The writing was on the wall, and now the news is official. David Villa will not be returning to New York City FC. It is a bittersweet day. For Villa, for NYCFC and for Major League Soccer.
I’m not going to claim to be objective about Villa. I’m a fan of El Guaje, always will be. He lives in the part of my soccer heart reserved for players I respect as both professionals and people. I’ve happily spent my own money and time, riding the 4 train to the Bronx, to watch him play.
I wish it didn’t have to end like this. Nor, I suspect, do the club’s supporters. It’s not the sendoff Villa likely wanted after four years serving as club’s first captain, on-field talisman and smiling public face. In my fan-fiction version of the end (and probably his), Villa finishes his career in New York blue, ideally with a trophy lift, confetti shower and maybe even a ticker-tape parade down 5th Avenue. Instead, Villa’s stint in New York, the second-longest stop of his illustrious career, ended quietly, with another early playoff exit.
“My experience here was amazing. It gave me everything as a soccer player, as a person, and as a family man,” Villa said, ever gracious, in a statement. “I’ll always remember this experience with love. My heart is here and I’m an NYCFC supporter forever.”
Let’s remember the way he made it clear from Day 1 that MLS was his one and only focus, a Designated Player who never succumbed to distractions. Let’s remember the goals, all 77 of them, from the midfield prayer to the tap-ins. Let’s remember the way he led an expansion club through the uncertainty of a rough first season to Supporters’ Shield contention and MLS Cup dreams.
Most of all, let’s remember the way treated other people and how hard he competed, an example every young player can take to heart.
No, Villa wasn’t at his best in 2018, injuries limiting him to 14 goals and five assists in 23 games (a goal and assist total that matched Best XI honoree Wayne Rooney), but you can’t talk about the best players in MLS history without mentioning his name. Here’s where he stands among his MLS peers over the past four years:
Goals: 77 (2nd to Bradley Wright-Phillips)
Goals + Assists: 103 (2nd to Sebastian Giovinco)
Shots: 540 (2nd to Giovinco)
Shots on Goal: 229 (2nd to Giovinco)
Those numbers speak for themselves. My personal all-time DP rankings go something like this, with considerations given to team success, individual plaudits and league-wide impact.
Robbie Keane
Sebastian Giovinco
David Beckham
David Villa
Guillermo Barros Schelotto
All Villa is missing that the other four have is a MLS Cup championship. It’s a shame he won’t have the opportunity to win it.
Instead he’ll say goodbye to NYCFC fans on Dec. 3 at a special farewell event, then prepare to embark on another soccer adventure, most likely in Japan, where former Barcelona and Spain teammate Andres Iniesta is putting the final touches on his own legendary career. If his body is right, he’ll make whatever team he signs with better while scoring boatloads of goals.
Autore: Stefano Bentivogli
Other news - News
Other news
- 13:35 One absent for New York City FC for the trip to Charlotte
- 13:29 New York City FC 2024 team numbers confirmed
- 16:52 Three Keys of NYCFC 0-0 Red Bulls
- 16:23 NYCFC 0-0 Red Bulls, Cushing: "Incredible atmosphere at Yankee Stadium"
- 01:20 The Knicks can sacrifice Immanuel Quickley for a star
- 00:01 Maxi Moralez: "I can't wait to be reunited with the fans"
- 23:00 Maxi Moralez back to NYCFC: "I couldn’t be more excited"
- 22:03 David Lee: "Maxi will bring leadership and experience to our group"
- 22:00 OFFICIAL - Maxi Moralez Returns to New York City Football Club
- 13:00 David Lee: "We're excited to integrate Fernandez into the team"
- 07:20 NYCFC Signs Argentinian Forward Julián Fernández
- 15:30 Bernardeschi can leave Toronto: there is interest from an Italian club
- 14:30 Los Angeles Galaxy crazy offer to Hriving Lozano
- 13:42 CR7: "Saudi Pro League is much better than the MLS"
- 18:44 NYCFC, failing season. The trend needs to be reversed
- 17:27 Birk Risa: "I'm happy to be here, I can't wait to get started"
- 15:39 OFFICIAL - NYCFC Signs Norwegian Defender Birk Risa
- 13:44 Taty Castellanos moves to Lazio
- 13:40 Inter Miami, Alba también se sumará al proyecto
- 23:36 OFFICIAL - Inter Miami, Gerardo Martino named new coach
- 22:58 Timothy Weah has landed in Turin, he will be a Juventus player
- 22:56 OFFICIAL - Kai Havertz is a new Arsenal player
- 15:30 Bayern Munich on Kane, there is an agreement on the contract but not the one with Tottenham
- 14:30 West Ham reject Arsenal's third offer for Rice. Manchester City are considering withdrawing from the auction
- 13:24 Mbappé at Real, the striker's mother-agent is the key: she will be the one to deal with PSG
- 19:15 OFFICIAL - "Welcome to Finnesota". Center forward Pukki restarts from MLS
- 19:13 OFFICIAL - Mateo Kovacic leaves Chelsea and signs with Man City
- 18:30 AC Milan wants Pulisic. Berhalter advises the US midfielder
- 18:00 West Ham: 100 million not enough for Declan Rice, rejected offers from Arsenal and Man City
- 17:30 Timothy Weah moves to Italy
- 17:00 NYCFC may pursue former Vancouver Whitecaps player
- 16:30 Antoine Griezmann wants to play in MLS and rejects the offer from Saudi Arabia
- 15:59 Keaton Parks: "I'm happy to be able to do goal and assist"
- 15:32 Bayern Munich, formal offer for Harry Kane
- 15:23 Andrea Pirlo returns to Italy, signs with Sampdoria
- 13:28 Manchester City's Champions League win could impact NYCFC's future
- 12:00 James Sands Selected To Represent The USMNT At The 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup
- 08:30 Lionel Messi lands in the MLS: pros and cons
- 23:48 Real Salt Lake vs NYCFC: one player unavailable for Cushing
- 23:46 NYCFC, Cushing: “We’re Desperate For The First Road Win"
- 22:34 MLS statement on Lionel Messi and Inter Miami CF
- 21:54 OFFICIAL - Messi is a new player of Inter Miami FC
- 19:09 Messi's signing with Inter Miami FC