The Houston area has produced a number of young MLS stars in recent years, including Olympian Stuart Holden and Arturo Alvarez. The champion Houston Dynamo’s academy program features a number of promising youngsters, including former U.S. under-17 resident Alex Dixon.
Monthly Archives: August 2008
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Small California club battles international giants
By today’s standards, South Coast Bayern is a small club with just 13 teams — five boys and eight girls teams. But the Huntington Beach, Calif.-based club created waves internationally when its U-17 team pounded Brazilian giant Fluminense and beat top clubs from England and Scotland en route to a date with Manchester United in last Friday’s final of the U-17 Premier Section at the annual Milk Cup in Northern Ireland. For more on South Coast Bayern and the Milk Cup, including video highlights …
Posted inYouth Soccer Reporter, Youth What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“Back in the day, we used to go to tournaments like that and turn them into mini family vacations, maybe go to Sea World, go to the beach, stay in a hotel. So we all just voted no, because it wasn’t going to be anything like that.”
— Nikole McGinn of Castaic, Calif., on the impact high gas prices and a weak economy have had on her family’s summer soccer tournament expeditions (Los Angeles Times).
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
English FA video promotes ‘Respect’
[REF WATCH/VIDEO] The English FA has released a video as part of its new "Respect" campaign, aimed at reducing dissent toward officials. A number of high profile names appear in the film – including English referee Howard Webb and England national team manager Fabio Capello
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Inter fined for ‘existential damages’
[OFF THE POST] Clubs could be facing a rash of psychological lawsuits after Inter Milan was ordered to pay $2,300 dollars to an opposing fan because of "existential damages."
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
New England revels after downing Dynamo
[SUPERLIGA] Losers of all four MLS Cups in which it has played, the New England Revolution is doing everything it can in other competitions to eradicate that stigma of falling at the finish line. It beat FC Dallas, 3-2, in last year’s U.S. Open Cup final, and Tuesday night the Revs gave their home fans another crown by edging Houston on penalty kicks, 6-5, in the 2008 SuperLiga final at Gillette Stadium after a 2-2 tie.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“They asked me to do a spread with [swimmer] Amanda Beard, and I just decided it wasn’t for me. It’s got to be something my dad’s OK looking at.”
— U.S. Olympic team defender Heather Mitts on why she passed on a chance to pose nude in Playboy. (SI.com)
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
American Lerner keen to improve Aston Villa
[TRANSFER TALK] American keepers Brad Friedel and Brad Guzan aren’t the only players headed to Aston Villa, owned by American Randy Lerner. According to his right-hand man, former U.S. Marine Corps Commandant Charles Krulak, Lerner is set to hand Villa manager Martin O’Neill $60 million for summer transfers in hopes of improving on Villa’s sixth-place finish last season and challenge the Premiership big four for a place in next year’s Champions League.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Rangers has no excuses after shock loss
[UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE] DaMarcus Beasley won’t be returning to the UEFA Champions League for a fourth time. Playing without the injured American, Scottish club Rangers fell to Lithuania’s Kaunas, 2-1, and was knocked out in the second qualifying stage on aggregate by the same score.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Five players to watch
[OLYMPIC MEN] While all teams didn’t use their allotment of three overage (over-23) players for the Olympic men’s soccer tournament, the favorites are all counting on veterans to play key roles in attack. For profiles of Ronaldinho (Brazil), Juan Roman Riquelme (Argentina), Peter Odemwingie (Nigeria), Roy Makaay (Netherlands) and Tomasso Rocchi (Italy) …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
U.S. men can’t afford opening slipup
The USA opens play in the Olympic men’s soccer tournament on Thursday against Japan. With the Netherlands, which won the European U-21 title, and Nigeria, the 1996 gold-medal winner, still to come, both teams regard Thursday’s game as one they can’t afford to lose.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Rising Star Profile: Robbie Rogers
[MLS/OLYMPICS] His second-year in MLS has seen Robbie Rogers score five goals in 17 starts for the Columbus Crew while earning MLS All-Star team selection and a spot of the U.S. Olympic team, which opens against Japan on Thursday. Get to know Rogers in this profile by Soccer America’s Bryan Alvarez that covers on- and off-field experiences …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Olympic Soccer TV Schedule
Olympic soccer will continue on Thursday morning with live coverage of the USA-Japan men’s game on MSNBC and delayed coverage on Universal HD. Soccer coverage will also be available on various NBC networks, including USA, CNBC and Telemundo. Complete soccer coverage will be available on the NBC Olympic Soccer Channel and online at nbcolympics.com. Check with your television provider for the availability of the NBC Olympic Soccer Channel.
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
Special Edition: U.S. Olympic soccer
MEMBERSHIP ALERT: Soccer America will kick off its Olympic coverage with a special edition of SoccerAmericaDaily later today with coverage of Wednesday’s women’s action, including the USA-Norway game in Qinhuangdao. A special edition with U.S. Olympic soccer coverage will appear each day during the Olympics that a U.S. team is playing. Fans not wishing to read our coverage until after they have watched the game should note that the subject line of these e-letters will be “Special Edition: U.S. Olympic soccer.”
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Ruiz Upbeat On Guatemalan Qualifying Prospects
The L.A. Galaxy’s Guatemalan striker on the forthcoming World Cup qualifying campaign, and why it will be his last.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Refs’ Dispute Threatens Start To SPL
A dispute over pay for match officials threatens the start to the Scottish Premier League this weekend.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Pros And Cons Of Olympic Soccer
Reflecting journalism’s current obsession with creating lists, CNN’s blog tells us five good and five bad things about soccer at the Olympics. On the plus side are the history of the game at the Olympics, the healthy crowds, the fact that players like to take part in such a ‘big feel’ event, and the […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
‘My Time Was The Time Of Romantic Football’
Jonathan Wilson catches up with Yugoslav goalkeeping legend Vladimir Beara, who turns 80 this year. Such was Beara’s reputation that when Russian keeper Lev Yashin won the European Footballer of the Year award in 1963, he said that it was Beara who was in fact the best shot-stopper in the world. Beara told Wilson […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
English FA Launches ‘Respect’ Campaign
The English Football Association Tuesday launched an initiative aimed at improving the behavior of players, fans and coaches across all levels of the game. Starting this season, only captains will be allowed to approach the referee, and players will have to adhere to a basic code of conduct. Referees will deal more firmly with […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Lalas Says ‘Strong Personalities’ Good For Galaxy
L.A. Galaxy GM Alexi Lalas wasn’t fired Monday, writes Nick Green, but there’s a long week ahead. In the midst of a form slump, reports of locker room tension, and with Lalas reportedly not exactly bonding with Coach Ruud Gullit, it is surely just a matter of time before the team’s owner, AEG head Phil […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Garber Goes On Offensive Over Superliga Cash
The debate over the Superliga prize money seems to be rolling on like a European summer transfer saga. Now Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber has spoken out about what he sees as the misconception regarding the much-publicized $1 million prize money, and the fact that the players on the winning team will only take […]
Posted inSoccer America Confidential, Story
Bonus bickering clouds SuperLiga final
According to MLS Players’ Union executive director Bob Foose, the decision by New England and Houston players to share their portion of the prize money for contesting the SuperLiga final Tuesday night is a direct response to MLS blocking an attempt by team ownership to pay separate bonuses.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
NCAA Division I Men’s & Women’s Coaching Moves
Marshall has named Kevin Long as interim head coach of the Thundering Herd women’s program following the resignation of Chris Kane, who resigned to accept a position at a private academy in Georgia. For all the coaching moves …
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
Oregon star retires after third major injury
In her first three seasons as Oregon’s starting goalkeeper, Jessie Chatfield broke just about every school goalkeeping record. She also suffered a broken right hand, broken left arm and two concussions. After suffering a major knee injury on July 2, she announced her retirement.