[OFF THE POST] Diego Maradona scored “with the hand of god,” while Kaka shows off his undershirt that proclaims, “I belong to Jesus.” Soccer and religion go back many years. One of the attractions for Euro ’08 visitors in Vienna next month will be the “Fußball und Religion” exhibition at the Vienna Catholic Church’s dommuseum.
Monthly Archives: May 2008
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Others’ Inexperience Was an Issue at New York, Arena Says
Speaking of Mr. Arena, he went on the record at the weekend about his tenure at New York, saying that Red Bull had been “essentially an expansion team” when he took over, and that it had lacked the experience to succeed. “I probably was surrounded by too many young and inexperienced people,” he told Frank […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Coppell To Stay The Course At Relegated Reading
On the day when Dallas dismissed Steve Morrow just two months into the season, it was antidotal to read that Steve Coppell would be staying as manager of Reading, despite their relegation from the Premier League earlier this month. According to his agent Athole Still, “he wanted to show the real Steve — and how […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Will Keegan Stand By Jailed Barton?
Newcastle United midfielder Joey Barton isn’t the first English national team player to get drunk, end up in jail, and then come out to renew both his career and his life. Former Arsenal and England defender Tony Adams used a jail conviction for drunk driving to recover from alcoholism and continue to play at the […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Belated World Cup Pay Day For T&T Players
The dispute over World Cup bonus money between the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation and the T&T players was settled in London Tuesday, with arbitrator Ian Mills QC ruling in favor of the players. The exact amount of money they will receive from the Federation will be ruled on next month, but it is expected […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Managing Disappointment In Dallas
When New York fired Bruce Arena as coach last year, owner Red Bull said its expectation for the team was nothing less than the MLS Cup title. On Tuesday, FC Dallas sprung an early-season surprise by dumping Steve Morrow with the Major League Soccer season just eight games old. Apparently, they don’t feel like championship […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“I probably was surrounded by too many young and inexperienced people. It probably put even more responsibility on me. Maybe I would have brought in a more experienced person to help me on the stuff on and off the field.”
— Bruce Arena, on his one-and-a-half seasons as head coach of the New York Red Bulls that ended after the 2007 season. Arena also said, regarding a return to coaching, that he turned down “a potential opportunity in the offseason” but will “entertain anything that makes sense.” (The Star-Ledger)
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Manchester United-Chelsea, the Moscow final
[UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE] Manchester United and Chelsea meet Wednesday in Moscow in the first all-English final of the UEFA Champions League. Clarence Seedorf, the only player who has won the Champions League title with three different clubs (Ajax, Real Madrid and AC Milan), will be part of the broadcast team on both ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes during the game (kickoff: 2:30 pm ET). For a look at some of the key storylines …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Perfect storm of misfortune strikes FC Dallas
Three slices of advice to MLS coaches wishing to keep employment: (1) don’t lose at home; (2) don’t lose at home in front of a buzzing, capacity-plus crowd never before seen in your facility that includes incredulous management execs, and; (3) don’t get blown out 5-1 by a team incapable of shutting out 11 tykes on tricycles. That’s what happened to FC Dallas on Sunday when it fell to the Los Angeles Galaxy, and less than 48 hours later Coach Steve Morrow was fired.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
National High School Spring Rankings
Brentwood, the top-ranked boys team in the NSCAA/adidas High School Spring Rankings, beat LaVergne, 3-0, for its eighth straight shutout and advanced in the Tennessee Class AAA tournament. Roberson, No. 1 in the latest girls national rankings, will put its perfect record on the line Wednesday at Lake Norman in the North Carolina Class AAA semifinals. For all the boys and girls rankings …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Del Piero in, Inzaghi out
[EURO ’08 COUNTDOWN] The last provisional rosters for Euro ’08 were announced on Tuesday when Italy and Greece released their squads. Italy’s 24-player team included Juventus striker Alessandro Del Piero, who has not played for the world champions in eight months but was expected to be included after finishing as Serie A’s top scorer for the first time with 21 goals. Greece’s only surprise was Coach Otto Rehhagel‘s decision not to take 18-year-old Sotiris Ninis, who scored Monday against Cyprus. For all the provisional rosters …
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 inSoccer America Daily, Story
Donovan looks set to earn 100th cap
[USA-ENGLAND ROSTER] Landon Donovan, who looks set to earn his 100th cap, headlines the 22-player roster named for the U.S. national team’s game against England next Wednesday at Wembley Stadium. For the complete roster …
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Short Off-Season For Onyewu
Just because you’ve won the championship in one of Europe’s stronger leagues doesn’t mean you get to relax for the summer. U.S. and Standard Liege central defender Oguchi Onyewu has only allowed himself a week’s rest after lifting the Belgian title before focusing on his next two priorities — the three national team friendlies, and […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
The Question Marks Over Bradley’s Roster
The size of Bob Bradley’s 33-man roster for the upcoming US men’s team friendlies against England, Spain and Argentina has got Ives Galarcep wondering who will step up for the U.S. on the road to qualifying for the 2010 World Cup. Although he calls the pool “the deepest collection of talent” a U.S. coach has […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
The Bundesliga’s Village Team
This week’s soccer headlines in Germany have been dominated by the southwestern village of Hoffenheim (population: 3,200), bankrolled by its hometown billionaire Dietmar Hopp, and newly promoted to the Bundesliga after a 5-0 home win over Greuther Fuerth on the last day of the season. Heading the other way are Heath Pearce’s Hansa Rostock, the […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Champions League Finalists Carrying $3 Billion Of Debt
Is Manchester United really such a thriving company? David Conn lays out the amount of debt that the two English teams will be carrying into Wednesday’s final. He says that the accounts of Chelsea Limited show that the club owes £736 million ($1.472 billion) to its creditors, while United’s recently filed accounts show total creditors […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Man. United’s U.S. Owners Keeping A Low Profile
Manchester United’s owners, the Glazer family, would still not win any popularity contests in the city, but they are at least “coming to be regarded as the least worst owners of the top four clubs” in England, says Matt Dickinson. Although that might sound like damning them with faint praise, “it is a whole lot […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“It is based on a soccer decision and I am happy the executive committee gave their unanimous approval for it. It means the fans should be able to see the best players in the final, as long as they do not pick up two yellow cards or get sent off in the semifinal.”
— UEFA president Michel Platini on a European Championship rule change that erases yellow cards received by players at the quarterfinal stage, preventing the possibility of final-game yellow-card suspensions for players who are cautioned in the semifinal. (Reuters)
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
U.S. refs picked for Olympic Games
[REF WATCH] A total of six American referees have been assigned to officiate the men’s and women’s soccer tournaments at this Summer’s Olympic Games in China.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
‘Forget the cleats, take my car’
[OFF THE POST] James McPike, a 20-year-old apprentice at Birmingham City whose duties included polishing the cleats of star midfielder Olivier Kapo, is the proud owner of a $59,000 Mercedes. Kapo, after McPike asked him for his old cleats as a souvenir, instead threw him the keys to his car as a season-end gift.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Santos with Castillo advances to Mexico semifinals
[AMERICANS ABROAD/VIDEO] Santos’ 21-year-old Edgar Castillo was credited for playing a key role in stifling Necaxa’s attacks and came close to scoring during a 1-1 tie in the second leg of the quarterfinals that sent Santos through to the Mexican league semifinals, 3-2, on aggregate. MLS veteran Daniel Hernandez was one of four Chiapas players red-carded in stoppage time of its 2-1 loss to Cruz Azul, which advanced because of a better regular-season record after the quarterfinal series ended tied, 2-2, on aggregate.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Robbie Rogers comes of age to spark Crew
Can the formula for success be as simple as shut out Robbie Rogers, and you shut out the Crew?
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Impact opens Stade Saputo in pouring rain
[USL] The Montreal Impact opened its new Stade Saputo on Monday, and the game drew a sellout crowd of more than 8,000 despite pouring rain. The Impact tied the Vancouver Whitecaps, 0-0, in a battle of the league’s two Canadian franchises.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
American de Bontin takes charge at Monaco
[AMERICANS ABROAD] After more than 30 years of involvement in American soccer, as a player, coach, referee and most recently as an influential figure in U.S. Soccer and the U.S. Soccer Foundation, Jerome de Bontin, the new president of French club AS Monaco, promises to bring an American touch to one of the most prestigious names in European soccer, a club that has struggled in recent years.