Blast from the Past: MLS Salary Information from 2004

By: Laurie | February 24th, 2008

I was searching for MLS salary info today for something I was writing on the salary cap. Instead I found some fascinating little salary-related tidbits from 2004. (Keep in mind that salaries for 2008 haven’t been released yet, so this is just three years old.)

Some things you might find interesting if you’re an MLS fan.

Freddy Adu was the highest paid player, with total compensation of $500,000. At the time the article was written, he was fourteen years old. That’s a helluva thing to do to a kid.
“The top salary is $350,000 for Kansas City forward Josh Wolff, closely followed by Columbus striker Brian McBride at $341,250. Rounding out the top five in salary, in order, are John Spencer of Colorado ($311,272.50) and Ante Razov of Chicago ($300,000) and Adu.”
“These numbers are not the same as those calculated by the clubs for salary-cap purposes. Salary-cap figures are topped by a $280,000 maximum and include achievable bonuses as well as surcharges tacked on for licensing agreements.” Clear as mud? Yeah, me too.
“Behind Adu on the guaranteed list are Wolff ($418,571.43), Landon Donovan of San Jose ($367,500), Eddie Pope of the MetroStars ($350,331.66), and McBride ($341,250).”
“According to the list, 16 players top $200,000 in guaranteed compensation, including these who might be considered overpaid: Earnie Stewart of D.C. United ($285,000 in salary and guaranteed compensation), Hong Myung Bo of Los Angeles ($234,999.96/$289,999.96), and Darryl Powell of Colorado ($229,999.92 $239,999.92).” And if you’re a relatively new league fan and thinking, “WHO?!?” I believe that is the point.
“On the bottom end of the scale, more than 80 players earn less than $50,000 in salary, including Los Angles forward Carlos Ruiz, the league’s 2002 MVP. Ruiz is listed on a base salary of $30,000 and has a contract guaranteed for $50,000.”
“Cobi Jones, Jason Kreis and Jeff Agoos head a list of high-salaried players whose options were not been picked up as a prelude to MLS offering them contracts at a much lower salary.” Interestingly, all three of these guys have now been kicked upstairs. Kreis is head coach at RSL, Cobi is assistant coach at the Galaxy, and Agoos is “Sporting Director at Red Bulls. Maybe the willingness to take a pay cut is how you prove your loyalty to the league?
This was also the year that Alexi Lalas’ player contract was not renewed. If you’re not a Galaxy fan, you probably don’t care, but I thought it was interesting.