LA Galaxy striker Robbie Keane reckons MLS continues to flourish

LA Galaxy striker Robbie Keane reckons Major League Soccer is continuing to flourish as the game grows in the United States.

The Ireland international, who joined the Galaxy in 2010, is hoping to secure his third MLS title in Sunday's final against the New England Revolution, and is still enjoying his experience in North America.

And Keane believes the completion has been getting stronger since David Beckham’s arrival in 2007, and that the league's status as a retirement base is now outdated.

"Maybe six or seven years ago it was but it certainly isn't now," Keane said.

"The one who kicked it all off was Becks, he was the one that put LA Galaxy and MLS on the map and the result was that a lot of people want to come over here.

“It is a league that has grown massively. If you look at the competitive games, most of ours are played in front of full houses."

There a lot of players that I know personally, big players, who want to come now.

MLS will feature two new clubs next season with Orlando City and New York City, bringing in a new crop of big name players with Englishman Frank Lampard and Spaniard David Villa in New York and Brazilian Kaka with the Florida club.

"I think it is going to continue growing for a long time," said Keane.

"If you look at the players coming and the players who want to come here, there a lot of players that I know personally, big players, who want to come now. I can't tell you who they are but it tells me how far this league has come."

Revolution midfielder Andy Dorman, who won three caps for Wales, played in MLS from 2004 to 2007 before spells in Scotland and England agreed with Keane’s assessment.

Dorman insists he returned to a very different league when he joined the New England last year.

"It has changed so much. The calibre of players that they brought in since the designated player rule, the new stadiums, the growing fan-base for each team, it has improved dramatically," Dorman said.

And while Galaxy's Swedish midfielder Stefan Ishizaki reckons the skill level may not match the top leagues in Europe, he is adamant MLS is far from being easy to play in.

"It's a very athletic league. In Europe it is more tactical here it is more physical and a little more direct at times,” Ishizak said.

“Even though some of the players aren't the best soccer players, they are really strong and fast and very athletic, they are tough to beat."

Sunday's final will be the last match in the career of LA Galaxy striker Landon Donovan, the MLS' and USA's record goalscorer.