Alexi Lalas Blazed the American Trail to Italy… Here’s What Happened Next

Three decades on from making a name for himself at USA 94, Alexi Lalas was at it again, stealing headlines at the World Cup in his homeland – although this time for very different reasons.

The former USA defender, in his role as pundit for Fox, went viral for a dig at US-based British comedian James Corden, comments that left Thierry Henry and Zlatan Ibrahimovic stunned.

Like Ibrahimovic and Henry, Lalas spent a bit of time kicking a ball about in Italy back in the day. He came from Birmingham, a small city in Michigan, and was the first USMNT player to feature in Serie A when he signed for Padova.

Lalas had played a starring role at centre-back for the USA at the World Cup 32 years ago. Notable for his long shock of red hair and rockstar goatee to match, he looked more like the leading man in a grunge band than a footballer.

As Lalas recalled, he had a decision to make once the tournament ended for the host nation following their last-16 exit to eventual winners Brazil. “I got so many opportunities after that final whistle in 1994, including playing overseas, you have to remember the MLS was still a few years away,” he said in an interview with ussoccer.com.

“I literally didn’t have a job once the World Cup ended. Serie A at that time was the place to go, and thankfully a billion people had seen me run around and kick the ball every once in a while and everything had gone OK.”

Padova, who had just come up from Serie B after winning the promotion play-off against Cesena, signed the 24-year-old to bolster their defence. 

“To get dropped into the fishbowl and the religion that is football in Italy was a huge awakening to say the least,” said Lalas. “The names that were there, every week I was competing against the elite of the world and, as a centre back, it was an incredible experience.”

In spite of a sceptical Italian media, Lalas’ hearty displays at the back for Padova – which included scoring the winner in a surprise 2-1 victory against champions AC Milan – won over many in Italy who realised he could actually play and wasn’t just a marketing gimmick.

Moreover, Lalas was keen to grab the experience with both hands: “I milked it for all it was worth, on and off the field, in my two years there. Music, food, travel and all these different things, I wanted to soak it all in.”

Lalas helped keep Padova in Serie A in 1994-95, scoring three goals along the way. With the MLS due to kick off in 1995, he moved back to the States to take part in the inaugural season, however organisational issues meant the start date was pushed back until early 1996, so he was loaned back to Padova for the first half of the campaign. His final game in Italy was against Lazio in late February 1996. Then it was on to New England Revolution.

Three decades on, the feeling of football as a religion is just as strong. Padova have just posted a mid-table finish in the second tier having made the jump from Serie C the season before. It was during that campaign that the ultras stayed away. The boycott, over the state of the Stadio Euganeo which one ultra branded “a generic, unrepresentative dump that nobody likes”, lasted the season.

Destination Calcio spent a day with one of the fan groups to find out more. The ultras are back in now and despite their concerns about the ground it remains a typically passionate smaller club and great place to watch football. For fans based outside Italy their games will once again be shown live on Destination Calcio TV when 2026-27 kicks off.

Lalas still looks back on his time in Italy with fondness. “There is no doubt I became a better soccer player by playing in Italy, but more importantly I became a better person because of the challenges,” he said in an interview with The Shin Guardian.

Despite his cult-hero status, the signing of Lalas didn’t lead to an instant invasion of American players. After his departure, Serie A wouldn’t sign another player from the US for 16 years. 

Michael Bradley, hailing from New Jersey, signed for Chievo from Aston Villa in the summer of 2011 after dabbling in the Eredivisie, Bundesliga and Premier League. A midfielder who could put a foot in and chip in with the odd goal, Bradley’s form for the Flying Donkeys saw him earn a move to Roma the following season.

Handed the nickname Lex Luthor by the Italian media – owing to his shaved head – Bradley moved to Toronto midway through his second season in the Eternal City, but felt playing in Serie A improved him as a player mentally.

“The small Italian teams are convinced that the only way to compete is to tactically be perfect and tactically be prepared for every scenario,” he told mlssoccer.com about playing for Chievo.

Since Bradley’s departure, the influx of American players competing in Serie A has ballooned. Weston McKennie has been a leading light in that regard, with the midfielder now in his sixth year in Italy. Bar a brief interlude with Leeds in England, he has been a key ingredient for Juventus over the years, despite the revolving door of coaches, from Andrea Pirlo to Max Allegri and from Thiago Motta to Igor Tudor. McKennie has outlasted them all.

The Washington native has thrived in Serie A and is proof the overall level in the States has risen over the past decade. McKennie was joined in Turin briefly by fellow American Timothy Weah, son of the legendary Liberian George, who starred for AC Milan. Timothy played for the Bianconeri for two seasons before moving to France.

The likes of Gianluca Busio, Yunus Musah, Bryan Reynolds and Sergino Dest have all featured in the Italian top flight in recent years. 

Despite McKennie’s longevity at Juve, Christian Pulisic is undoubtedly the face of American football in Italy. The attacker signed for Milan in the summer of 2023 after a difficult spell at Chelsea and has found a new lease of life in Serie A.

Pulisic has scored 42 goals in 134 games for the Rossoneri and has been a focal point in Milan’s attack during his three seasons in Serie A. For Pulisic, the decision to join Milan was easy. “When interest from a club like Milan arrives, you have to think about it,” he said in his first press conference. “They really wanted me and I felt good about it. It’s one of the reasons why I’m here.”

Pulisic’s arrival saw Milan merchandise sales skyrocket, with a reported 266% increase the day following the announcement of his signing. Since then, Pulisic has opened up about his life in Italy and his experience in Milan.

“For me it’s very relaxing. I think Italians love to enjoy life. Everything. Whether it’s food, whether it’s… I don’t know how to explain it. Just having fun and enjoying life,” he told Serie A’s YouTube channel. 

“That’s what I like about people here, and also the passion for the game, for football, in this country is really crazy. Especially in Milan.”

Pulisic goes into this World Cup as the USMNT’s big hope. His form for Milan in the second half of the season wasn’t ideal, but Captain America, as he’s known, will play an integral role this summer.