Frank Isola

Frank Isola: Rafa Marquez is a grumpy veteran, and that needs to change

The New York Red Bulls defender recently stated that he would like to play three or four more years, but does he have the right attitude to continue?

Feb 15, 2012 12:23:00 PM

By Frank Isola

More On : New York Red Bulls, Rafa Márquez

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Rafael Marquez believes he has a few good years of football left in him and apparently the temperamental Mexican international wants to spend his twilight years with the New York Red Bulls.

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There is no denying that Marquez has the ability to play at a high level. He’s still one of the top players in Major League Soccer despite his up-and-down season with the club in 2011. And if he stays relatively injury-free – yes, that’s a big if – he can be a productive player in New York.

What no one knows, however, is if Rafa is fully committed in mind, body and spirit to being the leader the Red Bulls need and quite frankly demand. As one of MLS’s more accomplished players, Marquez needs to set the example for the younger players when it comes to practice, fitness and trying to play the right way.

David Beckham does that with the Los Angeles Galaxy. He’s a proven leader and winner.

As for Marquez, all he’s proven is that he can come across as a grumpy, aging veteran who seems more interested in living in Manhattan than playing in Harrison, N.J. If you don’t believe me just ask Tim Ream, the American central defender who was undressed by Marquez after a particularly rough performance against Real Salt Lake.

No sooner had Marquez thrown Ream under the proverbial bus before Ream was on the next plane to England to join Bolton. Marquez seemed to write his ticket out of New York in November during the Red Bulls' 1-0 loss to the Galaxy in the Eastern Conference Final.

The match ended with Marquez, unprovoked, throwing the ball at Landon Donovan. When Donovan’s Galaxy teammates intervened, Marquez threw his hands up as if he had been punched in the face and dropped to the turf.

Forget the fact that television has the ability to replay such scenes in super slow-motion. Just the idea of Marquez, a former player at Barcelona and Mexican captain, behaving in such a manner was embarrassing to himself, his club and home country. Justifiably, the league suspended Marquez for the second leg in Los Angeles.

I still can’t help but think that that scene is Marquez’s final act in a Red Bulls uniform. In fact, Marquez has been linked to Flamengo, the Brazilian club. But can the win-now Red Bulls, with Thierry Henry up top, afford to lose Marquez in the back especially with Ream trying to make it in England?

Barring a trade or a move to sign a top-flight defender/midfielder, the Red Bulls may need Marquez more than he needs them.

But you also get the feeling that Marquez doesn’t want to go out as a failed experiment in New York. He’s gone on record saying that he’d like to remain with the Red Bulls for another three to four years.

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His plan is to retire from football following the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, which would be a fitting way for one of Mexico’s greatest players to exit.

“I would be delighted to go to this World Cup and perhaps then say goodbye to football," Marquez is quoted by EFE as saying. "After I retire, I would like to be a coach or an advisor to some club."

Marquez just turned 33 and in football years that is ancient. Physically, he can still play. No question about it. But does Rafa still have it mentally? He still has to prove that to himself and the Red Bulls.

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