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From One-and-Done to Seasoned Veterans: A Demographic Analysis of Individual Career Length in Major League Soccer

Author

Listed:
  • Boyden Nathaniel B

    (Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research and University of Michigan)

  • Carey James R

    (University of California, Davis and University of California, Berkeley)

Abstract

Although there is a modest amount of literature analyzing the career prospects of athletes in United States (U.S.) based football, basketball, and baseball leagues, little is known about the career prospects of professional soccer players in the U.S. In our analysis of Major League Soccer players, using a sample of approximately 1,100 players and 3,435 player-year observations, we identify the time-varying and time-constant variables that affect player career duration. Initial career expectancy was 2.4 years, more than a quarter of all players exit the league after one year, and the risks of career exit never fall below 12%. In addition, relative to U.S.-born players, foreign-born players face a disproportionately high exit rate.

Suggested Citation

  • Boyden Nathaniel B & Carey James R, 2010. "From One-and-Done to Seasoned Veterans: A Demographic Analysis of Individual Career Length in Major League Soccer," Journal of Quantitative Analysis in Sports, De Gruyter, vol. 6(4), pages 1-17, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:bpj:jqsprt:v:6:y:2010:i:4:n:5
    DOI: 10.2202/1559-0410.1261
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bernd Frick & Gunnar Pietzner & Joachim Prinz, 2007. "Career Duration a Competitive Environment: The Labor Market for Soccer Players in Germany," Eastern Economic Journal, Eastern Economic Association, vol. 33(3), pages 429-442, Summer.
    2. Atkinson, Scott E & Tschirhart, John, 1986. "Flexible Modelling of Time to Failure in Risky Careers," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 68(4), pages 558-566, November.
    3. Johnny Ducking & Peter Groothuis & James Hill, 2015. "Exit Discrimination in the NFL: A Duration Analysis of Career Length," The Review of Black Political Economy, Springer;National Economic Association, vol. 42(3), pages 285-299, September.
    4. Hoang, Ha & Rascher, Dan, 1999. "The NBA, Exit Discrimination, and Career Earnings," MPRA Paper 3542, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    5. William Witnauer & Richard Rogers & Jarron Saint Onge, 2007. "Major league baseball career length in the 20th century," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 26(4), pages 371-386, August.
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    Cited by:

    1. Bernd Frick & Friedrich Scheel, 2016. "Fly Like an Eagle," Journal of Sports Economics, , vol. 17(8), pages 813-831, December.

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