MLS 2013: Sporting KC win the Cup - Dempsey most valuable

Los Angeles Galaxy's dominance over Major League Soccer ended, Vancouver Whitecaps star Camilo scores 22 goals and Clint Dempsey returns to the United States to join the Seattle Sounders. That season Dempsey would become the most valuable player in MLS with a market value of $11 million. 

The forward is one of three Seattle forwards at the very top of the ranking. Dempsey is followed by Colombian striker Fredy Montero (market value $6.05m), who started the season with the Sounders but moved to Sporting that July for a $1.01 million loan fee—the Lisbon-based club made the transfer permanent the next summer, paying an additional $1.25 million. 

Number three at the very top was Nigerian forward Obafemi Martins. The Sounders paid $3.3 million for Martins. The coming and goings, however, did not lead to ultimate success, the Sounders finished fourth in the Western Conference and were eliminated by rivals Portland Timbers in the Western Conference Semifinals. Dempsey would manage just one goal in nine regular-season games after joining Seattle in August. 

The regular season was all about the New York Red Bulls and Sporting Kansas City. The Red Bulls finished first in the East and Sporting first in the West. Just one point separated the two sides in the overall standings, New York winning the Supporters' Shield with 59 points. Among the most valuable players, however, neither side featured prominently. Mexican center-back Rafael Márquez was the most valuable Red Bull with a market value of $1.65 million. He was ranked ninth among a group of players with the same market value. Among them, Sporting Kansas City stars Claudio Bieler.

But what about Galaxy's galacticos? David Beckham left Los Angeles Galaxy that winter, joining Paris Saint-Germain for one final swan song. Landon Donovan ranked fifth with an overall market value of $2.75 million and Robbie Keane was among the players ranked ninth with a market value of $1.65 million. 

Overview MLS 2013 Click Here Dempsey, aside it was a balanced league. An era in-between the LA Galaxy galacticos and the high-profile younger signings that would flood the league in the coming years. Balance that was best displayed by both Sporting Kansas City and RBNY, who with their balanced squads managed to dominate the regular season. Sporting KC, in fact, were ranked just 13th overall with an overall market value of $12.73 million—a far cry from the Sounders' overall market value of $39.88 million. 

 

The Most Valuable Players Sorted By Year:

2012: LA Galaxy trio dominate - Thierry Henry third

2011: Beckham leads Galaxy to MLS Cup - Keane most valuable

2010: Colorado Rapids win title - David Beckham most valuable