Doesn't seem like Matias Almeyda is anywhere near the Crew or the Crew staff yet as he is still playing in matches with old pal Diego Maradona down in South America as of today. Link Apparently, Matias will be one of many former Argentine greats to play in a benefit match in the next few days against Bolivian greats including one Marco Etcheverry (hmm, possibly Etcheverry will tell Almeyda his thoughts on MLS) to help raise money for Bolivians affected by recent floods.

Wonder if Bliss will be in attendance? lol. If Maradona scores some goals watch out. He could be our Sneaky Pete along with Ricketts to come in for the last five seconds this year.

Also seems like America would be a safer place for Almeyda and his family. As per a CNN article in January of 2005, it seems that Almeyda has had alot of problems with kidnap threats against his family. These concerns led to him declining an offer to play for struggling West Bromwich Albion in January 2005 as Almeyda wanted to get back to his family in Argentina. Almeyda's last few years on a professional level may have been vastly different if he would of signed with Albion instead of played on the showball tour in Argentina because of these threats. Nevertheless, it seems Almeyda wouldn't be too keen on coming to America or anywhere if it means leaving his family.

The previous summer in 2004 after not receiving a contract renewal with Inter, Almeyda returned to his homeland and signed for Argentine club Independiente but then left before he had kicked a ball per BBC sport.

"The first day that he signed the contract he'd already made his concerns known, because he'd received the news that his family had appeared on a list of potential kidnap victims," said Julio Comparada, Independiente's director general. "He told me he didn't realise that the violence and the situation in South America and Argentina was so serious; he'd spent a number of years living in Europe."

"The truth is he couldn't get used to his family living with continuous police protection and getting nervous at every traffic light they stopped at... So he decided to move back to Europe." Almeyda had a short unsuccessful stint with Brescia in fall of 2004 before Robson attempted to make his move. I'm assuming that English work permits meant that Almeyda's family couldn't join Almeyda right away at Albion. That's probably why Almeyda decided not to join Albion because he was afraid to leave his family by themselves in Argentina.

If Almeyda came to the Crew it might not be as bad as a move as some are making it out to be. One thing I'm thinking about is that Almeyda is the same age as Scheletto. Almeyda has also had much more success then Scheletto on an international and national team level. Also Almeyda doesn't seem to have any severe injury problems that I could find. Finally, Almeyda is a veteran who likes to do things to give back to the community and he is a family man which I find appealing. So if Scheletto works for one more year, why can't Almeyda work for a year?

Also if you were wondering?
Almeyda's favorite actor is Robert DeNiro, his favorite actress is Demi Moore, and has favorite sportsman is Mike Tyson!
http://www.angelfire.com/la/lazio/almeyda.html