“I just didn’t want to go out where I wasn’t able to perform at the level that I expected of myself and that everybody else expects of me,” Keller said at a retirement press conference. “I’m proud that I was able to finish my last season at that level.”
Keller was the only Sounder included among the Best XI. Also named were defenders Todd Dunivant and Omar Gonzalez of Los Angeles and Jamison Olave of Real Salt Lake; midfielders David Beckham and Landon Donovan of Los Angeles, Brad Davis of Houston, Dwayne De Rosario of D.C. United, and Brek Shea of Dallas; and forward Thierry Henry of New York and Chris Wondolowski of San Jose.
The Best XI was announced by MLS commissioner Don Garber as part of his state-of-the-league press conference in advance of the MLS Cup final between Los Angeles and Houston on Nov. 20 at Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.
Garber also said:
• This could be the final MLS Cup awarded to a neutral site. Future title games might be played in the home city of the higher-seeded participant. (That is coincidentally the case this season, as Los Angeles was the Supporters’ Shield winner. However, the venue was determined before that was settled.)
• The league will retain its 34-game schedule next season, but it will become unbalanced due to the addition of the Montreal Impact as its 19 club. Garber said the unbalanced schedule also will reduce travel and emphasize rivalries.
• The 2012 divisions and playoff format will be announced within a couple of weeks, while the schedule will be released in mid-December or early January.
• The league is increasing its efforts to improve refereeing, although Garber also added that the current referees are better than generally given credit for.
• New York remains the top contender for the league’s 20th franchise. However, Garber also said he had a meeting with a potential investor from a Florida city (unnamed, but not Miami), and also that there has been interest from Las Vegas and Detroit.
• D.C. United could move to Baltimore or even another part of the country if a deal on a new stadium isn’t struck.
• MLS has a goal of becoming one of the top leagues in the world by 2022.
Keller, who also has played in the top leagues of England, Germany and Spain, said that final goal seems overly ambitious.
“You’re not going to do it on a $2.6 million salary cap,” he said. “You can talk all you want – and like I said, I have utmost respect for what MLS has been able to do – (but) I think that’s a little bit optimistic. ... You can’t expect us to have a league for 15-16 years and then add 10 more years to it and think you’re going to rival the English Premier League or the Bundesliga or La Liga in Spain. It just doesn’t work that way.”
Keller has jokingly said in the past that he would be interested in taking Garber’s job. On Wednesday, he said its time for serious consideration of what to do next.
He will meet with Sounders general manager Adrian Hanauer next week to discuss a possible continuing role in the organization. And Keller said he already has had some “interesting phone calls” regarding other career opportunities.
“This last decision to come and play for Seattle turned out to be such a great decision, that the thought of making the next one is a little bit scary, I think,” Keller said. “I’m looking forward to it, whether it’s going to be on the commentary side, the coaching side, whatever it’s going to be. But I’m looking forward to ... seeing what’s available and what feels right.”
Don Ruiz: 253-597-8808 don.ruiz@thenewstribune.com twitter/donruiztnt blog.thenewstribune.com/soccer
