicine (CMUL), University of Lagos has inducted its first set of Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) graduates as professional members of the Medical Laboratory Council of Nigeria (MLSCN).

    The 36 students specialised in one of five units of the programme- Medical microbiology, Chemical pathology, Haematology and Blood Group Serology (BGS), Histopathology and Immunology and Immunochemistry and Molecular Diagnosis.

    Addressing the professionals at the Old Great Hall, Provost of the college, Prof Folasade Ogunsola, urged them to be change agents and continue to seek knowledge.

    “This college has produced many notable health professionals who are changing Nigeria and the world and you must be proud to be counted as one of them. I therefore implore you to keep in mind all the basic ethical principles of your profession and be a good ambassador of this great institution,” she said.

    Head of the department Prof Oluyemi Akinloye, praised the institution for starting the programme.

    “It is commendable that the University of Lagos is joining the league of universities in turning out Medical Laboratory Scientists of high repute despite scarce resources in the country. This shows the resilience of this great institution in helping to build a virile Nigeria during this era of change”

    Meanwhile, Abidoun Olalekan emerged the best overall student and best student in Chemical Pathology; Akinlolu Oluwasegun won the prize for Medical Microbiology; and Aliyu Bisola for Haematology and BGS.

  • Aborted MLS move: Sam Agba not disappointed

    Aborted MLS move: Sam Agba not disappointed

    Enugu Rangers forward, Sam Agba has hinted that he is focused on scoring more goals for the Flying Antelopes and has since moved on after his planned move to join Major League Soccer (MLS) side, Chicago Fire in England for a pre-season training in early February didn’t come to reality because he was denied a UK entry visa.

    The soft-spoken striker confirmed to SL10.ng that he was disappointed at that time but he has since moved on and believes that God knows the best.

    “Of course, I was disappointed that it didn’t happen but I have moved on and believe that God really knows the best for me,”Agba told SL10.ng

    Last season, Sam Agba played for Kaduna United before joining Enugu Rangers at a later stage of the league. He scored five goals while with the Crocodiles in Kaduna and scored another four goals for the Flying Antelope last season.

    The striker expressed joy that the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) 2014/2015 season will resume on March 7, 2015 and said his main target for next season is to score goals for his club and hopefully get a national team call-up.

    “My target for next season is to score goals aplenty and hopefully I’ll get a national team call-up,”Agba told SL10.ng

  • JUTH’s Nwankwo dreams MLS

    JUTH’s Nwankwo dreams MLS

    Former JUTH FC midfielder, Tochukwu Nwankwo has told MTNFootball.com he dreams of playing in the USA Major League Soccer.

    “I am glad to be in USA, where my family reside, my mum, and siblings have been here for a while, so when the opportunity to play football here came in 2010, I could not resist it. My dream is to play in the MLS, which is the highest level here in USA. I am looking forward to that,” Nwankwo told MTNFootball.com.

    Nwankwo, a creative midfielder, was born in Jos and started his football career at grassroot level with Eagles stars John Obi Mikel and Obinna Nsofor. The Ventura County Fusion FC player,who had played in Slovenia before now, told MTNFootball.com he is sad JUTH FC are no more.

    “I was shocked and sad when I got the news that JUTH FC is no more. I love the team, that was my very first professional football club,” he said.

    The free kick specialist has scored four goals for Ventura Fusion this season. He was with JUTH from 2006 to 2008 before he left to play for FC Koper in Slovenia, where he played in UEFA Cup 2008/2009 season after which he returned to JUTH in 2009.

  • MLS one of the best leagues around, says Martins

    MLS one of the best leagues around, says Martins

    Seattle Sounders striker Obafemi Martins is thrilled to be a part of the rapidly growing Major League Soccer competition.

    The Nigerian is back from a short break and ready to fire the Sounders to the top of the table in what he believes is one of the best leagues going around.

    “I’m so excited to be back,” Martins told reporters. “Let’s go. There’s nothing else to say.

    “When I talk to my friends back home about that, they don’t really understand what is going on here,” Martins added.

    “They’re looking at the Spanish league, Italy and England, but they have to come and check it out here because the league is growing very, very fast. And they’re excited. They want to come. I told them there’s a lot going on here and we’re enjoying the league.

    “The league is difficult, as well, so they have to come and try. For me, I’m going to say the MLS league now is one of the best. The players who are not here have to come and try it and see how the fans are and how everything is going here.”

    Martins is well-versed to make the assessment as he has played in some of Europe’s top leagues for the likes of Reggiana and Inter Milan (both Italy), Newcastle United and Birmingham City (both England), Wolfsburg (Germany), Rubin Kazan (Russia) and Levante (Spain).