Steve Ralston has spent 14 years playing in Major League Soccer. He is now set to return to where his soccer career truly began.
The long-time New England Revolution midfielder was introduced on Monday as the first player signed by NASL club AC St. Louis.
"This is a day I always dreamed would happen,” said Ralston. “I think anyone who plays professional sports wants to play in their hometown. I am fortunate to get to do just that at this stage of my career.
"Obviously it is an exciting time for soccer in St. Louis since we now have our own professional team," Ralston said. "I am honored to be the first player to become a part of this new franchise.”
Ralston will serve as a player as well as assistant coach under AC St. Louis head coach Claude Anelka.
The MLS career leader in assists (135) and games played (378), Ralston left New England after eight seasons. He is recovering from ACL surgery for an injury suffered last September and has stated he could be back in action by may. One of the last remaining MLS originals (players who have been in the league since the inaugural season in 1996), Ralston will be 36 in June.
What do you think of this news? Disappointed to see Ralston leave MLS? Think this could be the first of several players to pass on MLS offers for better deals in USL?
Share your thoughts below.
Awesome – he’ll have a blast playing in front of 2,000 fans.
SF’s got video of Ralston announcement. The link in the post has more video.
http://theoffsiderules.blogspot.com/2010/02/video-steve-ralton-on-coming-home-to.html
Jesse Marsh? Is he still playing? Also theoretically Tony Sanneh though again not sure about his status with LA.
I’m recording that. No way in hell I’m getting up at 4:45 AM on a Saturday.
doubt Ralston would have said yes; this was about getting back to St Louis, as well as not playing on the fake field in New England any more.
That too. I think last season Miami FC signed like 3 guys who wanted to go to Europe quickly and did not want to be tied down long term to MLS. If I am not mistaken, all three played a few games for Miami FC in USL and then were sold. Gale, Taylor and someone else.
Yes, it has happened often. Just last season a number of MLS players like Savage and Paladini made more money in USL by dropping down. The previous year it happened with a bunch of guys also. Actually, other than the top 8-10 players, USL now NASL is always competitive in salary to MLS.
I think what Ives must mean is that this is the first high profile player to evidently bolt MLS despite having an offer for an extension for the second division. From my vantage point it is a healthy thing. This happens all over the world, and we have too many good players to limit them to an 18 team league where half the players are foreign and their home towns are not represented.
Didn’t Eric Wynalda go to Charleston Battery briefly after leaving the Fire?
Just another thing I noticed on ESPN today.. Liverpool v Everton this Saturday on ESPN2 Live at 7:45AM EST.
About time, and a great match to see not on some Mongolian website that cuts out every 2 seconds.
I second that question. Better situation or better money? Although I suppose better situation = better deal.
All they need now is pat noonan. Then this team would be so sexy it would be ridiculous.
I was thinking about what you might call journeyman veteran players, ones who wouldn’t be stars in MLS but could help teams as either 10th or 11th starters, or first off the bench. They would get pretty low offers from MLS, and would instead sign for the better D2 teams. I’m sure I’ve heard such stories in years past, but I don’t know any names.
The Fire are going to announce that all their fans really are overweight, sausage eating comic books collectors who live in their mom’s basement.
Oh, wait..that wouldn’t be a surprise. We already know that.
My thought was that the other players who signed with “lesser” leagues than MLS were usually much younger and were those who hoped to sign with “bigger” leagues and didn’t want to get tied down to long MLS contracts.
Looks like Ralston needs to get some sun.
St. Louis Athletica (WPS). Although I can’t say that league will be around much longer.
A number of draft picks have. DC United lost Jay Needham and Lyle Adams to the USL. I’m sure there have been others.
I’d say you’re too easily distracted.
Haven’t there been other players in the past who passed up offers from MLS to sign for more money in the next tier down, such as with Rochester? None as high profile in this country as Ralston, but I don’t think he’s really the first player to do so.
Athletic Club ehh? Tell me, what other sports does Athletic Club Saint Louis have?
I like it. Raises the profile of the NASL showing others that its not just about the MLS in this country.
Looks less like a kit and more like a team-colored t-shirt that they screened his name and number on to for the press conference. To me, it’s much too plain to be a jersey.
In any case, I’m sad that Ralston left my Revs, but the move to St. Louis is one I had hoped he’d take, and going back home to play is a great way to wind down his playing career.
Now to hope that the Revs and ACSL will meet n an Open Cup match.
After a major knee surgery at the age of 35, it was time to retire to the lower leagues or altogether. Ralston is a classy player and was a great contributor to the American soccer landscape.
This is nice for Steve and feel good stuff for St. Louis, but what are you people smoking when you think it’s some sort of war when the NASL gets a hometown guy coming off a major knee injury and at the end of his career?
photo by who? lol
heh… yeah I see it.
And what is up with his sweater? Is it folded over several times at the bottom? Totally distracting for me.
Good for him- way to wrap up a great career. I loved him when he was on my hometown Mutiny waaay back in the day.
Good Name – until DC United relocate to St L.
:))
I always thought Ralston looked like MCA from the Beastie Boys.
Was anybody at this thing? Would love to know more about that kit he’s holding.
Excellent move by Steve. This is a perfect situation for him. It would be good to see “older” players ending there playing careers in the lower leagues, just like the rest of the world. This will be a great place for future coaches et.al. to get that experience before making the step up to MLS.
Good Luck Steve…look for you as coach in MLS in the coming years.
Awesome. Now MLS faces competition from above and below. Maybe this will encourage the Don to increase the salary cap and put a quality product on the pitch.
Whaaat? Why?
Also, the Fire are going to be making a surprise announcement on Wednesday. Any idea what that might be, Ives?
Glad to have ya here Steve! Great pick up. I can’t wait to start going to these games at Soccer Park.
Oh ok. That makes more sense than using the Italian AC. 😉
beat me to it…
It could very easily be Athletic Club St. Louis
Was it really a better offer, or was he just dissapointed with the Revs offer and happy to take a decent offer back home?
It’s actually ‘Athletic Club’. There is a sizable Italian contingent (namely ‘The Hill’ area of StL), but it’s actually more to keep in line with the Athletica (WPS team owned by same group) as well as a nod to the Missouri Athletic Club which awards the Hermann Award (college soccer’s equivalent to the Heisman).
What is the story behind using Associazione Calcio St. Louis as the name? Is there a big Italian community in St. Louis?
I think this is awesome. MLS needs to get this team in the league asap.
at what 40? wont happen…..BUT, he could be a candidate for their first manager in MLS
Jaime Moreno and Jesse Marsch? Brian McBride was here in 96 but left and is now back, as did Tony Sanneh…
but Marsch Moreno and Ralston were the only ALL 14 year players.
and hejduk too i think.
mcbride has to be one.
jaime moreno as well, even though he wasnt an original?
Hope to see him back in MLS when StLouis becomes the next expansion team.
Feel good story I love it.
How many oldies (96′) players are left and who?
About as good of a signing that you could hope for at the NASL level. People here love the local products, so this should help.
Taylor Twellman or Brian McBride (SLU) would be pretty awesome though, just have to keep dreaming (or wait for those two to get even older).
smart way to ease into retiring as a player and transitioning into coaching…Steve Nicol ought to have tapped Ralston to replace Paul Mariner…
MLS’s Loss! I’m happy for Steve though. It must be a player’s dream to start something new like this in his hometown!