LA Galaxy star David Beckham is owed a great deal of gratitude according to Houston Dynamo head coach Dom Kinnear.
The 37-year old midfielder is set to depart the Galaxy after six seasons following the MLS Cup final against the Dynamo on December 1 and Kinnear says the ex-Manchester United ace has had a massive impact on the sport since his arrival in 2007.
"If he's playing, we'll prepare for him to play, that's it," said Kinnear. "We won't talk about him and his last game; we'll talk about him playing 90 minutes.
"I will say that I think we should all thank him for what he's meant to MLS soccer.
"I think if there was one player that could drive MLS to all the good things we are now, it was him.
"You have to look at what he does off the field, you don't hear any bad stories about him as far as I can tell. Anytime you see him, he's always playing soccer or with his family so I think, off the field he's been a respectable person and that's the reason why he is who he is.
"I think we all in MLS need to take a step back and ever since he's come here with the expansion and TV and how MLS has grown and we should all be quietly thankful."
