Football stars head to the U.S., putting family over money

Former national team coach Hong Myung-bo, KBS soccer commentator Lee Young-pyo, David Beckham and Robbie Keane, British players who played for the LA Galaxy, have something in common: They are soccer stars who retired in Major League Soccer in the U.S.

Steven Gerrard, eternal captain of English Premier League team Liverpool, will join them on the list. U.S. sports channel ESPN on Sunday reported that Gerrard will sign for the LA Galaxy on an 18-month, 6-million-dollar deal.

Soccer stars’ choice of the U.S. to wind down their careers as soccer players owes mostly due to family life. According to Gerrard, his wife and three daughters’ lives come first. His family was quite shocked by the fact that he is leaving Liverpool, but he said a change was needed for his family’s happiness. He added that frankly speaking, there were not many opportunities for him to play as a mainstay in Liverpool. In other words, he could not live a life without soccer in the U.K. but while playing as a starting player in the U.S., where the league is looser than in Europe, he will be able to spend time with his family.

Another factor is the pursuit of a post-retirement career track. Lee Young-pyo’s agency, sports marketing firm Global Sports & Entertainment Network, said Lee chose a Canadian team to study sports marketing, including the operation of soccer teams. One Saudi Arabian team in 2011 attempted to coax Lee with a blank check, but Lee selected the Vancouver Whitecaps for both Lee and his family’s future. “Eternal libero” Hong Myung-bo also ended his player career at the LA Galaxy for his family and his studies after Korea`s famous semi-finals finish in the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan.

Rumors say Gerrard is also interested in the Major League Soccer market. The standard of the league itself is vastly inferior to that of European leagues, but he reportedly plans to seek a future in the U.S., which has, using massive capital, bought prestigious teams in England and imported European stars such as David Beckham, dramatically expanding the market. The owner of the Liverpool team is John Henry, who also owns the Boston Globe. In other words, the English Premier League and the Major League Soccer share close ties. Beckham played for the LA Galaxy while operating various businesses at the same time. Robbie Keane left the Tottenham in 2011, and is spending the late years of his career at the LA Galaxy.