‘I Wouldn’t Play Here If I Didn’t Like It’: Roman Burki on MLS’ Present and Future | OneFootball

Roman Burki has been a mainstay between the posts for the entirety of St. Louis City SC’s existence. We caught up with the goalkeeper to discuss his growing role in MLS, giving advice to former teammate Marco Reus, and what the league needs to do to continue its upward trajectory.

From leading one of the most successful expansion teams in MLS history to helping the league land one of its biggest superstars, Roman Burki’s time in the United States has been anything but dull. Now in the final year of his contract, the highly capable goalkeeper finds himself at a crossroads.

Burki has been a stalwart for St. Louis City SC since the club’s inaugural season in 2023, and is the franchise’s all-time leader in appearances. However, St. Louis has struggled throughout the 2025 season, and through 23 matches sit only above the lowly Galaxy in the MLS Western Conference standings.

With his résumé as a multiple-time MLS All-Star and 2023 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, there’s no shortage of clubs that would be eager to secure Burki’s services.

I was able to catch up with Burki at the start of the season to reflect on his MLS journey so far and get his perspective on what’s next at this stage of his career.

A commanding presence between the posts with experience on the biggest stage with the likes of Borussia Dortmund and the Swiss national team, Burki has naturally become a mentor and leader for younger players and newcomers to MLS. Now in his third season in the league, he’s nearly an MLS veteran, but even when he first arrived in St. Louis, Burki found himself as a role model to younger players.

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“That started when I arrived at the club, with where I’ve played, and what kind of games I’ve played,” Burki said. “Younger players came to me, and obviously, maybe the first time I went to them and said, ‘Hey, if you need something, if you need help, if you have questions, whatever it is, you can always come to me, come up to me and ask me.’

“But I don’t think that starts now because I’m in year three of MLS. I think that started before, when I arrived here, and that’s also part of the reason why they wanted me in St. Louis.”

It wasn’t just teammates going to Burki for advice either. Upon signing with LA Galaxy, German soccer legend Marco Reus went straight to the goalkeeper for advice. The two had played together with Dortmund, and Burki gave some pointers on what Reus could expect in the league.

During a sit-down interview at last year’s MLS All-Star Game for 90Min, Burki told me he was excited to see Reus join MLS and that he couldn’t wait to see how Reus would adjust to the league and to living in Los Angeles.

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The two kept in touch during Reus’ first year in MLS, which saw him finally lift his first domestic league trophy.

“I definitely text[ed] him when he won [MLS Cup], and he was texting me back,” Burki said. “Crazy, MLS champion. I’m like, yeah, that’s crazy, but he chose a good team.”

With Burki being a focal point in MLS and an All-Star, the goalkeeper has naturally taken on the role of an MLS ambassador — especially for European players considering a move overseas.

He wears the role with pride, and isn’t shy to share his thoughts with any prospective player thinking about joining an MLS side.

“I mean, if I didn’t like it here, I wouldn’t play here,” Burki said. “I’m going into year three, and I’m still excited. There are definitely things that, at some point, the league is going to need to change — that’s clear — if it wants to take the next step and get closer to the level of Europe. So I’m definitely here, and if somebody asks me for my opinion, I’ll answer them honestly.”

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Given St. Louis City SC’s struggles in 2025 and Burki’s expiring contract, there is a chance he could be looking for a new home in the offseason. St. Louis has seemingly already begun retooling its roster, reportedly adding Jeong Sang-bin and Devin Padelford from Minnesota United. It looks like St. Louis may now be shifting its focus toward MLS-based talent, moving away from the European-centric approach that defined the early tenure of sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel.

With Burki earning $1.7 million in 2025, a team in the midst of a rebuild will likely look to allocate that salary elsewhere if the current formula is not producing results. Who knows — we might even see Burki in the same city as his close friend Reus in 2026.

One thing that has always been on Burki’s side is his durability. He’s made over 500 appearances throughout his career, and despite missing 10 games with a broken hand in 2025, he’s been a mainstay for St. Louis, making 88 appearances across all competitions in his nearly three years with the club.

“We need to have a little bit of luck with injuries,” Burki said. “But with how the league and the season here are structured, it’s very hard to avoid them. There are going to be injuries if you play for that long without a break.”

With some luck and the deep connections he already has across MLS, there is little doubt that teams will be eager to bring Burki into their side. No matter where he ends up, one thing is clear: Roman Burki adds value. Time will tell whether that value keeps him in St. Louis or takes him elsewhere.

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