The Spanish press is predicting that, starting with the coach, heads will roll at the Nou Camp now that Barcelona is guaranteed another trophy-less season, but following Tuesday’s Champions League semifinal defeat, the Dutch tactician said the thought of quitting hadn’t entered his head. “I have no intention of leaving,” Rijkaard affirmed. “It would be […]
Monthly Archives: April 2008
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Roma Fans Petition Owners to Sell
More than 15,000 Roma fans have signed a petition urging the club’s owners to sell the Italian soccer club to George Soros following reports that the American billionaire had backed out of talks. Italpetroli, Roma’s majority shareholder, met with representatives of Soros’ firm Inner Circle Sports about a possible sale last week, but media reports […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Storylines Abound for TFC-Red Bulls Clash
ESPN Soccernet’s Ives Galarcep sizes up the storylines for Thursday night’s prime-time match-up between the New York Red Bulls and Toronto FC. For starters, several former Red Bulls have moved to the Canadian club: there’s former New York coach Mo Johnston, who’s now in charge of building TFC; there’s former MLS MVP Amado Guevara, who […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Columbus Crew the Surprise of the Season So Far
The 2008 MLS season is already throwing up several surprises. Among them: two-time defending champ Houston’s winless opening start, the fall from grace of Chivas USA keeper Brad Guzan and strikers Luciano Emilio (D.C. United) and Brian Ching (Houston), and finally, Toronto’s three-game winning streak after starting the season with two losses. However, Goal.com’s Pat […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Brazil coming to USA
Five-time World Cup winner Brazil will play Canada May 31 in Seattle and Venezuela on June 6 in Foxboro, Mass., in preparation for its World Cup qualifiers against Paraguay on June 14 and against Argentina on June 17.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
OBITUARY: Gordon Bradley
American coaching icon Gordon Bradley, the only person to have coached Pele, Franz Beckenbauer and Johan Cruyff, died on Monday at age 74. The England-born Bradley became coach of the NASL’s Cosmos in 1971, guided the Cosmos to the 1972 title as player-coach, and was at the Cosmos’ helm during Pele‘s arrival in 1975.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“It is necessary to clarify that no formal accusations were made against Ronaldo. An advocate of social causes, Ronaldo has never used drugs and has always been admired by children in Brazil and around the world. There are indications of an extortion attempt in which the Milan striker is the only victim.”
— A statement on Ronaldo‘s Web site following in a run-in with cross-dressing prostitutes who are accused of attempting to extort money from the Brazilian star. The motel manager at the scene said Ronaldo tried to get rid of the prostitutes after realizing they were men. (AP)
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Quakes new home ready for MLS debut
[MLS] The first MLS game at Buck Shaw Stadium is still a few days away, and already the cost of renovations and upgrades has gone wildly over budget.Or, because operator-investor Lewis Wolff wants these things done right, the project is right on the money, so to speak, for the Saturday opener against FC Dallas.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Bob Jenkins leaves U.S. Soccer for Virginia youth club
[YOUTH] Bob Jenkins, who since 2005 has been U.S. Soccer’s Director of Coaching Education and Youth Development, is leaving the Federation to become director of coaching of the Richmond Strikers. Jenkins, who during his tenure reevaluated and revised the Federation’s coaching school curriculum and the overall approach to coaching education, also served a key role in the creation of U.S. Soccer’s Development Academy.
“I’m looking forward to spending more time on the field,” said Jenkins, who was American University’s head coach in 1992-99 before becoming a U.S. Soccer national teams staff coach.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Chicago wins tug-of-war with Red Bulls
[MLS] Whether it stems from spite or sporting interests, the Chicago Fire’s stubborn adherence to signing Lider Marmol has finally been rewarded. Ridge Mahoney analyzes the controversy.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
U.S. Soccer Development Academy Results
Teams from Pateadores and LAFC both went 4-0 in weekend play in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy. With their wins, the LAFC’s U-17-18s moved into first place in the So Cal division, while Pateadores’ U-15/16s remained in first place in the So Cal division. For all the weekend U.S. Soccer Development Academy results and goal scorers …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Scholes sends Manchester United on to all-English final
[UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE] Nine years after missing the 1999 UEFA Champions League final because he was suspended, Paul Scholes will get a chance to return to the final thanks to his first-half goal that stood up for Manchester United’s 1-0 victory over Barcelona in the second leg of their semifinal series. The 1-0 aggregate victory set up a date on May 21 in Moscow against Liverpool or Chelsea in an all-English final. Chelsea and Liverpool meet Wednesday at Stamford Bridge (TV: ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, live, 2:30 pm ET) in the second leg of their semifinal series.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Soccer Job Openings
[EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES] Soccer America provides the latest on employment opportunities for soccer-related positions. They include college coaching opportunities, as well as opportunities in pro soccer, youth soccer, the soccer industry and television.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Kelly Gray: MLS Growth Comes Down to Money
In his weekly column for Goal.com, Colorado Rapids midfielder Kelly Gray weighs in on the issue of changes that MLS needs to make in order to grow soccer in America. In his opinion, it’s simple: it’s all about money. “I understand why the league was originally set up as a single entity, and think that […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Ballon d’Or: Ronaldo or Toni? Euro 2008 Will Decide
With 38 goals in all competitions, and having scored most of them as an outside winger, Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo is the odds-on favorite to win the Ballon d’Or (Golden Ball) for 2008. His stiffest competition will be Bayern Munich’s Luca Toni, who is having an equally stunning campaign, having found the net 36 times […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Jubilant Magee Ends Long Goal Drought
The Newark Star Ledger’s Frank Giase says the untold story of the New York Red Bulls’ 2-0 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes was Mike Magee’s first goal for 21 months. “It feels longer, it feels a lot longer,” the long-time New York striker said after scoring the game-winning goal from the penalty spot on […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
As Donovan’s Stock Rises, Guzan’s Drops
Steve Davis lists his usual MLS notes from the previous weekend, doling out the compulsory kudos for Landon Donovan’s three-goal salvo versus Chivas USA, while also chiming in on the depreciation in form of Chivas goalkeeper Brad Guzan. Donovan, with eight goals in six games, looks to be on the way to at least a […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Eriksson Sacking Would Be a Grave Mistake
Sven Goran Eriksson is resigned to losing his job as manager of Manchester City, according to his agent, who claims that club owner Thaksin Shinawatra has all but made up his mind that Eriksson should be replaced after just one season in charge. Given that he has two years remaining on a contract worth $5 […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Ronaldo has mishap during rehab
[OFF THE POST] Brazilian World Cup champ Ronaldo, who is recovering from knee surgery, was questioned by Rio de Janeiro police regarding a run-in with transvestites on Sunday. The AC Milan striker admitted accompanying a prostitute, whom he believed to be female, to a motel, where they were met by other transvestites who allegedly tried to black mail the player.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
German national team brings in cash
[TV] The German soccer federation (DFB) has generated revenue of $250 million over the past two years thanks largely to TV income on national team games, which can draw up to 30 million viewers in the nation of 82 million.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Jaqua scores; Feilhaber sees action in nightmare loss
[AMERICANS ABROAD] In a 1-1 with Red Bull Salzburg, former Houston striker Nate Jaqua scored his fifth goal since joining SCR Altach, which successfully fended off relegation with an eighth place finish in the 10-team Austrian First Division. For more on Americans Abroad, including Benny Feilhaber‘s return to action …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Jozy gets it
So blinding has been the glare from the marvelous solo goal Jozy Altidore scored April 19 in a 1-1 tie with New England that much of his otherwise listless play has been overlooked. In several games, he’s looked slow and not all that motivated. That changed in the second half of last Sunday’s game.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Guzan among the goats
Not to blame all of Chivas USA’s defensive problems on one guy- there’s plenty of folks at fault – but what is going on with Brad Guzan?
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“He needs to look in the mirror and see how big he is.”
— New York captain Claudio Reyna on teammate Jozy Altidore, who had bemoaned rough treatment by San Jose defenders before sparking the Red Bulls’ win on Sunday. (New York Times)
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Foot-notes in Man. United history
[IN THE SPOTLIGHT] Rio Ferdinand‘s kick in frustration at the door of a television interview room that accidentally hit a female security guard in the ankle and Frenchman Patrice Evra‘s exchange with a Stamford Bridge groundskeeper after Manchester United’s 2-1 loss to Chelsea on Saturday epitomized a team on the verge of unraveling. They also rekindled United’s reputation for fiery outbursts.