It's a set piece, it's a header, it's a goal, It's Chad Marshall. The Brothers talk about the unassuming defender that played exclusively in MLS and finished with the best career for a defender in MLS history, including the most Defender of the Year awards by a player ever. Sources: Extratime Bobby Warshaw on the Chad Marshall Theorem https://www.m…

The third entry to the brother's MLS Hall of Fame is Dwayne De Rosario. An MLS legend and Canadian legend that didn't make it to MLS until 23 and didn't become a starter until 26 but put together an all time career including a record six MLS Best XIs. Also hear about the most interesting year of any MLS player, his 2011 MVP season. Sources: Highs a…

The DC United talisman, Jaime Moreno, is the second person in our first class of MLS Hall of Fame. The first person into the 100/100 club, learn about how Moreno grew up in the same academy as Marco Etcheverry, became the first Bolivian in the EPL before landing in MLS. He would have almost two careers across two eras filled with stats and trophies…

The brothers kick of season 2 with our series of the first 25 players that should enter the MLS Hall of Fame (as soon as it's made). The first name leading the way in our MLS Hall of Fame? Who else but the greatest American player of all time, Landon Donovan. Learn about his merit, honors and his story on getting to MLS and Neetol's favorite Landon…

Tutul and Neetol come out of their hibernation to announce season 2, which will have two seperate series: 25 Stories That Made Women's Soccer in the US 25 Stories Of Should Be MLS Hall of Famers. That's right 50 episodes coming your way. Also they chat about the MLS is Back Tournament.By The Brothers Rahman

How passionate fans of the Columbus Crew organized, protested and eventually saved the Crew and what it means to be a fan moving forward. Sources: Shout out to Keith Naas @Knass who helped proofread the outline How Columbus #SavedTheCrew by Arlo Moore-Bloom https://www.wbur.org/onlyagame/2019/11/08/columbus-crew-mls-save-the-crew Precourt takes tho…

How a bond between a player and a coach resulted in an unbelievable but for an MLS Expansion team, the largest sale in MLS history and an opening of an unprecedented pipeline of Latin American talent. Sources: Lanús acordó la incorporación del volante Miguel Almirón https://www.espn.com.ar/noticias/nota/_/id/2435943/lanus-acordo-la-incorporacion-de…

How a Canadian phenom who's parents escaped a Liberian Civil War to settle in Edmonton eventually became MLS' greatest export and glimpse to the future it may hold. Sources: Sources: The War in Liberia by Sarah Left https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/aug/04/westafrica.qanda Becoming Canadian - The Alphonso Davies Story https://www.youtube.com/w…

How two new clubs, Atlanta United and LAFC, in MLS embraced the 3.0 model and became the giants in the league from spending, relevance and marketing. Sources: Bernie Marcus and Arthur Blank for the Entreprenuer https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/197614 Home Depot Founder To Buy Falcons by the AP https://www.wired.com/2001/12/home-depot-founder-to…

How a report from a consultant group led to a new salary mechanism which propelled player spending in MLS to new heights. Sources: Inside the Confidential 2016 Study That Provided The Blueprint From MLS Modern Era by Paul Tenorio & Pablo Maurer https://theathletic.co.uk/1362372/2019/11/08/inside-the-confidential-2016-study-that-provided-the-bluepri…

How four American stars were developed in MLS, got sold to Europe, had success and then returned to have more success and money than could've been imagined. SOURCES: How Seattle’s Stunning Clint Dempsey Deal Got Done by Grant Wahl https://www.si.com/soccer/2013/08/05/clint-dempsey-seattle-sounders-mls Beasley Angered by MLS Decision by Rupert Lowe …

In our most technical episode yet, the brothers talk about how each collective bargaining agreement evolved player movement and salary spends of MLS that has helped shape the league today. Sources: Old MLS CBA Expires But No Strike Imminent by Brian Lewis https://nypost.com/2010/02/25/old-mls-cba-expires-but-no-strike-imminent/ Players Want Big Cha…

How the MLS team in Kansas City went from being last in attendance and fan engagement to being a model MLS franchise that's always sold out - one of the best turnarounds in all of sports. Sources: Special thanks to Mike McGrew and Mike Kuhn Lamar Hunt Sells MLS Wizards to Local Group http://www.espn.com/espn/wire/_/section/soccer/id/2567849 Serious…

How MLS' Homegrown Rule pushed MLS teams to nurture young talent in their academies and why it took so long to take hold and meet it's full potential. Sources: Local Goalie Careers Poised to Go Global by Paul Tenorio for Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/25/AR2009052502163.html LA Galaxy Sign 17 Year Old …

How the supporter culture and following of MLS teams led to the creation of one of the three main trophies & the eventual expansion into 3 new teams. Sources: A History of the Supporters Shield by Ryan Gates for Stumptown Footy https://www.stumptownfooty.com/2011/2/15/1995978/a-history-of-the-supporters-shield A Pacific Passion Play by Grant Wahl f…

How two corrupt CONCACAF officials made Concacaf Champions League which eventually propelled MLS to improve their quality of play. Sources: https://bleacherreport.com/articles/138326-soccer-in-north-america-part-2-much-ado-about-superliga http://real-football.blogspot.com/2006/10/mls-answers-to-20-questions-for-don.html https://www.nydailynews.com/…

Neetol grades every new MLS Jersey from a designer's point of view. Tutul chimes in with some marketing points.By The Brothers Rahman

How the largest signing in league history, David Beckham, happened in the first place and how it changed the direction of MLS forever. The brothers talk about how and why the Designated Player happened, how Blanco was the better player in the early years and why it took a few years before everyone started to spend money on Designated Players. Sourc…

An early BONUSODE at the pods halfway point. The brothers discuss the state of the pod and give shoutouts (04:10), talk about Gressel and Chicharito (13:55), and close with comparing the players in this January camp vs the team that lost in Trinidad in 2017 (29:15).By The Brothers Rahman

How MLS expanded into Canada for the first time, stepping into MLS 2.0 for the first time. The brothers also talk about the long windy road that made the circumstances right for Toronto FC to join the league. Sources: “A nice little job to learn stuff by” By Duncan Fletcher for SB Nation: https://www.wakingthered.com/2013/9/9/4705472/tfc-a-nice-lit…

How the business plan and strategy that saved the league also came with a bad side: the relocation of a storied franchise. Luckily it works out in the long run for the San Jose Earthquakes. Sources: What now for Columbus? Learning From the Earthquakes Relocation And Retrun by Scott French for Four Four Two https://www.fourfourtwo.com/us/features/wh…

How MLS's first true star to penetrate pop culture came in a 14 year old, Freddy Adu in 2004. Sources: A 12-YEAR OLD’s AMAZING FEAT by Jason La Canfora for Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2001/08/25/a-12-year-olds-amazing-feat/9923da6b-4f3d-4f9a-bd31-bb67449c437f/ READY FOR FREDDY? AT 14, FREDDY ADU IS ALREADY THE H…

How MLS went from 3 owners and 10 teams in 2003 to 6 owners and 12 teams in 2005. Includes the new owner for Colorado Rapids, and the entry of Chivas USA and Real Salt Lake. Source: From Owner to Quietest Sports Emperor by Jere Longman https://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/15/sports/soccer/15owner.html Mexico’s Chivas to Play MLS All-Stars by Grahame Jon…

By The Brothers Rahman

How a co-venture between US Soccer and MLS brought a new pipeline of talent into the league.By The Brothers Rahman

Early MLS had some weird rules. No ties. Running shootouts. Clocks going up and not down. 4th subs for goalkeepers. What's weirder were some of the rules they were looking at, like bigger goals or kick-ins instead of throw ins. Listen to how Don Garber, the internet and Bob Bradley each had a hand in ending those rules. Sources: https://www.complex…

How Tim Howard was scouted as a prospect, became an MLS star and eventually transferred to the best team in the world. Sources: https://www.coloradorapids.com/post/2019/04/11/thankyoutim-howard-recalls-historic-transfer-mls-manchester-united https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxnHbC-hYOw https://www.si.com/vault/2003/08/11/347775/a-keeper-of-promise-t…

How a former US national lacrosse and soccer player became the most accomplished coach in MLS and US Soccer history. Sources: Hidden Caps - Bruce Arena’s Appearance in Israel by Tom Dunmore https://web.archive.org/web/20130117223126/http://www.ussoccer.com/news/centennial/01/hidden-caps-arena.aspx Dissecting Bruce Arena’s Legacy https://www.fourfou…

The brothers take a break from the 25 Stories to thank those who are listening and to then debate the merits of Promotion / Relegation in the US. 2:00 - Thank you to the listeners 9:00 - Let's talk Pro / RelBy The Brothers Rahman

The brothers talk about the most important meeting in Major League Soccer history. Sources: Garber Opens Up on SUM’s role in US Soccer / MLS by Grant Wahl for SI https://www.si.com/soccer/2018/01/25/sum-soccer-united-marketing-garber-gulati-carter MLS goes to near extinction to remarkable success by Kevin Baxter for LA times - https://www.latimes.c…

Tutul tells the story of how a 1998 World Cup failure and a report from a foreign coach led to the first soccer residency which would change the face from MLS in the early 2000s. Sources: The Q-Report - http://www.cs.virginia.edu/~clc5q/Project2010.pdf Bradenton’s Residence Is Dead, What Does It All Mean - https://www.soccerwire.com/resources/brade…

Tutul tells the story of how the combination of an ambitious owner, declining attendance, financial losses, losing public votes and stadium repairs led to the first soccer specific stadium in the US. Neetol recalls the pains of watching early MLS in half empty football stadiums and how this was the first domino into a much better viewing experience…

Neetol takes over host duties. Tutul tells the story of how a failed lawsuit established the backbone of the MLS business model - single entity. Neetol explains that MLS is basically like Applebees. Sources: An Oral History of Major League Soccer’s Frenzied First Season by Doug Sibor for Complex Magazine: https://www.complex.com/sports/2015/05/oral…

In the first episode, Tutul tells the story of how the soccer tournament in the 1984 Olympics eventually led to the founding of Major League Soccer. Sources: How USA was chosen to host World Cup 94 by Michael Lewis for the Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/jul/04/usa-world-cup-94-inside-story How US won the World Cup by Steve Berk…