• Today the English team Arsenal has only 2 native players and is managed by a Frenchman
• 15 years ago there was only one Swede on the team all the rest were from England
• Soccer has long served as a form of combat which whole neighborhoods could be passionate about
• Globalization is changing the long standing traditions of soccer by eliminating boundaries
• Players no longer feel passionate about playing for their country, they just market themselves to the highest bidder
• Ukriane looks to Africa's second teir as the prime source of imported talent since it cannot compete with Europe in buying "star" players
• It is estimated that about 1,000 African players make a living playing in Europe
• Before Manchester United would sell about 30,000 replica jerseys, now they sell millions

Time Magazine

July 2004

Tony Karon