Not since the days of Pele’ in the 1970s has a Brazilian’s move to the New York-New Jersey metropolitan area shifted the U.S. soccer landscape so drastically.
With one risky contract, the New Jersey Ironmen — a charter member of the new, four-team Xtreme Soccer League — sent shock waves through indoor soccer when it signed Blast star Adauto Neto to a free-agent contract reportedly worth over $100,000 per season.
Free agency played a role when the original Major Indoor Soccer League was flourishing in the late 1980s, when it had 11 teams in 10 states from Maryland to California.
But it’s never impacted the sport as it has now, when many teams are struggling financially and attendance is suffering.
“It gives players an opportunity to make a little more money or play where they want to play. Ultimately as a franchise, you have to look at what is right for your organization,” Kevin Healey, the Blast’s president, said. “For us, the plan hasn’t changed that much in that we want to keep the continuity and bring in a few new players like we have in the past.”
Neto, who was the Major Indoor Soccer League’s Most Valuable Player in 2006, certainly can make an impact. The 27-year-old ranked third on the Blast with 46 points despite playing in just 19 games last season.
“Neto is the type of player that can turn a game on its head in an instant,” Ironmen head coach Omid Namazi said. “Anytime he touches the ball, he becomes dangerous to the opposition, and I am thrilled to have him here in New Jersey.”
But the Ironmen’s investment is not without risk, considering Neto has fractured his lower left leg twice — and could be one slide tackle away from never being able to play competitively again.
But Neto, whose injuries the past two seasons have sidelined him for 39 of 60 regular season games, wasn’t the only first player to switch teams. Orlando, which went 3-27 in the Major Indoor Soccer League last year, has signed five free agents.
“It’s really something we haven’t experienced in indoor soccer since I’ve been involved in it,” Blast coach Danny Kelly said. “The players in our game don’t make a lot of money. If a team is going to make them an offer to make some money, and they want to get out of the situation they’re currently in, I don’t think it’s a bad thing. It’s about time some of these guys get paid what they’re worth.”
Teams in the XSL have a salary cap of $300,000. But each team is allotted a “franchise player,” whose unlimited salary will only count for $14,000 against the cap, according to industry sources.
But the The National Indoor Soccer League, which includes the Blast, Orlando Sharks, Philadelphia KiXX, Monterrey La Raza and the Rockford Rampage, has no salary cap. But Blast officials did not to match the Ironmen’s offer to Neto because they didn’t want to pay him significantly more than his teammates. In previous seasons, player salaries in the Major Indoor Soccer League ranged from $20,000 to $70,000, with the average player making about $35,000.
“I think some guys it would effect mentally,” Blast defender Mike Lookingland said. “They’d be a little frustrated or disgusted. Some guys it may not effect, because some guys go out and play regardless of who they’re playing or what’s going on behind the scenes.”
Lookingland — a Fallston native who played high school soccer at Loyola — wasn’t pursued during the offseason, but veteran teammate Denison Cabral — the Blast’s all-time leading scorer — was contacted by two clubs. Cabral, however, never entered into negotiations.
“The only thing everyone is doing is looking for the best for their own career — best contract, best opportunities,” Cabral said. “I’m happy that the Blast want me to be playing for them.”
The Blast wanted Neto, too — just not at the same price New Jersey was willing to pay.
Neto’s deal, reportedly includes housing, could be worth more than many players who compete in Major League Soccer, the country’s premier outdoor league.
“If that’s the case, I think you’re stepping into dangerous waters there. I don’t see how that will help you in the long run,” David Deal, vice president for the Philadelphia KiXX, said. “When you see situations like that you have to question it a bit, and say, ‘Is that the right thing for them?’ We wouldn’t put ourselves in that situation. We don’t see that as a positive. Not where we currently are. Maybe in five to ten years when the league takes off where we think it’s going.”
BLAST SCHEDULE
- Nov. 15: vs. Orlando Sharks, 7:35 p.m.
- Nov. 28: at Rockford Rampage, 8:35 p.m.
- Dec. 12: vs. Phildelphia KiXX, 7:35 p.m.
- Dec. 20 vs. Rockford Rampage, 7:35 p.m.
- Dec. 28: at Monterrey La Raza, 7:35 p.m.
- Jan. 3: at Orlando Sharks, 7:35 p.m.
- Jan. 11: at Rockford Rampage, 6:05 p.m.
- Jan. 17: at Philadelphia KiXX, 7:05 p.m.
- Jan. 23: vs. Monterrey La Raza, 7:35 p.m.
- Jan. 31: vs. Philadelphia KiXX, 7:35 p.m.
- Feb. 7: at Philadelphia KiXX, 7:05 p.m.
- Feb. 13: at Orlando Sharks, 7:35 p.m.
- Feb. 20: vs. Rockford Rampage, 7:35 p.m.
- March 1: at Monterrey La Raza, 6:05 p.m.
- March 6: vs. Philadelphia KiXX, 7:35 p.m.
- March 7: vs. Monterrey La Raza, 7:35 p.m.
- March 14: at Philadelphia KiXX, 7:05 p.m.
- March 21: vs. Orlando Sharks, 7:35 p.m.
ON THE MOVE
BLAST
Lost » F Adauto Neto (New Jersey), MF Lucio Gonzaga (New Jersey)
DETROIT
Lost » MF Ricardinho (Orlando), MF Ryan Mack (Orlando), F Hewerton Moreira
(Orlando)
MILWAUKEE
Lost » MF Greg Howes (retired)
NEW JERSEY
Signed » F Adauto Neto (Blast) and MF Lucio Gonzaga (Blast)
ORLANDO
Signed » MF Ricardinho (Detroit), MF Ryan Mack (Detroit), F Hewerton Moreira
(Detroit), F Enrique Tovar (California) and D Evan McNeley (California).
PHILADELPHIA
Lost » F Aaron Susi to Stockton Cougars (PASL)
LEAGUE BREAKDOWNS
NATIONAL INDOOR SOCCER LEAGUE
» Baltimore Blast
» Monterrey La Raza
» Orlando Sharks
» Philadelphia KiXX
» Rockford Rampage*
* — formerly members of the American Indoor Soccer League
— Teams plan an 18-game schedule
XTREME SOCCER LEAGUE
» Chicago Storm
» Detroit Ignition
» Milwaukee Wave
» New Jersey Ironmen
—Teams play a 20-game schedule
— All teams played in the Major Indoor Soccer League last season
