Long-Range Goals: The Success Story of Major League Soccer

"There simply aren't many books about American soccer, and Long-Range Goals ably fills the gap of knowledge about the unique, zany, controversial, audacious, outrageous-and, yes, visionary-history of Major League Soccer. Nearly all the main figures in MLS spoke to Beau Dure, who produced a useful account for anyone who's interested in futbol American-style."

"Unfortunately, too much of our American soccer history has been poorly documented. Thankfully Beau Dure has given us an incredibly detailed, thoughtful, and entertaining exploration of the strange and beautiful adventure that is Major League Soccer. For American soccer fans, this is the definitive account of the league's history."

All over the world, soccer is known as "the beautiful game" and is the most popular sport sometimes the only sport. But in the United States, professional soccer has had a hard time catching on.

The game has had some successes. The American Soccer League of the 1920s, Pele and other international stars in the North American Soccer League's glamorous 1970s, the indoor soccer phenomenon of the 1980s, and the U.S. women's win in the Women's World Cup of 1999 all hinted that the American public was ready to embrace pro soccer.

In its short history, Major League Soccer has survived and even started to thrive, drawing steady crowds and loyal fans. In Long-Range Goals, Beau Dure pro-files teams and players, including D.C. United, the Los Angeles Galaxy, Landon Donovan, and Coach Bruce Arena, who are all vital to MLS. Some of the triumphs include an expansion of the league and its ownership group, the contribution of MLS players to a strong U.S. World Cup showing in 2002, and the construction of soccer stadiums nationwide. At the same time, MLS has occasionally stumbled, especially during costly legal battles with players and seeing two teams fold, but its investors have remained strong, figured out how to make money, and supported the league.

From the league's formation in 1993 to the David Beckham era, this book reveals all the action on and off the pitch: the politics, the lawsuits, the management of its teams, and the savvy business deals that helped MLS rebound. It also revels in the big personalities of its stars, the grace of its utility players, the devotion of its fans, and the obstacles the league faces in meeting its long-range goals.

Beau Durf has covered Major League Soccer in the national press since 1999. He resides in Vienna, Virginia