The Boy Done Good (Part 1)

In the first of our series whereby we take a deeper look at the career of a certain Bran McBride, we concentrate on our ex-striker now that he`s returned to Chicago.

McBride, now thirty-six years of age, is playing for his home town club Chicago Fire and has made a great start. However, football isn`t what it is in the USA compared to England and you might be surprised to learn that McBride took a 90% salary cut to fulfil his dream of playing for the Chicago Fire.

But, this cut wasn`t through choice. If McBride wanted to return to his roots he knew he`d have to abide by the rules whereby a salary cap, for the twenty-eight man squad is imposed, a salary cap of $2.4 million that seems paltry when compared to the riches of the Premier League.

However, clubs are allowed to sign one designated player, or a Beckham, who can earn much more. At Chicago that honour goes to the Mexican striker Cuauhtemec Blanco who, apparently is on $2.6 million a season, more than the entire squad put together.

But as McBride is quick to remind us, money isn`t everything for a family man who just wanted to fulfil a dream,

"I never went into this thinking (the Premiership) is where I want to be. I saw it as an opportunity for my family. We weigh everything together. Sure the money is a big thing, but what we want for our girls, for our family - there`s a lot more to our lives than a paycheck."

"In our hearts, Dina and I both wanted to come home. It`s what we wanted for our family."

In fact his lifestyle as a footballer is far removed from that enjoyed by those in the Premier League and he jests,

"When I tell people what I do, I sometimes get this strange look; 'So that`s your job? You can make a living at that?"

Can you imagine the public reacting in a similar way over here?

McBride may be playing a different level of football compared to the bustle of the Premier League but the desire to succeed and secure a life long dream still burns brightly when he`s attributed as saying,

"I still have a great desire to play soccer. I have a huge desire to win a championship, and to do it in the city where I grew up, in front of my family and friends."

With time running out, as age starts to catch up with him whilst American soccer makes dramatic strides in catching up the rest of the world, we sincerely hope it is something he can achieve.

Meanwhile, it warms the cockles of our hearts to here Brian McBride described as

"The poster boy for what US soccer wants to be."

I couldn`t think of a greater tribute could you?

Tomorrow we continue by going back to the early days and the days when Brian first started on the rocky road to being a professional footballer.

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