Author Archives: Soccer America

[WPS] The The Los Angeles Sol signed the one player Women’s Professional Soccer needed to achieve international credibility when it  reached an agreement with three-time FIFA World Female Player of the Year Marta. The Brazilian had played for Swedish powerhouse Umea since 2004, and her signing is a signal that WPS has the clout to compete with Europe’s major women’s leagues that have grown in prominence since the days of the WUSA.

[FIFA AWARDS] Portugal international Cristiano Ronaldo is the first English Premier League player to win FIFA Men’s World Player award since its inception in 1991. Brazil’s Marta is the second player to win three straight FIFA Women’s World Player awards. For past winners.

[FIFA AWARDS] The FIFA World Player Gala 2008 that unveiled last year’s top players also included the awarding of the inaugural Development Award, the Fair Play Award and the Presidential Award, which U.S. national team forward Heather O’Reilly accepted  on behalf of the “women’s game.”

[FIFA AWARDS] Cristiano Ronaldo, the 23-year-old Portuguese Manchester United star who scored 42 goals in all competitions as his club won 2007-08 English Premier League and UEFA Champions League titles, won the 2008 FIFA Men’s World Player. Marta, who dazzled for Brazil as it won the 2008 Olympic Silver medal, won her third straight FIFA Women’s World Player award. The USA, despite winning Olympic gold, did not place a woman among the top 5.

[MLS] There’s time enough to get serious before the season starts, even though January in MLS is much like the summer everywhere else, the so-called “silly season,” when groundless rumors and “done deals” that aren’t (done) dominate cyberspace. This January, though, is a bit sad, because one of the truly good guys has called it quits, a man whose love of the game always shone on his face and gleamed in his smile, a player who could look clumsy and graceful and labored and smooth all at the same time, a fierce fighter on the field and a genial giant off it.

“A few of them let out a big scream, which is a bit embarrassing because it is a man’s game.” Bolton Wanderers striker Kevin Davies criticizes Arsenal’s players for overreacting to tackles in an attempt to con referees into giving yellow cards. Arsenal beat Bolton, 1-0, on Saturday.

“Although I won’t be able to perform on the field this season, it is my intention to do everything I can off the field to help the Red Stars succeed.” Chicago Red Stars defender Kate Markgraf, 32, announces she will miss the opening Women’s Professional Soccer season as she is pregnant with her second child.

“We are in a relegation scrap. We need some men and some characters who want to get us out of it.” Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp wants to start getting ugly to help his team retain Premier League status.

Boca Raton (Fla.) boys and Aliso Niguel (Calif.) girls are ranked No. 1 in the first NSCAA/adidas High School National Rankings of the winter season. For all the rankings …

MLS’s Red Bull New York is among the clubs that will enter teams in the first of U.S. Club Soccer’s regional leagues, the Northeast Pre-Academy League for U-14 and U-15 boys set to kick off in February.

Sacramento youth clubs are rallying in support of the Sierra Soccer Club’s Cassy Rowe, a 16-year-old midfielder who was paralyzed in a freak accident during a game last summer.

Evansville (Ind.) Memorial High School had both its coaches — girls coach Angie Lensing and boys coach Bill Vieth — earn NSCAA/adidas Regional Coach of the Year honors in the High School Private/Parochial division. For all finalists for the National Coach of the Year awards …