Luke Rodgers clearly loved New York, and many New York fans apparently loved him. But the former Red Bull striker’s odds of returning to the city seem to be dwindling, with his former club noncommittal at best about bringing him back into the fold and a source close to the player saying the Cosmos aren’t interested.
Rodgers spent just 2011 with the Red Bulls, but became immensely popular with the South Ward and highly influential on the field. His nine goals were second on the team, but visa issues forced him to head back to Europe in 2012. After leaving Shrewsbury town following an unsuccessful stint, he told Soccer By Ives that he’d love to return to MLS, preferably with the Red Bulls.
“Luke was here. I had a good relationship with him, he played very well for us and was exciting, scored some goals,’’ said first-year head coach Mike Petke, who retired as a player in 2010 and became a Red Bull assistant before ascending to the top post this year. “But we have to look at the whole picture, as far as what’s going on over there and he’s out of his contract with a (League One) side.
“Of course, we always look at everything. Is it very easy to just go and bring Luke Rodgers back? Absolutely not. At this stage, to get someone, you have to give someone up; salary restrictions and all that stuff.”
Stuff is what got Rodgers in trouble in the first place. Then-coach Hans Backe – who had managed Rodgers in England, and seen the combative striker’s impact first-hand – tried to get him in 2010. But Rodgers’ lengthy rap sheet, one that included a pair of assaults, led to his visa being denied.
When he finally arrived in 2011, he was granted a fairly short-term visa that expired in October, one that would’ve required him to go back to England to reapply. But with the Red Bulls in a playoff run, he failed to do so. That, along with some other issues, led to him being rejected multiple times.
Now, Rodgers claims he’s been assured his permit would be approved. But the question is, do the Red Bulls want him? The Cosmos don’t appear to according to a source, NYC doesn’t exist, so it would appear to be Red Bull or bust.
“The Luke Rodgers who left here, could he help improve our roster? Yes, I think he could; everybody knows that. But you’re obviously not just going to jump the gun because Luke Rodgers is available and you know what he was,’’ said Petke, with the operative word being was.
“We have to figure out, along with everybody, where he’s at right now, what the situation was with the team he just left and fitness-wise and mentality-wise where he’s at. Also, apparently he stated his visa situation is sorted out; but we have our own visa lawyers and stuff that we need to figure out, not just for him (but) for anybody what the situation is. We’re looking into everything.”