Author Archives: Soccer America

“[David] Beckham was never a great player. He was a great dead-ball specialist. He needs to be surrounded by great players to be of any value. With the Galaxy, he made no one better and had little impact on games since the players were not talented enough to finish off his trademark crosses.” Scott Wolf […]

“I felt the team just really didn’t adapt well to Christian’s style or what they were being asked to produce with him in the team. I think it was a determent to Christian Gomez and the team as well.” Colorado Rapids coach Gary Smith on why an Argentine playmaker and former league MVP didn’t fit […]

“In today’s age, it is surprising that we’re talking about things like that. But we don’t want to dwell on it. We’re hoping football does the talking.” England and Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand talks about the possibility of racial abuse of England’s black players by Spanish fans during Wednesday’s exhibition game in Seville. Ferdinand […]

D.C. United’s Brazilian midfielder Fred left the nation’s capital to play on loan for Wellington Phoenix of the Australian A-League over the winter. But his spell in New Zealand was cut short after just three games when he received news that his father, Ilson, had been killed in a car accident.   “My dad taught […]

Barcelona is lining up Liverpool’s Spanish striker Fernando Torres as a possible summer replacement for Thierry Henry or Samuel Eto’o, according to various European media reports.   Henry, who has never quite settled in Spain since his move from Arsenal, will be 32 this summer. Barcelona has yet to open contract talks with Eto’o, whose […]

Reading’s U.S. goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann has said that it was probably the right time for compatriot and former teammate Bobby Convey to leave the English second division team. Convey left Reading last week by mutual consent and is in talks with Major League Soccer, with San Jose seen as the team most likely to sign […]

Luiz Felipe Scolari “was on the way to acquiring the full thousand-yard stare that only the special branch of bedlam known as the Premier League can inflict on managers, however illustrious, however crocodile-skinned on first inspection,” writes Paul Hayward. Despite arriving well briefed and determined to instill unity and calm at Chelsea last summer, “the […]

Russian national team coach Guus Hiddink has said that he is in talks with Chelsea to take over as manager until the end of the season, while continuing as Russia coach. Hiddink said the club approached him on Monday, the day it sacked Luiz Felipe Scolari.   “I have to admit it’s a complicated situation […]

“I’m back in Denmark and it’s great to be back with the team [AGF Aarhus] finally. I continue to do my rehab every day, as I will continue to do that two or three times a week once I am in full training with the team. We are traveling to Italy today, and it looks […]

“[UEFA Secretary General] David Taylor stated that Ukraine had managed to maintain the pace of Euro 2012 preparations despite the global financial crisis. This was an appropriate response to all those pessimists who keep doubting Ukraine will meet all its obligations. UEFA representatives have seen that Ukraine has moved from promises and plans to concrete […]

Sunderland Chairman Niall Quinn has said that his club’s decision to cut season ticket prices for next season was driven by a sense of “moral responsibility.” The team will lower season ticket prices by at least £30 ($45), while children accompanied by an adult will be able to buy season tickets for £19 ($30), just […]

Former Duke University forward Mike Grella has wasted no time in finishing college, turning down Major League Soccer, and signing a contract with his new team, English third-tier side Leeds United.   Grella, who graduated in December, told Luke DeCock, “If I could have done school in a year, I would have done it in […]

Newly sacked Tony Adams has declared himself “a little bit surprised” by his prompt dismissal as Portsmouth manager just a few months after taking over from Harry Redknapp, even though he conceded that “results have not been good.”   Former Arsenal and England defender Adams has overseen two victories since taking over — one in […]

Averaging just over three goals per game, Barcelona is scoring “at a rate not seen in a big (or even small) European league in years,” writes Gabriele Marcotti. If Barcelona continues at this rate, it will finish with 118 league goals, shattering the previous La Liga record held by the 1989-90 Real Madrid side, when […]

Five England players, including Arsenal striker Kelly Smith, have signed for Women’s Professional Soccer. One of the five described the decision as a “no-brainer,” with the English FA’s decision to reward England’s national team players with an annual salary of $24,000 later this year seen as too little, too late.   The Boston Breakers will […]

Chelsea fired Brazilian manager Luiz Felipe Scolari only six months into his first season in the English Premier League. The move follows a string of lackluster results, most recently a 0-0 tie at home against Hull City on Saturday that left the Blues in fourth place, seven points behind leader Manchester United. Scolari, who led […]