MLS commissioner Don Garber has issued an open invitation to Harry Kane to move to Major League Soccer, saying the league would “love” to welcome the England captain as its next high-profile signing.
Kane, 33, revealed last month that he has a career plan mapped out: he is set to sign a new deal with Bayern Munich, then move to the United States and finish his career as an NFL kicker. MLS chiefs have already hosted David Beckham and Lionel Messi as mega stars to boost football in the US, and Kane looks set to follow when he eventually leaves Bayern.
Garber's invitation to Kane
Garber said: “I mean, I'd love for him to do that. For me, it is the fulfilment of the dream that we have built a proper soccer league that would drive a soccer nation.
“We wanted to create something that would have the Harry Kanes of the world say, I'd kind of like to play in MLS. And I think Messi proved that, too. That was a competitive process. Working to ensure that we had a dynamic that would be better than going back to Barcelona?”
Kane would have no shortage of offers from MLS clubs, and there are also seven club owners who also run NFL teams, so there is a chance of a crossover. While nothing formal is in place, there is an open door for Kane to move after his next Bayern deal, which is likely to expire in 2029.
Beckham and Messi's impact
Garber has been MLS commissioner since 1999 and guided the league from being seen as “quirky” into a set-up that can compete with major European leagues. A huge part of that was built on the “Beckham effect” when the former England captain left Real Madrid to join LA Galaxy.
That was a game changer, but Garber admits it is hard to choose between Beckham and Messi as to who had the biggest effect on MLS and its development. Messi said farewell to Argentina in his final game on Tuesday night but is still going strong for Inter Miami.
Garber said: “Beckham or Messi? I don't think I would say one is more important than the other. That's a good question. David put this league on the path to credibility and respect. And in the prime of his career, he came here to LA. We were talking in 2006 a couple years before we were going, managed out of bankruptcy, discussions.
“I remember the opening party that we introduced him, and every top actor and celebrity in L.A. was welcoming him then, and he played well. He showed the world that this league can be competitive, it could be respected, it could be fun. It could have great players. It attracted Thierry Henry and many, many other players right after that.
“So without David, there's probably no major league soccer. That being said, Major League soccer would not be the global phenomenon and not be, sort of, on the hearts and minds of just about anybody in the world without Leo Messi. He is so competitive and plays to such a high level as he showed in the World Cup and that proves how important MLS is.”
MLS growth and Garber's legacy
Garber has put MLS firmly on the map. He takes pride in the development of the US national team, how many MLS players were at the World Cup, and the latest step is falling into line with the international calendar for its fixture list.
Antoine Griezmann was a big signing for MLS, and now, Garber says, there are more live football matches shown in the States than any other sport, which shows how the game has grown. Garber will stand down from his current role on January 1, with Larry Berg set to take over, with no regrets and just pride at his legacy.
Garber added: “We went from being sort of the quirky kids in the back of the room to now. We are not at the front of the classroom, and we're certainly not teaching the class. But we're walking around in a way where there's much more respect for what's going on in America. I think MLS has been a huge part of growing that.
“And the World Cup just delivered on everything we thought our country would be able to be a proper soccer nation, with packed stadiums and passionate fans, and an understanding of what the game means globally, and its inculcation into the culture of our community.
“And it's been a great full circle. I'm great. Somebody said recently: ‘How you doing?’ I said: ‘I couldn't be better.’ And I walked in realising that maybe these guys were wondering how I was feeling about the whole thing.
“I said: ’It’s not as if the high school prom queen kicked me out. You know, I kicked her out. I had the greatest job in sports, and I just thought it was the right time after the World Cup.”
