Go West - German soccer exports to North America

"Der Kaiser" left Bayern Munich for the New York Cosmos in 1977 as one of a number of star signings that included Pele. In four seasons in New York, Beckenbauer won the NASL title three times before returning to Germany. After two years with Hamburg, he was persuaded to return to New York and enjoyed a final swansong with the Cosmos.

The former longtime Bayern Munich player has become the latest German star to seek his fortune in America, having signed a one-year contract with Major League Soccer club Chicago Fire. The former Germany captain, who saw little playing time at his previous club, Manchester United, was welcomed by hundreds of fans upon his arrival at O'Hare International Airport.

Beckenbauer was joined in the NASL by former Bayern and Germany teammate Gerd Müller. The Bundesliga's all-time record goal scorer moved to Fort Lauderdale Strikers in 1979 and kept up his incredible strike rate. In his three seasons in Florida, Müller scored 38 goals in 71 appearances.

1974 World Cup winner and Eintracht Frankfurt legend Bernd Hölzenbein (pictured right) was briefly a teammate of Müller's in Fort Lauderdale. Hölzenbein joined just as Müller was leaving in 1981. There were more compatriots in the shape of the coach at the time Eckhard Krautzun (middle) and former Bayern and Fürth midfielder Eduard Kirschner (left).

Another World Cup winner, this time of the 1990 vintage, became the first German to move to the nascent MLS in 2000. The MetroStars, who were based in Harrison, New Jersey, were the last port of call in Lothar Matthäus' storied playing career. Although he helped the side to the 2000 playoffs in his single campaign, he played only 16 games and his tenure there was seen as a disappointment.

Former Bremen, Dortmund and Bayern midfielder Torsten Frings (pictured scoring against the Montreal Impact) spent the twilight of his career in the MLS with Toronto FC. Frings joined the Reds in 2011 and helped them win the Canadian championship (a tournament involving just four teams) in 2012, but a recurring hip injury forced him to hang up his boots midway through his second year at the club.

By the time Frings' former Bremen teammate, Frank Rost, moved to America, Matthäus' MetroStars had been rebranded as the New York Red Bulls. The goalkeeper signed from Hamburg in 2011, but only made 11 appearances in his solitary season in Major League Soccer.

If Schweinsteiger needs any tips on life in the Windy City, he need look no further than his former international teammate, Arne Friedrich. The former Hertha Berlin defender blazed the trail to Chicago Fire in 2012, making 24 appearances before his career was prematurely cut short by a back injury.

Much-traveled midfielder Christian Tiffert signed a three-year contact with Seattle Sounders in 2012. However, after making just 16 appearances, he was released after his first year and moved back to Germany to join VfL Bochum.

It has not just been on-field German legends who have been attracted to the United States. Coach Hennes Weisweiler (pictured right with Pele) took charge of the New York Cosmos in 1980 after a trophy-laden Bundesliga career with Borussia Mönchengladbach and Cologne. In his first season, Weisweiler secured the NASL title. He departed for Grasshopers Zurich in 1982.