If anyone is qualified to talk about how MLS has evolved, it is Derek Rae. He was there at the very start and called Major League Soccer games for the New England Revolution between 1996 and 2001. He took a year out in 2000 to work for the MetroStars and also called Los Angeles Galaxy games in 1996.
For the last four years, he has been covering both German and Scottish football for BT Sports. Last week however, he announced that he was returning to Massachusetts.
We caught up with him at Partick Thistle’s Firhill Stadium in the Maryhill area of Glasgow. He was there to commentate on the home side’s West Glasgow derby with Glasgow Rangers from nearby Govan. Prost reporter Ali Gilmore asked Rae how MLS was viewed over there following the recent television deal.
Among his observations were a notable improvement in the perception of MLS, “people are well aware of the teams and some of the best known players” and he also had praise for Hearts captain Perry Kitchen who he called “a really good ambassador for Major League Soccer.”
On his own future, he said that is was a personal decision to return to Massachusetts and there was no imminent project lined up.
“Initially I’m not going to be going into any one project,” he said adding that he had always agreed with his family that he would return to the USA one day.
Hopefully it won’t be too long before someone persuades Rae to bring his depth of knowledge and experience to Major League Soccer again.
