Australia head coach Tony Popovich says Major League Soccer provides a “good stepping stone” for his players’ careers Kay Rawls Becomes the latest Australian to land in America’s top flight.
Rawls, 26, completed a move to North America last week, signing a two-year contract with D.C. United, with the option of playing another season after leaving Scottish side Hearts.
Center defender joins Nashville SC Patrick Yazbeck The Australian national team is currently plying its trade with Australian Under-23 international players in Major League Soccer (MLS). Jack Goldwood-Reich (St. Louis City), lachlan brook (real salt lake), and Giuseppe Bovalina (Vancouver Whitecaps) are also stateside.
Meanwhile, MLS teams are increasingly willing to invest in Australian talent: Rawls’ transfer reportedly fetched Hearts £600,000, while Girdwood Reich’s transfer The club brought a record transfer fee to Sydney Football Club. MacArthur FC’s Arias Piol is also reported to be moving to Real Salt Lake City in a deal worth at least $500,000.
Voted the ninth best league by Football Magazine Opta strength ranking Posted last October, Popovich said the level of professionalism in America’s top flight bodes well for Australians looking to improve.
“It’s a good league, it’s a good, stable league,” Popovich said. “This league has invested a lot of money, they have the resources, the crowds, the stadium. They are very professional off the field, which is what you would expect in American sports.
“I believe it’s a good stepping stone for the players to go there.
“Kai is an example, he played in Scotland, he played 25 to 30 games in six months, he was very durable and now he’s got a good move to the United States.
“Is it a step up? You might say from the Scottish League, or where he was at Hearts, maybe with more resources [in MLS] As far as the league is concerned, [D.C. United] itself; what their expectations or goals are.
“We’re delighted for him, he’s very happy with the move; he’s very happy with it. It will be interesting to see the level he performs immediately and he starts.”
The importance of Rolls finding form in his new home became even more important for Australia late last month. Harry Souttar He will be out for up to a year due to an Achilles tendon injury, which has left a gaping hole in the middle of Australia’s backline.
After being frostbitten by Leicester City, Soutar’s injury and Parma’s continued absence caused him to just find his form and get stable playing time at Sheffield United. Alessandro Sercati Australia’s defensive depth will be significantly tested due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament with a crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Indonesia in Sydney and then away. China March is here.
“Again, you can’t replace Harry,” Popovich said. “His attributes are unique to the players we have at the moment. We don’t have a lot of players and we don’t have players like Harry. Maybe Cam [Burgess] Very similar to Harry. So we need to find a player who can give us stability in the middle of the back three, who can do what Harry does.
“It could be a technical player or it could be a physical player. So it depends on what strengths we have around that player and what we can add in that position. We’re in that aspect Be open to who that might be or what it might look like. “
Meanwhile, another pillar of Australia’s defense is Matthew Ryan Looks poised to find much-needed playing time in this January transfer window, team The 32-year-old goalkeeper is reportedly close to moving from Roma to Ligue 1 side Lens as a replacement. Blaise Samba.
“I think this is still going on and it’s all happened in the last three or four days,” Popovich said of Ryan’s actions. “But obviously, he went there to get more playing time. That was his belief.”
