Monthly Archives: February 2009

"We are not the best team in the history of Barcelona. Those [teams] that won five trophies or the team of [Johan] Cruyff are the best in history, but I thank Juande for saying that we have done things well up until now." Coach Josep Guardiola and former Barca midfielder, responding to recent comments made […]

I’m sure there have been less important protests in the world, but perhaps not many. According to the Daily Mail, groups of Russian fans have taken to the streets of Moscow in recent days to oppose Guus Hiddink‘s double duty as Chelsea coach in fears that it will adversely affect his main role as director […]

In a scene that lasted more than 15 minutes, a whopping seven players were shown red cards after a scuffle stemmed from an Ulbra player’s post-goal celebration in a 5-2 win over Brasil in the country’s Rio Grande de Sul championship. According to Brazilian newspaper O Globo, Brasil’s goalkeeper Danrlei said Rogerio Pereira made a […]

At long last, Russian playmaker Andrei Arshavin is expected to make his English Premier League debut for Arsenal this Saturday against Sunderland (TV Setanta Sports USA, 9:40 am ET). AFP reports that Gunners coach Arsene Wenger expects Arshavin “to provide the ammunition to fire Arsenal back into the Premier League’s top four” and “make a […]

ESPN The Magazine writer Jeff Bradley makes a strong case for EPL underdog Hull City as America’s Team away from America, highlighting loyal but “long-suffering” fans that despite dismal results continue to simply celebrate that the team’s “fairy tale journey” has led them to their first Premier League season since being founded in 1902. “Not […]

In a welcome display of modesty in an increasingly “me-first” world, Argentine playmaker Lionel Messi made his point clear in talking with UEFA.com that “Any team that depends on just one player can’t be a true soccer team.” Despite that selfless shunning of the spotlight, the fact remains that Messi has played a major role […]

While AC Milan vice president Adriano Galliani spent the last couple days suggesting that the team and MLS were getting closer and closer to keeping David Beckham bound in Italy, AEG chief executive Tim Leiweke was quietly left wondering how this could be the case when the two sides hadn’t spoken in some two weeks’ […]

While tickets might be ready to fly off the shelves, completion of South African stadiums for the 2010 FIFA World Cup is still a concern, with the AP reporting Thursday that construction on Mbomela Stadium “will miss its completion deadline after hundreds of workers were fired for going on an illegal strike.”

“Weah was a real surprise. For me it was like a child discovering a chocolate bunny in his garden at Easter. I have never seen any player explode on to the scene like he did.” Arsene Wenger on bringing the Liberian living legend to French club Monaco when he was just 21.

According to The Sun’s Derek Brown, officials from world powers Real Madrid and Chelsea are already keeping tabs on the skills of 6-year-old, Algerian-born Madin Mohammed, who is drawing comparisons with countryman Zinedine Zidane after a highlight video has circulated on French TV.

Hull City officials had their worst fears confirmed Wednesday, as marquee mid-season transfer pickup Jimmy Bullard was found to need ACL reconstruction and will miss the remainder of the 2008-09 Premier League season. The 30-year-old midfielder just signed a 4½ -year, $7.5 million deal after coming over from Fulham, but only appeared in 37 minutes […]

The future of the phenomenon of online-owned soccer teams is in jeopardy, as the owners of the world’s first Internet-run team, Ebbsfleet United, need at least 3,000 investors to pay up on Thursday in order to retain rights to the English Conference team, writes ESPN Soccernet. Ebbsfleet was originally purchased on Feb. 19, 2008 by […]

Joining a growing choir of EPL peers in support of recently sacked Luiz Felipe Scolari, Bolton Wanderers coach Gary Megson took his turn Wednesday to state “it didn’t need changing at Chelsea.” Quick to point out that Scolari’s time with the team was reduced to “two or three results that didn’t go their way,” he […]

At least for now, it appears Sven Goran Eriksson is still the best man for the job in Mexico, receiving a strong endorsement Thursday in comments made by Mexican Futbol Federation (FMF) President Justin Compean, who reminded restless fans and media alike that they “hired Sven so we could go to the World Cup together.” […]

Sixteen months from the start of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa, FIFA begins the ticketing process on Friday with its first sales phase kicking off via FIFA.com starting at 1:00 pm in South Africa (or 6 am ET/3 am PT). “The fervor is already palpable within South Africa and all around the world; […]