Nice article in When Saturday Comes (a long running monthly British football dead tree magazine), I tried to find an online reference, but with no luck.
It talked about Steve Zakuani and examined his choice to play collegiate football and take part in the Generation Adidas program rather than try to learn the trade in the lower divisions in Europe. It’s certainly more lucrative, the magazine claims and income of around $160,000 (both MLS salary and Generation Adidas “retainer”). Zakuani had significant interest last year from a few lover division British clubs, however had he taken that option he would be earning a fraction of that.
A number of specifically British younger players are going to colleges in the US for a year or two before trying their luck in MLS. Stuart Holden (Houston), Andy Iro (Crew) and John Culliffe (Chivas and San Jose) all took the same route to professional football.
Zakuani, like Montero is probably good enough to make a very nice living in Europe, a couple of years in a lower pressure environment with quality coaching under Sigi Schmidt will prepare him very well for that future.
Nice piece with a picture of the Sounders post goal.