The MLS Jersey Name Game

By: Bob | April 19th, 2007

It goes without saying that many players in MLS are far from household names. The league does have its bigger name players, but it is largely filled with players who only the most loyal of fans really know. With that being the case, you would think the league would be interested in making it easier for fans to remember the players’ names. You know how difficult it is for some of us to remember two names. Why not allow players to be known by single names like Landycakes? Apparently that is a big no-no.

Admittedly, as far as “controversies” go MLS’ decision to not allow players to use their first names on the back of their jerseys is not a huge one in the grand scheme of things, but that doesn’t make it any less silly. Only a handful of players have chosen to do this over the years and somehow the league has survived. Surely allowing the Colorado Rapids’ Hercules Gomez to go by his first wonderful name wouldn’t mean the ruination of soccer in the United States.

It is worth noting that this was an issue in Germany a few years ago. Hertha Berlin midfielder Andreas Neuendorf was so eager to use his nickname ‘Zecke’ on his jersey that he took up a career as an artist.

The 32-year-old Neuendorf, who has had the nickname since early in his career, wanted to have ‘Zeck’ emblazoned on his jersey five years ago and cited the Brazilian players who are able to use their artistic names on their jerseys.

But the German professional league (DFL) first rejected his request. Only after he began painting portraits to prove he was an artist, and changed his passport to read ‘Zecke’, did the German DFL allow him to change his jersey to ‘Zecke’.

Instead of forcing players to take up careers as artists so that their preferred names can be on their shirts, I think MLS should require them to all adopt unusual names. Listening to the ESPN announcers describe a goals set up by Have-A-Look Dube to Thankgod Amaefule would liven things up a bit.