In the run-up to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, The National’s Gary Meenaghan looks back at the figures of World Cups past who, while not necessarily the greatest the game has ever seen, were among football’s most interesting characters.
ALEXI LALAS
In 1994 and with the United States hosting its first World Cup, the beautiful game was about to experience a new dawn in a country that had so far failed to embrace it. But it needed a poster boy – or at least a cult hero. Step forward, Alexi Lalas. A gangly, ginger-haired defender, Lalas was immediately recognisable and came to symbolise “soccer” in the US.
The Soccer Rocker
Part Viking, part all-American hero and with a splash of Groundskeeper Willie thrown in for good measure, this long-haired, grunge-bearded defender certainly caught the eye. Before the World Cup, Lalas released a self-produced rock CD. He featured on a collectible trading card sporting John Lennon-style sunglasses and an acoustic guitar over his shoulder. He is the original soccer rocker.
London Calling
Lalas played for his college team at Rutgers University and competed in the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona. After returning to California, he trained with ex-Arsenal defender Bob McNab and was invited for a trial with Arsenal. “Ian Wright picked me up for breakfast and took me out to dinner,” Lalas later told the club’s website. “It was an interesting experience.”
From U-S-A to Serie A
On home soil, Lalas played every second of the four US matches. Having helped secure a shock victory over Colombia and suffering only a 1-0 defeat to eventual winners Brazil, Lalas, 24 snubbed a move to the English Premier League in favour of joining Italian side Padova for US$200,000. The Times of London called him “a clumsy, top-heavy red lobster”.
“The Biggest Con Ever”
American media suggested their English counterparts had taken exception to Lalas’s decision to chose Italy instead of England. After a US friendly at Wembley, The Times wrote: “How the Italians would pay substantial money for Lalas defies the imagination.” Lalas responded: “Hey, I really fooled them. I’m the biggest con ever. They are going to give me a uniform? It was like that at Rutgers and on the Olympic team. I’ve always had the I’ve-got-absolutely-nothing-to-lose attitude.”
Building with Beckham
Since retiring in 2003, Lalas has remained heavily involved in Major League Soccer. He had stints as general manager at San Jose Earthquakes, New York Red Bulls and LA Galaxy. He is widely credited for convincing David Beckham to move to LA and, in turn, assisting the growth of the US league. Fired by Galaxy in 2008, he has since worked as an analyst on ESPN – while still producing music on his personal blog: “Soccer, Music and Slurpees”.
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