MLS gets NO RESPECT: Ranked 77th!!!!!!!!

By: Dave Martinez | January 14th, 2009

   

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Well, this is a bit ridiculous.

I mean, I expect EPL to be #1, and Serie A could definitely be considered #2. Argentina at #3 makes this gaucho happy. But the United States at 77th?!

The infamous IFFHS released its 2008 world rankings of the best football leagues. And somehow, the nation that is consistently in the top 40 has a league, which has never run better, ranked in the lowly position of 77.

Check this out:

- Venezuela, the place where Red Bulls Jorge Rojas was complaining about not having enough kits to wear for games, is ranked 70.

- Syria is 61st?!? How?!?! Since WHEN?!?!

- Australia has a respectable league, but ranked 60th? Fred of DC United was their seasons MVP, and barely made an impact in year two of his MLS contract.

- Honduras and Bolivia sit at 52. Bolivia has a government as stable as Black Beards peg leg. Honduras has produced Amado Guevara, who was dying to leave that league as soon as possible for the more competitive and better paying American league.

- Singapore ranks 38 while Israel ranks 39. Help me understand this!

- Worst of all (and well deserved damnit), Mexico is #8. Sigh.

Rodney Dangerfield would be rolling in his grave. We get no respect!

LATE EDIT:

You want to know the criteria? Check this out:

“The world ranking of the strongest national leagues has been determined annually by the IFFHS since 1991 on the basis of all national (championship, FA cup) and (inter)continental results of the clubs. This principle has proved to be a very sensitive and objective indicator.”

Category: MLS, MLS Business Matters

   

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Comments  

• Jason Davis |  January 14th, 2009 at 9:33 am

  
  
  

  Deep breaths, Dave. We all know the rankings are crap, especially in light of the financial restrictions MLS operates under. It’s like MLS is trying to climb Everest with a 50 lb weight tied to their neck; and yet our teams manage to compete well with teams from league (Mexico, Costa Rica, etc.) ranked well above the MLS.

  I’ve got a more in-depth commentary on my blog:
  http://matchfitusa.blogspot.com

  

• Nolan |  January 14th, 2009 at 9:43 am

  
  
  

  Any ranking that places La Liga at 4 has no credibility whatsoever. I love the Argentinian Primera as much as the next wannabe porteno, but right now only the EPL is arguably better than La Liga.

  

• The Special One |  January 14th, 2009 at 9:51 am

  
  
  

  I wouldn’t give these rankings much clout. Supposedly part of the MLS’ low ranking is due to the poor performance in Champions league

  

• Dave Martinez |  January 14th, 2009 at 9:54 am

  
  
  

  Its ridiculous. And to answer you guys, I agree – La Liga is the DEFINITE #2. Serie A is on a down swing, but can be argued at 3. The Argie division, though I love it, surprised me, as I figured Bundes would be well above it.

  I HATE RANKINGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  

• Laurie |  January 14th, 2009 at 11:32 am

  
  
  

  Dave, do you know what criteria they used?

  

• Dave Martinez |  January 14th, 2009 at 1:18 pm

  
  
  

  “The world ranking of the strongest national leagues has been determined annually by the IFFHS since 1991 on the basis of all national (championship, FA cup) and (inter)continental results of the clubs. This principle has proved to be a very sensitive and objective indicator.”

  RedUNKuLOUS!

  

• Laurie |  January 14th, 2009 at 6:45 pm

  
  
  

  Some thoughts on their criteria:

  1) How the hell do national results help determine where a LEAGUE ranks? If you’re only playing against other teams in the league you can’t tell much of anything about how one league will match up against another.

  2) Regions still figuring out their intercontinental competitions, like CONCACAF, will almost definitely score lower because there’s no benchmark to measure against.

  3) Schedules play a huge role. In Europe, where everybody is on the same schedule and competes in the same competition, the measurements are much more valid. compare this to the Americas, where everybody does their own thing.

  

• mele419 |  January 14th, 2009 at 7:10 pm

  
  
  

  This is the most terrible way to rank leagues. Compeletely innacurate and garbage.
  sorry for my spelling. in a rush.

  

• Sinan |  January 15th, 2009 at 4:34 pm

  
  
  

  I don’t know… Honestly, the MLS needs to restructure and drop divisions… totally reformat. Then they’ll have international respect.

  

• Sean |  January 28th, 2009 at 8:22 am

  
  
  

  The MLS is ranked number 77th???? In 2008 the Peruvian league was ranked number 15th. Granted, I will say there is more talent in Peru, but the coaching and administration of the league is completely corrupt. I’ve been to a few MLS games and was in Peru last summer watching matches on television and in person. The MLS is at least twice as good as the Peruvian Football Primera.