The Detroit-based sports management firm General Sports and Entertainment on Monday was confirmed as the new owner of English Premier League club Derby County. Derby becomes the fourth EPL club with American ownership after Manchester United, Liverpool, and Aston Villa. Derby was promoted to the Premiership this season, but has only managed one victory in […]
Monthly Archives: January 2008
Posted inSoccer America Confidential, Story
Reasons for Optimism in Salt Lake
Two possible foreign imports added to a trio signed last season, several candidates to replace veteran defender Eddie Pope, a pair of first-round draft picks, and the prospect of a new stadium perhaps being ready by September mark the fourth preseason for Real Salt Lake.
Posted inSoccer on TV., Story
Soccer on TV
Midweek action includes the Copa Libertadores, Spanish Cup, Italian Cup and league games from England and Argentina.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Expanding ‘Sueno’ gives MLS ‘Republica’ exposure
Registration began Sunday for the 2008 version of what is in essence an open tryout to earn a spot on an MLS team, and this year, it will be conducted by two MLS teams rather than just one.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Houston’s Nate Jaqua set for Austrian league
[MLS MOVES] MLS champion Houston is set to lose another attacker to the Austrian league. Following Joseph Ngwenya‘s move to SK Austria Karnten, Nate Jaqua is set to join SCR Altach pending what its coach Heinz Fuchsbichler calls settling some minor contract details.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Michael Bradley sets scoring record; Rossi strikes against Real Madrid
[AMERICANS ABROAD/VIDEO]. Michael Bradley scored in his fourth straight game for Dutch club Heerenveen, striking twice in a 3-0 win over De Graafschap. The double strike gives the 20-year-old Bradley 11 league goals this season, breaking the record for goals in a season by an American-born and -bred player in a European first division, which had been set by Eric Wynalda at German club Saarbruecken in 1992-93 and Brian McBride at Fulham last season.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“Pato is very young and we, the team and the coaching staff, need to look after him to keep him relaxed. He’s an intelligent kid, but it can be very dangerous to be that famous at his age.”
— Dutch player Clarence Seedorf, trying to downplay 18-year-old Pato‘s impact after the Brazilian scored two goals in AC Milan’s 2-0 win over Genoa on Sunday to give him three goals in his first four Serie A games. (AFP)
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Threat of match-fixing hits African Nations Cup
[AFRICA WATCH] One of the unfortunate consequences of the increased popularity in the African Nations Cup is the interest of Asian betting syndicates. Twice in the last week low-profiles team revealed they were approached to throw games.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Only six EPL teams left in FA Cup
[ENGLAND] A day after its American owners, George Gillett and Tom Hicks, completed a re-financing deal that should allow them to remain as owners and go ahead with their plans to build of a new stadium, Liverpool avoided embarrassment in in the English FA Cup when the Reds twice rallied from one goal down and beat sixth-level Havant & Waterlooville at Anfield. Other Premier League teams weren’t so lucky. Only six EPL teams advanced to the final 16.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Thieves add to City’s misery
[OFF THE POST] Sunday was a bad day for Manchester City and its players. Not only did the Premier League club lose to second-level Sheffield United, 2-1, in the English FA Cup, but its players and staff returned to their locker room at United’s Bramall Lane to discover it had been ransacked.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
DiCicco returns as U-20 women’s coach
[U.S. WOMEN] Tony DiCicco, who coached the USA to the gold medal at the 1996 Olympics and first place at the 1999 Women’s World Cup, has rejoined the U.S. women’s national team program as head coach of the under-20 team.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Mali Man Sought to Manipulate Benin Match
A match-fixing scandal surfaced at the African Cup of Nations on Thursday, as Benin coach Reinhard Fabisch revealed that a Malian man had asked him if there was any possibility of manipulating the outcome of Benin’s Group B match against Mali. “I told him, ‘Look, you have two minutes to leave the hotel or I […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Figo Ponders Retirement
Inter Milan winger Luis Figo has been linked with a possible move to Major League Soccer, but the 35-year-old on Thursday revealed that he might choose to retire instead. The Portugal legend is currently recovering from a broken leg suffered in early November, and is believed to be close to regaining fitness. “Right now, what […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Whither Christian Gomez?
If, as expected, Marcelo Gallardo signs for D.C. United, then Christian Gomez’s days in the nation’s capitol are numbered. Gomez is believed to be entertaining offers from abroad, but blogger Ives Galarcep believes the 33-year-old could resign with MLS and then move on via trade. Where would he end up? Should he decide to stay […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Liverpool Order Restored, For Now
The dust is now settling after Liverpool officials declared a ceasefire on Friday, ending weeks of uncertainty over the club’s future. American sports moguls Tom Hicks and George Gillett will remain Liverpool’s owners following the approval of a new refinancing package, which allowed them to unveil plans for a new $600 million stadium at Stanley […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Serious Kudos for Brad Friedel
Brad Friedel is in fantastic form for Blackburn Rovers again this season, but no, he’s not interested in returning to the U.S. national team. “I had unbelievable times, to say the least, and I loved every minute of international football,” he tells ESPN, “but I also don’t regret for one second the day that I […]
Posted inSoccer America Confidential, Story
Seattle hires technical director
The Seattle MLS franchise is more than a year away from its first game but has already signed one of Washington state’s most famous players. No, not Kasey Keller, at least just yet.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
U.S. Olympic Quest: Player selection down to wire
[ROSTER] Coach Peter Nowak has called in 23 players for the second training camp of the U-23 men’s national team that will aim to qualify for the 2008 Olympic Games, when the team can add three wild-card (over-23) players. The training camp takes Jan. 26 – Feb. 2 in at the IMG Academies in Bradenton, Fla.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
USA preps for Mexico clash
[ROSTER] U.S. coach Bob Bradley has called in a 21-man squad to train for the USA’s Feb. 6 friendly against Mexico in Houston. More than 43,000 tickets have already been sold for the game at Reliant Stadium (capacity 71,000). The only foreign-based players on the initial roster are five who play or have recently signed with Scandinavian leagues, which are on winter break. Other European-based players are expected to arrive after their league play on the weekend before the Mexico game.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Ex-player Agogo leads Ghana past Namibia
[AFRICAN NATIONS CUP] Almost six years after he was waived out MLS, Junior Agogo emerged on the international stage, scoring the only goal in host Ghana’s unconvincing 1-0 win over Namibia Thursday at the African Nations Cup in Accra
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
MLS Offseason Player Moves
For all the team-by-team offseason player moves …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“In Italy the referee whistles as soon as a defender brushes against you. In the Premier League you don’t get a free kick even if the defender runs you over with a tank.”
— Italian forward Rolando Bianchi, who is leaving Manchester City for Serie A club Lazio after a six-month stint. (Reuters)
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
International Weekend TV Schedule
The English FA Cup moves into the fourth round. The top matchup features Manchester United against Tottenham on Sunday. In Spain, leader Real Madrid hosts third-place Villarreal with Italian-American Giuseppe Rossi on Sunday. For all the weekend international action …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Players galore picked in Supplemental Draft
[MLS WATCH] Most of the players expected to be picked in the SuperDraft who weren’t selected did get snagged in the Supplemental Draft held Thursday by conference call, and they weren’t alone. The 14 teams picked 51 players, with only Toronto FC showing restraint.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
The Most Important MLS Off-Season Moves
MLSNet writer Jeff Bradley recounts the 11 most important trades of the MLS offseason so far. They are, from least to most important according to Bradley: Jim Curtin, Chicago to Chivas USA, Jason Hernandez, Chivas USA to San Jose, Bobby Boswell, D.C. United to Houston, Jose Burciaga Jr., Kansas City to Colorado, Ivan Guerrero, Chicago […]