MLS’s reputation as a retirement league is only now being laid to rest. Within the individual clubs, few teams felt the brunt of that negative reputation quite like New York City FC. I can’t count the number of tifos that depicted jabs at the age and overall ineffectiveness of Frank Lampard and Andrea Pirlo. Mainly from the Jersey side of things.
But they weren’t alone. Plenty of other teams did, and still do, cling to the coattails of over-the-hill stars who are intent on extending their relevance just a few more years. It’s a combination of a love for the game, a desire to continue being paid for what they’re good at, and surely many other things.