America's biggest star shined in his first Serie A campaign, but was it the best year ever?
We have just witnessed one of the best seasons ever put together by an American. Christian Pulisic was unleashed during his first campaign with AC Milan, running rampant in Serie A as one of Europe's best summer signings. For years, we'd been waiting to see Pulisic at this level, and this time out we got what might just be an initial taste of what he can do with the trust of one of the world's biggest clubs.
Pulisic solidified his place in American soccer history years ago. At just 25, he's already one of the best players in U.S. men's national team history due to his exploits for both club and country. By the time all is said and done, he likely will be regarded as the greatest American men's player, and he still has so much of that story to write.
However, he's not the only USMNT star to shine in Europe. His predecessors laid the foundation, helping pave the way for this current generation to make waves in the world's biggest leagues. But where does Pulisic's debut Milan season rank among the best we've seen from an American? GOAL takes a look…
GettyJohn Harkes – 1991-92 Sheffield Wednesday
Having earned promotion the season prior, Harkes and Sheffield Wednesday marched into the final campaign of England's First Division and exceeded every expectation.
Harkes was a regular throughout, featuring 29 times for the club and scoring three goals. By the end of it all, Sheffield Wednesday finished third in the top flight, just three points behind second-place Manchester United and three points ahead of fourth-place Arsenal.
AdvertisementGettyThomas Dooley – 1990-91 Kaiserslautern
This is one that younger fans won't know much about, but Dooley certainly earned his place on the list. The defender was a regular for the U.S. throughout the 90s but, before that, he was starring for FC Kaiserslautern in the Bundesliga.
After helping the club lift the DFB-Pokal one season prior, Dooley helped guide Kaiserslautern to a Bundesliga title as they edged out Bayern Munich to win the league. The USMNT came calling two years later, and the rest is history.
GettyStu Holden – 2010-11 Bolton Wanderers
Oh, what could have been. If not for the injuries, Holden could have racked up a few more spots on this list. His 2010-11 run with Bolton was far and away his best, and it was a season that made him a cult hero for the club. He featured 26 times for the Trotters in the Premier League that campaign, helping them surge up the Premier League table.
A tackle from Johnny Evans knocked him out for the final two months of the season, and sent Bolton into chaos as the club fell all the way down to 14th. Still, Holden was so good that he won the 2011 Bolton Player of the Year award. By the time it was all over, injuries limited Holden to just 30 league games in a Bolton shirt. That short sting was so good that he was named in Bolton's Team of the Decade for the 2010s.
GettyClint Dempsey – 2010-11 Fulham
The first Dempsey appearance on the list, and, spoiler alert, it isn't the last. The attacking midfielder was strong in the Premier League scoring 12 goals while providing three assists to help Fulham overachieve in the form of an eight-placed finish.
That run helped solidify Dempsey's place as a legitimate difference-maker in England. Just one season prior, his wondergoal against Juventus sent Fulham to the Europa League final, where they lost to Atletico Madrid. It was no fluke as Dempsey, by that time, had emerged as one of the Premier League's top dangermen.