Man, if I could make $12,000 to play soccer, I’d be on that bandwagon in a heartbeat. Especially what with all the free clothing and medical care (and probably food).

wow, this is just amazing to me.

What food? The guys get 25 dollars for full day of travel. They also get a free meal at the annual lunchen.

Why does “ricardo pereira” show up on the full list ( http://www.mlsplayers.org/files/3_31_08_salary_info_club.pdf )?

And they don’t get to keep all the clothes. If they give a fan a jersey, for example, they have to pay for it.

You can see why we are struggling to score goals because they don’t want to pay the money that is required to land a top striker. However, it seems that if you are a defender or defensive midfielder then you are in the money.

$41 cash per travel day and each player can give away 5 jerseys per season at no charge. They get fed after games and some training and all the drinks you can carry. Still $12K is not much even in Dallas.

Thanks Buzz, always interesting.
The best thing the league can do (and VERY gradually finally is) is raise up the lower end of the scale. The Badsons of the world should not have to play D2 Norway to make decent money.

Obviously, I wish they were all making far more, and as the league grows, more fans attend games, buy jerseys,etc, salaries will raise.

The good news is that none of them are starving (except perhaps the ones that have to live in NY or LA!)…they can all supplement from youth coaching/camps, and also pick up extra (a little at a time, but something), for appearances, signings, etc.

wow…Chase isnt even making the same as someone who makes $8/hr -full time…ouch

DMN had a story last year about Dominic Oduro (when he was on the development contract) only being able afford to eat meat once a week. He wasn’t eating on the road so he could save his per diem (only $41 for an entire day away from home. They don’t get the full $41 if they are away part of the day — like for example if they are leaving for the airport in the afternoon.)

It’s not an FCD problem. It’s a leaguewide problem. All the drinks you can carry doesn’t make up for the fact that you can’t afford meat.

Oh, and the players got in trouble last year because the FO put breakfast food (cereal and rolls) in the lockerroom and the guys scarfed it down in one morning. They were later told the food was supposed to last for two weeks!

The most pathetic thing I’ve ever seen. The league should be embarassed that Golden Balls Beckham is making over 6 million dollars a year and a majority of these guys don’t make a living wage. Makes me not want to support this league any more. Disgusting.

If I have calculated right, we could move a $35k player out for a DP. Correct?

Steve, “ricardo pereira” is Ricardinho.

Fudd, these number are not cap numbers. The cap number is very complicated and includes bonus of the previous year as well as transfer costs and stuff that is non-monetary compensation.

But FCD does have the room to add a DP level player.

hey SK…..medical insurance is not included…and what free clothing other than training gear

why are we paying Davino $400k and not using a DP spot on him. It seems like we could either pay him more of what he wants to get paid (all players want more $$$) without the cap hit anyway. Paying a player exactly the same amount as the cap hit just seems to waste that spot. Or am i crazy?

i have more appreciation for the guys at the bottom of the roster.whenever i see those guys they are always smiling and enjoying what they do. it must be hard making that little. some forget that they are also taxed and have expenses, so some of these numbers are disturbing.

twotone, there’s only 1 DP slot per team, why waste it on Davino. FCD is overpaying him to begin with.

Andy,
Not supporting the league isn’t going to help the situation. More support is the answer, not less. It’s not like the owners are raking it in. The MLS is only 13 years old. When MLB, NFL, NBA was the same age, players had to get part time jobs in the off-season to make it. When compared in the proper perspective, the league and the players are doing very well.

Good point Skeeter. Other comparable salaries would be in minor league baseball. Which is appropriate, since that is similar on some level to MLS’s function worldwide.
MLS clubs have only started to become profitable during the last two years. I believe the current collective bargaining agreement expires after this year. Hopefully the league will make some moeny this year, and more money will trickle down to the players.

Ouch

this is atrocious. how do boys like oduru, yi, pitch, and thompson live? they didn’t even get a raise! no cost of living increase? what with gas prices and everything, this is a CRIME! after taxes, it’s poverty-level. i can’t even imagine how the bottom 4 on the dev. roster survive. they must all live in one house, share one car . . . mls is pathetic.

wow this is just shocking.. how do some of these guys live. Why does Alturo Alvarez make more than Toja??

Alvarez just got a new deal. Toja is on the one he signed when he got here. I’m sure next Toja deal will be much larger.

TT, a DP is just a senior player that gets paid a lot. There’s isn’t an extra roster spot for him. The only thing the DP does is let you pay over $400k.

Oh wow.. I bet he wishes he would have signed for more because he is definately worth more. He is the best one on the team.. thats obvious to any onlooker.

Some of the the guys on the Dev roster do ok. Don’t grudge them the money, but how did they make out so good? Is part of that money go towards their guaranteed tuition under Generation Adidas? Just curious as to how they are able to work a much better deal, since there are several guys on the 1st team who make much less than these guys who only play for the reserves.

I agree that the next Toja deal will be much bigger too but it just won’t be with dallas.

Abdus Ibrahim is making more than Kenny Cooper.