BRADLEY WRIGHT-PHILLIPS believes English fans are ignorant of other leagues and he would encourage players to move to MLS.
The former striker started his playing career at Manchester City and made 32 Premier League appearances for the club.
GettyBradley Wright-Phillips is New York Red Bulls record goalscorer[/caption]
The former striker played alongside Thierry Henry at the clubGetty
Wright-Phillips also played for Southampton, Plymouth, Charlton and Brentford in the EFL with varying success, but proved he had an eye for goal when he struck more than 20 goals in successive League One seasons between 2010-2012.
But his career really took off following a transfer to New York Red Bulls in 2013.
Wright-Phillips played alongside the likes of Thierry Henry in the Big Apple and loved the club from the moment he touched down in the US.
He became the club record goalscorer with 126 goals in all competitions and now works as assistant sporting director at New York Red Bulls.
In an exclusive interview with SunSport the 38-year-old reflected on his MLS move and revealed he was never going to return to England after his first visit to the Red Bulls.
Wright-Phillips said: “I enjoyed my stint here. There was something about playing in England – it was my dream to play in the best league in the world.
“It just wasn’t my story and I felt at a certain time when I went on loan to Brentford it just felt like I wasn’t supposed to be here. I was supposed to find a different path and adventure and it worked out well for me.
“I went to New York on holiday. My agent had told me ‘listen they’re interested in you signing here but go over and train for a while’.
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“I just wanted to go on holiday. It was New York and I get to train with Theirry Henry, but when I got there I saw the facilities, the standard of player, I was never coming back home.
“It was eye-opening for me, us English folk are ignorant to every other league almost, and rightly so we grow up with the Premier League, EFL and we think that’s the only thing in the world. I was very surprised when I got to the MLS and New York, it was amazing.”
Asked whether he would encourage young players to move to the US, Wright-Phillips added: “Yes 100 per cent. Without being disrespectful you can play in lots of places around England, but [in the US] you can play in Boston, New York, LA, Portland, St Louis.
“All amazing cities to play football in, these are unbelievable places with great atmospheres.”
Wright-Phillips has moved into punditry since hanging up his boots but it has proved to be more difficult than his first anticipated.
Luckily his dad Ian Wright was on hand to point him in the right direction, and provided a key bit of advice to help him ease into the world of analysis.
Wright-Phillips explained: “He told me to be myself, [and] as long as you can take that comment you made about a team or a player to bed with you, then I guess it’s okay.”