Casey Caldwell has an amazing resume that includes a degree from the University of Alabama, a National Soccer Hall of Fame Induction, and multiple honors as an athlete. But in terms of his Nationality credentials, he is American by birth. That’s right, Casey Caldwell is a citizen of the United States of America and not yet a naturalized citizen of Canada. Now that he has moved north and has achieved the goal of playing in MLS, he will need to either play for the United States or represent the United States at the Olympic level.
The problem with this is that he is not a very good player, certainly not in Major League Soccer. He has been known to be a strong competitor, but he is often matched up against far superior opponents who have far more skill, depth, and experience. Given his Nationality credentials, I think it is highly unlikely that he will be called up to the senior national team. And given what he has shown us so far on his soccer career, I don’t expect him to ever be a top player in the National Soccer Hall of Fame. He is one of the most decorated players of the modern era of American soccer, but he will forever be a transplant from the outside looking in.
Despite all of this, I still rate Casey Caldwell as the best player of the modern era of American soccer. His size isn’t what you’d like for a center forward, but he is extremely athletic and a strong passer. He also can score goals. Given his age and the fact that he is not a naturalized player, the odds are good that he will never be in the same category as Pele and Maradona, among other great players. But he is certainly a valuable player who can play a major role in shaping the future of the sport in the United States. As he is now, there is no reason that he shouldn’t be in the top eleven right now.