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Title	Submitter	Reddit	Youtube
𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐎𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫 - 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐮𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐋𝐢𝐞𝐬 (𝐀𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐃 𝐛𝐨𝐧𝐮𝐬 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐬) 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝	DecadentEx	Permalink	Youtube
Dj Shadow- Mutual Slump	deviceismybae	Permalink	Youtube
Paul van Dyk live, Casino Berlin, 17 12 1999	JeanParker	Permalink	Youtube
Âme - The Line Feat. Matthew Herbert (Official Video)	evilabed24	Permalink	Youtube
Dj Koze "knock knock" Album Trailer #2	boobytrap024	Permalink	Youtube
Black Mirror in Salzburg (Arcade Fire vs. Worakls)	TalkingCure	Permalink	Youtube

Trade Republics Pläne sind klar: Der Copyshop aus Berlin will jedem Europäer ermöglichen mit KOs und Optionsscheinen das schmale Ersparte zu verzocken während Casinos usw. zu sind.

Aussichten

Mit der Expansion nach Frankreich öffnet sich ein riesiger Markt, die Registrierungswarteschlagen sind lang. Für die, die in der Schule nicht aufgepasst haben: Die EU hat fast 150 Mio. mehr Einwohner als die USA, das dortige Pendant Robinhood hat eine Bewertung von über 10 Mrd. USD und ist dort mit 13 Millionen Nutzern bereits in aller Munde. Trade Republic ist im Vergleich dazu mit 150.000 Usern nach eigener Aussage noch winzig, diese Zahl geht aber weiterhin täglich steil nach oben.
Wie kann man davon profitieren? Die Trade Republic Bank GmbH bietet dem dahergelaufenen Autisten keine direkte Möglichkeit der Beteiligung, ein IPO steht zwar immer mal wieder im Raum, ist aber wohl noch eine Weile hin. Mit diesen zwei Unternehmen kommt ihr aber trotzdem übers Hintertürchen rein, und wie wir wissen ist dass eh der beste Weg.

sino AG / WKN 576550

• Hauptsitz: Düsseldorf
• Aktueller Kurs: 28,00€
• Marktkapitalisierung: 64,98 Mio. €
• ATH: 31,00€ (08.01.21)
• Wertentwicklung 1J: 409,1%

Die sino AG ist ein Finanzdienstleister mit nur 33 Mitarbeitern aus Düsseldorf. Die Bude hat ihr Hauptgeschäft im Wertpapierhandel für reiche Boomer und Technologie für die Finanzindustrie. Kerntätigkeit schön und gut, 5 Mio. € Umsatz 2019, waren auch schon mal 6.
sino AG kennt der ein oder andere aber vielleicht schon als einen der ersten und größten Investoren bei Trade Republic. Die Firma investierte 2017 als größter Anteilseigner in ein kleines Startup namens Neon GmbH welches später zur Handelsrepublik wurde. Das damalige 3 Mio. € Investment ermöglichte den beiden Gründern mithilfe des sino-CEOs Ingo Hillen, der als Geschäftsführer in das Startup einstieg, die Firma aufzubauen. Mit Ingos Hilfe kam HSBC an Bord, ohne ihn hätten die uns mit ihren Derivaten heute nicht abzocken können. Weil Ingo n fauler Sack ist und frische Kohle ranmusste verkaufte er im Zuge einer Finanzierungsrunde einen Teil seiner Anteile im Wert von 10 Mio. € an neue Investoren, auch Peter Thiel der alte Ficker kam dann über den Teich und schmiss TR Mulah in den Rachen.
Die Beteiligung von sino schrumpfte damit auf 16%, trotzdem sind sie nach den Gründern der größte Gesellschafter, diese Anteile sind mittlerweile schon 22% los. Mit der Kohle aus dem Anteilsverkauft ist Ingo aktuell auf der Jagd nach weiteren Fintech-Startups zum Aufbau (habe gehört eine kleine Bude namens Wirecard aus München braucht im Moment etwas Kohle...)
Trade Republic ist aktuell noch nicht profitabel, ist aber auf gutem Weg dorthin, spätestens dann fließt bei sino richtig die Kohle rein. Auch von einem IPO der TR würde sino zweifelsohne profitieren, die letzte Bewertungsrunde ergab einen Wert von 240 Mio. €, das wird bei einem IPO wohl deutlich höher werden.
Die Aktie dümpelte lange im nichts rum und machte was deutsche Aktien am besten können: seitwärts gehen. Zuletzt wurde das Jetpack aufgezogen und Anfang dieses Jahres zu einem AZH von 31€ geflogen, von diesem Hoch ist es wieder etwas gedippt. Technische Analyse ist eh schwarze Magie aber für die, die es mögen habe ich hier mal n paar Linien zu Papier gebracht:
https://www.tradingview.com/x/rlF1ySXv/
sino gibt es zum Handeln auf der Handelsrepublik selbst, wem die Spreads dort zu hoch sind, dem sei die Börse Stuttgart ans Herz gelegt, die haben höheres Volumen und sind näher dran an den sexy Kurven.

Lang & Schwarz / WKN 645932

• Hauptsitz: Düsseldorf
• Aktueller Kurs: 90,00€
• Marktkapitalisierung: 243,5 Mio. €
• ATH: 90,00€ (heute)
• Wertentwicklung 1J: 549,4%

Wo wir bei Spreads sind, schauen wir uns doch direkt den Schlawiner an, der dafür verantwortlich ist dass unsere dummen Optionsscheine und KOs nie grün werden weil man sie mit 15% Spreads ins Depot holt und die Gurkenscheine das nicht rausholen: Lang & Schwarz. Ich könnte die ganzen folgenden Absätze mit Witzen über den Namen füllen, mach ich auch.
So einen Ständer in der Wertentwicklung kann eine kartofellige Alman-Aktie mit Bildschirmbräune natürlich nicht hinlegen, Lang & Schwarz hingegen kriegt das hin. Neben der Funktion als Emittent von jährlich über 30.000 faulen Derivaten hat Lang & Schwarz mit dem Trade Center auch einen eigenen Handelsplatz. Die LS-X oder LS-TC ist ein Handelsblatt den fast alle deutschen Broker im Programm haben, anders als die Autistenrepublik setzen die anderen aber eher auf ne Gruppenszene statt ne 1-Mann-Vorstellung. Trade Republic und LS arbeiten bereits seit Beginn zusammen, auch die Froschfresser kriegen nur schwarzes Fleisch auf den Teller. Die Mathematik ist einfach: Je mehr Orders ihr macht, desto mehr Kohle verdienen die Jungs bei Lang & Schwarz. Von der Kohle geben sie zwar nichts in Form von Dividenden wieder her aber sein wir mal ehrlich: Dividendenaktien sind was für Finanzen.
Zur Erinnerung: Der Euro den ihr für euren eine Stunde später wertlosen Goldturbos hinlegt geht komplett rüber zu denen, die Handelsrepublik wird von denen im Gegenzug mit ein paar Cents pro Order beteiligt. Geiler Deal für beide, die Geier kriegen aber anders als die Gegenüber beim "Film"-dreh den Hals nicht voll und haben regelmäßig geisteskranke Spreads für alle Lebenslagen. Komplett autistisch aber wir lassens ja mit uns machen. Das Prinzip ist also klar: mehr Autisten europaweit -> mehr Orders für TR -> die landen bei L+S -> Stonks.
Aktuell steht die Aktie auf einem Allzeithoch, also eigentlich der perfekte msw-Einstiegspunkt:
https://www.tradingview.com/x/0523F5Ph/
Wer auf einen Dip warten möchte der nie kommt weil die Raketen vollgetankt sind und die Startsequenz den Point of no Return überschritten hat, dem sei vielleicht eher der A1JX52 ans Herz gelegt. Ich saß letztes Jahr bei Tesla an der Seite und hab irgendwann gemerkt, dass ich da lange warten kann, wenns scheiße läuft. Also rein in die Olga 🚀🚀🚀
Der Haken an L+S ist dass mans nicht bei LS-X kaufen kann, ihr seid also auf einen anderen Broker angewiesen. Jeder andere größere deutsche Handelsplatz hat die aber am Start.

Zu lang (höhö) nicht gelesen (TL;DR)

sino AG: größter externer Gesellschafter von TR, CEO hat den Laden groß gemacht, sucht weitere Fintechstartups 🚀🚀🚀🚀
Lang & Schwarz: geiler Name, muss ich noch mehr sagen? Na gut: TRs einziger Handelsplatz, profitiert an euren autistischen Geschäften 🚀🚀🚀🚀

Schlussworte / Disclaimer

Der Herr, dies ist keine Finanzberatung sondern ein Burger King (cooles neues Logo btw). Ich bin bei beiden Unternehmen an Bord, zu meiner Seite ist aber noch Platz in der Rakete, kommt rein ist auch klimatisiert.
Meine Recherche basiert auf öffentlich zugänglichen Informationen, googlt doch selber wenn es euch interessiert.

Throughout its first 25 years, Major League Soccer has seen players from all different corners of the globe, each with their own career story. Whether it be a guy like Tim Melia or Chris Wondolowski who were scrappy guys that came out of nowhere to be stars in this league, or world famous names such as Zlatan, Beckham, and Henry, the league's history of big names is as diverse as they come.
Let's take a look at the best player from each country around the globe. This will be based on national team allegiance. Today, we'll be leading with Europe!
Please note that this is my opinion, and in some cases the decisions were tough; I'll be sure to add in honorable mentions where I can, or add notes.
Albania: Shkëlzen Gashi ( COL 2016-18)
Short list to pick from here, as Gashi's only competition is Jahmir Hyka and Hamdi Salihi. Gashi gets the nod, if nothing else, for his huge 2016 season, where he scored 10 regular season goals (one of which was that year's Goal of the Year) as the Rapids damn near won the Shield. The madlad then went and one-upped that with his absurd equalizer in the playoffs against the Galaxy.
His last two years weren't as fruitful, but man, when he was on he could pull something out of nowhere.
Armenia: Yura Movsisyan ( KC 2006-07, RSL 2007-09 & 2016-18, CHI 2018)
Four choices here, although in the end it's Movsisyan winning out over Harut Karapetyan, who played a couple seasons in the 90s for the Galaxy, San Jose, and Tampa Bay. The fourth pick in a strong 2006 MLS SuperDraft out of Pasadena City College, Movsisyan is mostly associated with RSL, who acquired him in a 2007 trade. With the Claret and Cobalt, he would tally 15 goals in 53 regular season appearances, and in 2009 he'd hoist the club's first MLS Cup. That'd be his last game with RSL until 2016 after some time in Europe with Randers, Krasnodar, and Spartak Moscow (even sharing the Russian PL Golden Boot in 2012/13 with Wanderson). He'd put up a similar clip of 16 in 57 before being waived and finishing his MLS career with four scoreless games with Chicago.
Austria: Daniel Royer ( NYRB 2016-pres.)
The choice here was largely Royer vs. Andreas Ivanschitz, who was a regular starter for Seattle's first MLS Cup, but I can't say no to a man with over 100 MLS matches played and three straight 10-goal seasons. In all comps, the former Austria Vienna man is just two goals behind Thierry Henry for third on the Red Bulls' all time goal scoring list.
Belarus: Sasha Gotsmanov ( COL 2005)
Gotsmanov qualifies by default as the only Belarusian player in MLS history. The Minsk native (and son of former Soviet and Belarusian international Sergei Gotsmanov) played one (1) single game for Colorado in October 2005, against RSL.
Belgium: Laurent Ciman ( MTL 2015-17, LAFC 2018, TFC 2019-pres.)
Shouts to Roland Lamah, who had his moments in Dallas, and Jelle van Damme, who played a season and a half for the Galaxy, but Ciman is the obvious choice. While he's fallen off a cliff as he's gotten older, he's a three-time All-Star and won Defender of the Year in his first MLS season; in his second, he played for Belgium at Euro 2016. At 35, he's lost a step and probably should only be used in emergencies, but at his best he was an elite MLS center back that could also be deployed at right back.
Bosnia & Herzegovina: Haris Medunjanin ( PHI 2017-19, CIN 2020-pres.)
The first one where I'm not totally confident in my pick, as Baggio Hušidić made this tricky (and as a Union fan I'm afraid of bias). But at his best, Haris is an assist machine (30 in four MLS seasons so far), and a threat on set pieces; the madlad even scored an Olimpico this year. His left foot is probably the best the Union have ever had. While his commitment to defense was nonexistent, give him the ball and he could spray a pass anywhere.
Bulgaria: Hristo Stoichkov ( CHI 2000-02, DC 2003)
One of three former Ballon d'Or winners to play in MLS (the others being Lothar Matthaus and Kaka, although "playing" is generous for the former), Stoichkov spent the last four seasons of his career in MLS, scoring 22 goals in 72 regular season matches for Chicago and DC. In his first season, a 9 goal in 18 match outing for the Fire, he also won the US Open Cup, scoring the opening goal of the final, a 2-1 win over Miami. (The winning goal, by the way, was scored by our old friend Owen Goal.)
Croatia: Damir Kreilach ( RSL 2018-pres.)
Mr. Miyagi's favorite MLS player for his crane kick equalizer in the playoffs, the former Rijeka and Union Berlin man has proven to be an excellent utility piece and core part of RSL throughout his time there, scoring 26 goals and chipping in 14 assists in 86 regular season matches and playing all over the damn place (naturally a central midfielder, he's probably still RSL's best forward). At 31, he still has a lot to give.
MLS has seen a huge influx of Croats lately, though; before Kreilach's 2018 signing there had only been four Croatian players in MLS history, two of whom barely played. Currently, there are five on active rosters.
Czechia: Luboš Kubík ( CHI 1998-2001, DAL 2001)
Czech players have had a good hit rate in MLS. In his lone MLS season, Bořek Dočkal led the league in assists, and Zdeněk Ondrášek was a very solid piece for Dallas, albeit one whose MLS time was brief.
But no. We have to go with Kubik. The sweeper was Best XI twice, in 1998 and 1999, and won Defender of the Year in 1998 helping Chicago to a MLS Cup-Open Cup double. He'd win another Open Cup two years later, before being traded to Dallas in 2001 and retiring due to injury.
So many lethal counterattacks started on the foot of this man, and he is rightfully seen as one of the greatest defenders the league has ever seen.
Denmark: Jimmy Nielsen ( KC 2010-13)
I debated going WAYYYYYYY off the board here and throwing out Miklos Molnar. His time in MLS was brief, just the 2000 season before he retired, but the man was the best attacking piece on a Cup winner. He could have balled out if he didn't retire early.
But nah. We're going with Casino Jimmy, one of the keys towards Kansas City's early 2010s turnaround. A two time All-Star, Nielsen was Goalkeeper of the Year in 2012, a year that also saw him win the Open Cup with the Wiz (on penalties, because KC and penalties, name a more iconic duo at this point). In 2013, he capped off his career by winning MLS Cup, again on penalties, while playing with broken ribs.
England: Bradley Wright-Phillips ( 2013-2019, LAFC 2020)
This league, man.
The list of English players to have represented in MLS is a long one, full of iconic names. Ashley Cole. David Beckham. Frank Lampard. Steven Gerrard. Jermain Defoe. Wayne Rooney. Hell, even Bradley's brother Shaun.
But nope. Many of those guys are the butt of many MLS jokes. BWP, on the other hand, is one of the greatest goal scorers the league has ever seen, with two Golden Boots to his name and well over a century of league goals. He was a part of 3 Shield winning teams, and made CONCACAF's Best XI in 2018.
And it all started with a quiet trial in 2013 after Charlton dumped him. This. League.
And This. Man. Even as a fan of Philly who doesn't care much for the Red Bulls, I respect this dude and everything he's done. I hope he gets another year after winning Comeback Player of the Year this year.
Estonia: Joel Lindpere ( NYRB 2010-12, CHI 2013)
The only other option here was Erik Sorga, who could dethrone Lindpere as he came to MLS at a very young age. But it's unlikely, as Lindpere was quietly very solid for the Red Bulls during his time. The Tallinn native was a two-time All-Star, and in 2010 he was named the Red Bulls' team MVP.
Finland: Alex Ring ( NYC 2017-2020, AUS pres.)
T O P I C A L
There's a few fairly talented Finns in MLS right now that could make this interesting (I really like Robin Lod's game, and Lassi Lappelainen would be excellent for Montreal if he'd stop getting hurt). Ring however has proven his worth across 4 seasons, including time as NYC's captain. Over 10,000 MLS minutes, mostly for good teams, as a defensive anchor, he will be a fantastic tone-setter for the new Austin team.
France: Thierry Henry ( NYRB 2010-14)
Oh man, as an Ireland fan I wanted to give this to literally anyone else. I am still bitter, dammit.
His best competition is probably Aurelien Collin, who has a closetful of trophies (including a Best XI and MLS Cup MVP). But no...it's Henry.
When a big name comes to MLS, what people want to see is someone who treats the league with respect. Henry did that. Not only was he dominant on the pitch, a three-time Best XI nomination, he also respected the history of the club he played for and gave 100%, even though he was getting up there in the years. He's a Red Bulls and MLS legend...as much as I curse that godforsaken hand
Georgia: Valeri "Vako" Qazaishvili ( SJ 2017-20)
It looks like the San Jose chapter of Vako's career is done and dusted. While the former Vitesse man struggled for consistency, he did put up 26 goals and 13 assists across four MLS seasons for the Quakes, including 10 while being coached by Mikael Stahre, which should probably get him and Wondo some sort of award.
We'll see what's next for him, if he leaves MLS or goes back to Europe. His only competition was Quakes teammate Guram Kashia.
Germany: Bastian Schweinsteiger ( CHI 2017-19)
I'm...actually not sure about this one. I actually changed this while writing, as I very nearly chose Julian Gressel; the former Rookie of the Year has two 10-assist seasons under his belt, and Kai Wagner has also been one of the league's better fullbacks for Philadelphia; Schweinsteiger was solid enough for Chicago in his advanced age for some very frustrating teams (and even moved positions to center back!)...but man, I don't know.
Germany is weird. For a country with such a great footballing tradition, the pickings are fairly slim. Arne Friedrich had one good year for Chicago before injuries claimed his career. Lottar Matthaus was as committed to this league as Schalke are to winning football matches. Stefan Aigner was stifled by Anthony Hudson going galaxy brain. Torsten Frings...existed.
I dunno.
Greece: Alexandros Tabakis ( ATL 2017)
The only Greek in MLS history...and our second one game wonder. Atlanta's FOURTH string keeper in 2017, he managed to sneak into a game against Minnesota with Brad Guzan on international duty, Alec Kann injured, and Kyle Reynish sent off during the match.
Atlanta lost 3-2. He's now in USL.
Hungary: Nemanja Nikolić ( CHI 2017-19)
Dániel Sallói and Krisztián Németh had their moments, but the winner is Nikolić, who came to MLS from the Ekstraklasa and immediately won the Golden Boot. His totals diminished in the three seasons he spent with Chicago, but 51 goals in 96 appearances isn't too shabby at all - it's second in Fire history behind Ante Razov.
Iceland - Guðmundur Þórarinsson ( NYC 2020-pres.)
Not much choice, 3 guys, all of whom were mostly bench guys. I almost went with Kristinn Steindorsson here on the merits of "he didn't have a penalty saved by Rodrigo Schlegel."
Israel: Gadi Kinda ( SKC 2020-pres.)
It was either him or Dedi Ben Dayan, really. And I nearly went with the former Colorado left back, but nah, Kinda is very much the superior player. The midfielder born in Ethiopia, Kinda shone brightly in his first season in KC, with 6 goals and 4 assists in his debut season. He'll be a DP next season.
Italy: Sebastian Giovinco ( TOR 2015-18)
A signing that changed an entire club.
Before Giovinco, the Reds were a laughingstock. He came in, won a Golden Boot and MVP right away, led the league in assists, made Best XI three years in a row, led them to their first playoff game, their first MLS Cup final, their first MLS Cup win, and a historic treble. And they damn near won CCL too.
The Atomic Ant was must-see from Day 1. It's not just because of him that Toronto is now one of MLS's elite...but he was a huge part of changing that culture. 83 goals in 142 games in all comps. And he dished out his fair share of assists too, with a telepathic partnership with Jozy.
Latvia: Raivis Hščanovičs ( TOR 2010)
Not much to write about here. 14 games for a bad Reds team. Gets in by default with no other Latvian MLS players.
Liechtenstein: Nicholas Hasler ( TOR 2017-18, CHI 2018-19, SKC 2019)
Another one by default. 66 games as a utilityman. Won MLS Cup and the Shield, though.
Lithuania: Vytautas Andriuškevičius ( POR 2016-18, DC 2018)
Only other choice was Edgaras Jankauskas, a forward who played 14 games for the Revs. Vytas played 37 for Portland and zero for DC.
Luxembourg: Maxime Chanot ( NYC 2016-pres.)
Another one by default but this one's an actually really solid player that finished fourth in Defender of the Year voting in 2019. We take those.
Malta: Etienne Barbera ( VAN 2012)
2 games in 2012. Only Maltese player in MLS.
Montenegro: Branko Bošković ( DC 2010-12)
Pretty much every other Montenegrin player played less than 20 games in MLS. Bošković played 43 before returning to Europe for family reasons. 7 assists in his final season though, which is technically something.
Netherlands: Johan Kappelhof ( CHI 2016-pres.)
Much like Germany, bright footballing tradition, very shaky MLS history. Which is weird because the Eredivisie exports a lot of guys to MLS.
Also, I'm excluding Kelvin Leerdam, as he is probably changing his international allegiance to Suriname.
So I'm going with 2017 All-Star Kappelhof, who I think is still fairly solid.
But really the choices aren't great. Dave van den Burgh? Roland Alberg scored a hat trick once I guess? Danny Koevermans was decent but injured all the time?
Maybe it's a hot take. It probably is.
North Macedonia: Oka Nikolov ( PHI 2013)
Never actually played, only in a friendly. Watch this space though as North Macedonia is apparently courting LAFC's Danny Musovski.
Northern Ireland: Johnny Steele ( RSL 2012, NYRB 2013-14)
Another case of shaky opposition, it was either Steele or Steve Morrow, who played 41 games for Dallas in the aughts.
Steele played regularly for a Shield winner, the 2013 Red Bulls. Easy peasy.
Norway: Vadim Demidov Ola Kamara ( CLB 2016-17, LAG 2018, DC 2019-pres.)
Adama Diomande is the main competition here. Kamara's first stint in MLS was a smashing success, scoring 48 goals in 90 regular season matches for Columbus and the Galaxy (he was traded for Gyasi Zardes before 2018). A brief foray to China followed, and while he's back in MLS with DC he hasn't quite been the same.
Still a good player on his day, maybe just the Bennyball effect.
Poland: Piotr Nowak ( CHI 1998-2002)
When I think of early Chicago, Nowak and the earlier-mentioned Kubik are the first two names that come to mind. Kubik held down the back while Nowak was the chief creator in the midfield. Three-time best XI, three-time All-Star, and MLS Cup MVP.
...can I drink my water now?
Portugal: José Gonçalves ( NE 2013-16)
Gonçalves fell off a cliff in his latter years, but in his first MLS season he won Defender of the Year and in his second he was a key part of a team that made the MLS Cup final and damn near won the thing.
Runner up here is Nani who is probably closing in.
EDIT: I also forgot to mention Pedro Santos, thanks to the Crew fans who pointed that one out. I still think Gonçalves pips him for his 2013 if nothing else, but Santos is probably closer than Nani.
Republic of Ireland: Robbie Keane ( LAG 2011-16)
A LOT closer than you think; Time Person of the Century Juventus legend Ronnie O'Brien was two-time best XI himself.
But nonono. This is Robbie freaking Keane. When we see these big name Euro guys interested in MLS, this is the man we want them to be.
Hypercompetitive and holding guys accountable on and off the pitch, and scoring for fun. 83 goals in 125 MLS regular season appearances. Best XI four times. 2014 MVP. MLS Cup MVP in 2014. A closetful of team awards including 3 MLS Cups.
This man was a baller, and frankly his departure was the beginning of the Galaxy decline into irrelevance, but that's a story for another time.
Romania: Alexandru Mitriță ( NYC 2019-pres.?)
Question mark because he's on loan and I have no idea if it'll be permanent, but he was punted out by the Pigeons just as he was really starting to break out. He scored 12 goals in his debut season last year but filled in nicely this year while Maxi Moralez was injured. EDIT: NYC fans have informed me he wasn't punted out, but was loaned out to be closer to his pregnant wife. My apologies.
Honorable mention: Alex Zotincă, who played for the Wizards and Chivas USA in the aughts. Brave man.
Russia: Igor Simutenkov ( KC 2002-04)
Not a lot to pick from here either. 49 games, 12 goals for this forward from Moscow, who now serves as an assistant coach at Zenit.
Scotland: John Spencer ( COL, 2001-04)
Give Johnny Russell another few years and he'll pass Spencer, but for now I'm leaning the latter. Spencer as a coach was frustrating as hell, but as a player he was Best XI twice and an MVP finalist once. Dude could score goals despite battling injuries in his time in MLS.
Just don't let him sign Kris Boyd. Then you lose to Cal FC. No one wants that.
Serbia: Aleksandar Katai ( 2018-19, 2020)
FROM A SPORTING PERSPECTIVE.
And mostly due to a weak pool. Runner up was probably someone like Miloš Kocić.
18 goals in 62 games for Chicago before getting yeeted back to Serbia for Bad People Reasons
Slovakia: Albert Rusnák ( RSL 2017-pres.)
He has tenure on Ján Greguš, who's the closest competitor, but Rusnák is also good. He followed up a 14-assist debut season (4th in the league) with back to back 10 goal seasons before struggling this year with injury.
Slovenia: Robert Berić ( CHI 2020-pres.)
Once he got acclimated to MLS, the goals came, and Chicago has its successor to Nikolić up top. He finished with 12 goals in his debut season, tied for second in the league with Ruidiaz and Zardes.
Also, from what I saw early on, seems like he's a dark-arts type of guy that gets in your head. That's fun.
Spain: David Villa ( NYC 2015-18)
I really didn't want to put him here due to recent allegations, and the fact that Pozuelo has already matched his MVP and two Best XI performances....
77 goals in 117 games though, that's tough to pass on.
Sweden: Zlatan Ibrahimović ( LAG 2018-19)
It's Zlatan.
He pretty much dragged a sorry LA organization to something resembling competitiveness.
What the hell did you expect?
(Anton Tinnerholm made this hard, though)
EDIT: Forgot Gustav Svensson as well in my honorable mentions.
Switzerland: Stefan Frei ( TOR 2009-13, SEA 2014-pres.)
Pretty self-explanatory, one of the most accomplished keepers in MLS history and with a closetful of hardware. And all it took Seattle to get him was a late first round pick that pinged around so much that it was eventually traded for a coach.
Turkey: Sercan Güvenışık ( SJ 2012)
5 games that year. No one else has flown the Turkish flag in MLS.
Ukraine: Dema Kovalenko ( CHI 1999-2002, DC 2002-05, NYRB 2006-08, RSL 2008, LAG 2008-10)
I'm afraid he'd break my legs if I didn't. One of the most physical and downright dirty players the league has ever seen. Made nearly 300 appearances though, and has one each of the 3 major US trophies (MLS Cup, USOC, Shield), all with a different team.
Wales: Andy Dorman ( NE 2004-07, 2013-15)
Dorman was a key part of that real good Revs team from the mid-aughts, and just beats out Carl Robinson. He made 112 appearances in his first stint, and played in 3 MLS Cup finals, though they famously lost all three. The Revs brought him back in 2013 after some time in Scotland and England, and was playing semipro in the area as recently as 2018.

In the past, Chris Hedges has forecast the fall of America by 2030. Perhaps, perhaps not. Almost undoubtedly there will be a United States of America come January 1st, 2030 -- barring some nuclear holocaust. But what it is has been so hollowed out by decades of grift and corporate self-interest, it will be about as recognizable as Imperial Rome was to the Roman Republic. Institutional forms merely carried forward as but a facade.
But it has become clear to me 2020 has been America's last great Hurrah. By Hurrah, I mean the artificial propping up of the stock market and the upper middle class crowded around it like an enclave of apes around a monolith they worship but fundamentally don't understand, entranced to madness while the elites pull the levers of the enigmatic machine. What started as an actual economic tool, had been transformed into a retirement fund like houses for a privileged generation or two, and now is merely a casino where the house always wins -- although the ones playing seem wholly oblivious to the fact unlike in Las Vegas.
Others are cheering on Joe Biden as the next savior, much as Obama should have been. His cabinet picks show a man trying to reconstruct 2016 BAU. The man himself seems primed to be the next Jimmy Carter. For those too young to remember, that nice guy was as useful as using cat's whiskers to push a car. Mr President-Elect is a gerontocrat from another era well past his prime, the boomer's last gasp and grasp at maintaining power. It's already quite evident his administration will likely be run by teams of underlings in a multi-sided tug of war with each other, no one at the helm. This is not unique, Reagan was somewhat the same way and before him Woodrow Wilson after a stroke. But the illusion of the President being someone with his hand on the wheel was maintained, who knows what will occur when that public perception is shattered? Weekend at Bernies was fun and games when it was a random rich guy that had no fundamental power over a nation.
Today I was at possibly the last institution of American greatness, one thing most citizen's loved and could agree on. The Post Office. Established by Ben Franklin. Semi-privatized by Reagan. Stifled by Congress. Stopped neither by snow, rain, heat nor gloom of night -- it has finally been brought to its knees these last six months. Not Corona. But by a Trump desperate to win an election and decades long Republican yearning to privatize yet another public service, one that is largely self-funded but to a small fraction of what it costs to keep the military. Avowed corporatists dreaming of bringing the "free market" to streamline and inevitably force private monopolized pricing, especially on rural America. Elderly with drugs. Those running small businesses. Communities out in boondocks that will never get UPS/Fedex service, the PO being their single lifeline out into the greater world. America's last great institution has fallen. Sorting machines scrapped. Its upper tier fired or shuffled. Immense delays never seen in the past so systematically. Corona conveniently blamed.
The regionalism of the Hunger Games was an inspired bit of foreshadowing from fiction to where we're headed in the near future. In all likelihood, an increasingly autocratic North-East Corridor tail wagging the rest of the dog just as Goldman Sachs & Friends dictated $9T bailout the NYSE casino. No ideology is at play, nor any greater political theory other than The Rich Make the Rules, So Let the Rich Get Richer. Merely through disparate wealth and power and connections. In a sense, America has always centered this way regionally dating from the original Colonies and cemented in the 19th Century. It's just merely never been explicitly formalized.
Decades from now, when people ask when the peak of the US came and some may expect to hear 2020 or 2030ish perhaps. Corona or some other clear delineation like the fall of the Berlin Wall may exist. But those are just visual symptoms. The actual answer by most metrics will be 1945 and the immediate postwar. A result of a culmination of moves from early 19th Century towards hemispherical hegemony and empire. The rest of the industrialized world devastated, it served as uncontested factory and Superpower to the world. Exports were at max. Unemployment was low, wages were high. Its Universities had been bolstered by Europe's top talent since the early 1930s. It had exclusive access to the Atom Bomb. And was at the very cusp of computing which would pay major dividends later. By most metrics, America dominated everyone else.
"Hard times create strong men, strong men create good times, good times create weak men, and weak men create hard times.”
What we have left is just an afterimage placed over a husk that hasn't been dispelled quite yet. Like a major corporate stock too many bet on long after the company has slumped in reality because they remember the good times which feeds their hopium. YHOO. Sears. USA. Company or nation, the story of once-dominant interests mostly repeat as human nature stays the same.
Enjoy your 2021. A delirious "Return to the Mean" will be the main theme in most people's minds. Use that tidbit as you wish.

I am a Baritone Opera singer whose been working towards a professional career from day one. I have been through every trial, from low level chorus work all the way through to principal work. I have spent twenty of the best years of my life, and earned both my bachelors and masters of music, in order to pursue my professional goals. I wanted to make the most of my ability to sing opera, by applying for representation, so that I could travel and perform professionally.
I have also faced a great deal of disappointment, however. great enough to make me think that I’ve lost that meaning to my life. I’ve faced being sexually assaulted, being barred from roles because of my eye and hair coloweight, being ostracized by entire groups of singers for no good reason, even being told that my military service was a detriment to my ability to sing. Worst of all, instead of support and alternatives, I’ve dealt with everybody giving “excuses” for the perpetrators of these wrongs.... I’ve never given excuse, I worked for a fair opportunity.
This last year was supposed to be that golden opportunity. you know where you have all your ducks in a row and you’ve done your diligence and You’ve made yourself ready for anything? Well I didn’t pass it up! This last February I was supposed to be in Berlin for an agent audition. In the summer of ‘19, I earned my masters, and went on to a young artist program for a production of “Don Giovanni“. It was an amazing show and I prepared and performed Masetto Until I didn’t even know who I was. But while I was there, I linked up with an agent. I got to sing for him, he was extremely nice, and invited me back for an official audition for his Roster (I had shown that I had what it takes, That all those years of hard work were worth it!!!). So after leaving Germany that summer, I returned home and took a job at a casino to make the money to return, and in the meantime I spent the next six months preparing and studying my music for a real professional audition. When I had achieved the money, I contacted the agency and asked to audition, and they said yes. I Purchased my airline tickets, my mandatory travel insurance, my lodgings, my overseas cellular data plan, And even budgeted for food every day I was to be there, as well as coaching in Frankfurt with a top of the line musician to prepare myself! I had all my ducks in a row and this was supposed to be that one big shot....
The company, CICADA Kunstler Agentur reneged on the audition, on the agreed time and date, and not Far enough back before I was supposed to fly for me to change my itinerary, so that the agent could somehow go to Spain that week instead! I was stranded in Berlin for that entire week! My coach decided to shirk out on me So I couldn’t travel to Frankfurt. I spent the week trying to find other opportunities in Germany. I was stranded, and out €3000 with nothing…
I contacted other agencies, other companies which had opportunities listed for both principal and chorus roles. I contacted Facebook groups for opera singers I was in to see if they had any opportunities available, Especially since I had seen several posts of people looking for opportunities, and the community being open and helpful in what they could find. I even tried to tap in to my veteran ties, and reach out to the army field band at Graffenwoher air base, To see if they had any connections in the music scene at Germany to whom I might be redirected… I got the cold shoulder from everybody. The few companies in Germany who responded told me they were not looking. Everybody on the Facebook groups started giving the agency excuses and asking Against me, Wondering what I somehow did wrong and discouraging me from pressing for recompense. And instead of opportunities like they had for others, they didn’t offer me or suggest anything, nobody was looking for me. It was as though I had worked for everything myself, and when it all fell through my fingers, nobody wanted to be there to help me back up, and nobody still wants to be there to help!
That being said, my last audition was put off Until November of this year because everybody jumped on Covid, so even though I’ve been broken I tried as best I could to prepare or NYIOP. But then my father had a heart attack about a week and a half before I was supposed to sing. The strain of saving his life, along with how my older brother shrugged it off and disrespected me for the effort, left me now with clinical depression, post traumatic stress syndrome...NYIOP Made its excuse, and rejected me as well. I fucked up on the language in my condition, and when I couldn’t make excuse to them, they made excuse to me and rejected me with it...
I am asking if there is any hope, because Opera Music over the years has become the meaning to my life. It has given meaning to my life. And now that I’m older, I don’t think I could continue living, if that opportunity I’ve worked for passes me up because it was taken away, both by bad luck and by covid. I’ve tried to exist as best I could. I tried taking up the courses in computer programming As an alternate skill... but I’m nowhere near as happy as I was whenever I was on the stage. I’m asking if anyone here knows of any real professional opportunities left for me. It’s not like I haven’t been on YapTracker or Audition Oracle, otherwise I wouldn’t be asking. Please 😭 I’m begging you!

Have any of you actually been inside one of them? What's the deal?