Colorado Rapids forward Kamani Hill admits his European experience, which started 2006, helped make him a much better player.

The 26-year old returned to the USA this year when he signed with the Rapids after about five years trying his luck in Europe with German outfit Wolfsburg and Portuguese club VitoriaGuimaraes.

When speaking to theshinguardian.com, Hill said that his time trying to forge a career in soccer's toughest market allowed him to grow as both a player and a person.

"In all of soccer you have to look at things you can control but the things you can't control you have to be at peace with it," Hill said.

"If you're always trying to fight with it, well the business has a life of its own…it's going to fight against it, it will make you unhappy.

"It wasn't a wasted opportunity.

"I came out of Europe 5 times the player I was when I went in."

And Hill, who has represented the USA on two occasions, also compared the MLS to the leagues he played in during his spell in Europe.

"MLS is obviously different. I think our football culture is not as developed of course," he added.

"You go to a country like Portugal and all the teams play the same system. All the teams have Portuguese coaches. Everyone is schooled the same way.

"It's a countrywide systematic development of players. Here we have so much diversity."

 The game is about opinions. Make yours heard! Join the tribalfootball.com nation on Facebook today: Facebook.com/tribalfootball