Author Archives: Soccer America

"Whether the Dynamo succeeds [in signing Mexican striker Luis Angel Landin] or are forced to look elsewhere is not the point. Rather, it is the fact the team has the tools to be aggressive in looking for talent — at home and abroad — that makes trading [Dwayne] De Rosario a potential winner." Bernardo Fallas […]

Former West Ham Chairman Magnusson Sues Current Owner

"Business, always business," a murderous character known only as "The Greek" answers laconically at the end of the second series of HBO's "The Wire" when asked by an airline check-in assistant if he's travelling for business or pleasure. The phrase could increasingly apply to soccer — it's less about the pleasure of the game, and […]

Bracewell-Smith Shocked At Removal From Arsenal Board

Arsenal shareholder Nina Bracewell-Smith, who has a 15.9 percent stake in the club, has spoken out about the way she was treated by her fellow board members, and at her removal from the board. "I'm in total shock and very upset about the appalling way I have been treated," she said. "The board have no […]

Villa Meets Moscow, Liege To Play Braga In UEFA Cup

Aston Villa, the team of U.S. goalkeepers Brad Friedel and Brad Guzan, will meet CSKA Moscow in the UEFA Cup round of 32. Standard Liege and Oguchi Onyewu, provided he hasn't moved to Marseille in the transfer window, take on Braga of Portugal. Marseille plays FC Twente of the Netherlands, the club coached by former […]

CL Draw Takes Mourinho, Ranieri Back To England

The draw for the round of 16 in the European Champions League will take former Chelsea managers Jose Mourinho and Claudio Ranieri back to England. Mourinho's Inter Milan team will play Manchester United, while Ranieri will take his Juventus team back to Stamford Bridge. Liverpool will meet Real Madrid in a repeat of the 1981 […]

Story, Youth Soccer Reporter

Dallas Texans-Houston Division perfect in National League

The Dallas Texans-Houston Division were the dominant team in the U.S. Youth National League, which held its first four games last weekend in the under-15 to under-17 boys divisions in Dallas. The Texans, playing in the under-17 division, were the only team to win all four games. They also did not to allow a goal. National League play for the boys resumes Feb. 27-March 1 in Atlanta. For all the results, goal scorers and standings …

Story, Youth Soccer Reporter

CLUB SPOTLIGHT: FC Dallas Juniors off to fast start

Playing in their first year in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy, the FC Dallas Juniors U-16 team has been so successful that it has already qualified for the 32-Academy Playoffs next June, having guaranteed to finish in the top three of the Texas Division. The U-16s are undefeated through the first 14 games, posting a record of 11-0-3. The U-18 team is riding an 11-game undefeated streak of its own, with an overall record of 6-2-6.

Story, Youth Soccer Reporter

U.S. Youth Soccer Boys ODP Rosters

Regional rosters for boys 1992 and 1993 teams have been announced for the U.S. Youth Soccer ODP Super Group that will take place Dec. 27-30 at Disney’s Soccer Showcase presented by the Chelsea Football Club in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. For the complete rosters of players and their club affiliations …

Youth Soccer Reporter, Youth What They're Saying

What They’re Saying

“Soccer can be a business in Michigan — not just a sport, not just a hobby. The numbers aren’t a fad. We’ll continue to grow.”

— Dan Duggan, chairman and CEO of the PDL Michigan Bucks, on the popularity of soccer in Michigan, despite the absence of an MLS team and the state’s economic crisis. Michigan ranks in the top 10 among all states in high school boys and girls participation, and the Michigan State Youth Soccer Association has more than 86,000 registered players (Detroit Free Press).

Manu Chao’s Maradona tribute [VIDEO]

[MUSIC] The latest hit single by Manu Chao, the French-born singer of Spanish descent, is “La Vida Tombola,” a tribute to Diego Maradona, currently head coach of Argentina’s national team.

$156 million awaits winner

[EUROPE] The winner of the UEFA Champions League could reap up to $160 million. The 16 teams that have reached the knockout stage, and which will be matched up in Friday’s draw, have already secured $56.2 million through prize money, tournament commercial revenues, ticket sales, sponsorship, merchandising and increased squad value, according to an AP report.

Soccer America Daily, What They're Saying

What They’re Saying

“Defenders are tall, strong and fighters, and the referees only give you a foul once you are bleeding.”

— Liverpool’s Spanish striker Fernando Torres on life in the English Premier League. (Irish Times)

Matkovich to head boys U-18 program

[U.S. UNDER-18 NATIONAL TEAM] Mike Matkovich, who founded the Chicago Magic youth club and served as an assistant coach at Toronto FC and Chivas USA, has been named head coach of the U.S. under-18 boys national team.

Howard and Lloyd win top U.S. Soccer Awards

[AWARDS] U.S. Soccer named U.S. men’s national team goalkeeper Tim Howard as the 2008 Male Athlete of the Year and Carli Lloyd, whose goal gave the USA a gold medal in 2008 Olympic women’s soccer, as the 2008 Female Athlete of the Year. Midfielders Sacha Kljestan, who represented the USA in Olympic men’s soccer and 2010 World Cup qualifying, and Kristie Mewis, who starred on the U.S. Under-17 Women’s World Cup team, won the Young Male and Young Female Awards, respectively.

Kinnear Optimistic Owen Will Stay

"I am optimistic — I am more optimistic now having spent that time talking to him. He's getting together with his agent in the next two or three days and coming back with an answer." Newcastle United manager Joe Kinnear really does seem to think that Michael Owen will accept his new contract offer, despite […]

Houston In Talks With Mexican Striker Landin

"It's hard for us to comment on players who are currently under contract by another team, so we can't address the specific discussions that we've had with his representation or club." Houston Dynamo Chief Operating Officer Chris Canetti sort of comments on the club's talks with striker Luis Angel Landin of Mexican club Morelia Monarcas. […]

Ferguson: I Wouldn’t Sell Real A Virus

"Do you think I would get into a contract with them? They've got no chance. There's no agreement whatsoever between the clubs. I wouldn't sell them a virus. It can be annoying but the best thing for us is to ignore it." Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson, speaking after United's 5-3 win over Gamba Osaka […]

Cologne Church Choir Sings For Podolski’s Return

"A Colognish heart that doesn't beat when abroad/That yearns to return to Cologne." Just some of the profoundly moving lyrics sung by a Cologne church and its 80-strong choir begging FC Cologne's former striker Lukas Podolski to return to the city from Bayern Munich. Rumors that Johann Sebastian Bach was spotted turning in his grave […]

Arsenal Board Row Opens Way To Foreign Ownership

"Lady Nina [Bracewell-Smith] is no longer representing the club. … I don't know for certain what she wants to do with her shares. We hope that she would remain a shareholder but she has not spoken to me about it lately." Arsenal FC Chairman Peter Hill-Wood on the board row that has caused businesswoman Nina […]

Cafu To Play For English Non-League Club

Former Brazil and Roma defender Cafu has agreed a deal to play for English non-league side Garforth Town for a few games at the end of the 2008-09 season. "He's likely to be coming in April and just playing a few games for us," said Garforth's owner Simon Clifford, who runs the Brazilian Soccer Schools […]

English Football League Votes For ‘Home Grown’ Rule

The English Football League, which governs the three professional divisions directly below the Premier league, has voted to bring in a new rule where four out of the 16 players on game-day rosters squads will have to be 'home grown.' Chairmen of the league's 72 member clubs voted on the measure Thursday, and it will […]

Milan Could Make Beckham A Long Term Offer

AC Milan will offer David Beckham a two-year contract if his loan spell at the Serie A club works out, reports Christopher Davies, citing no sources. The L.A. Galaxy midfielder is set to start his loan spell next month and is due to return to the MLS team in March for the 2009 season, but […]

Barclays To Review EPL Sponsorship

Barclays Bank, which sponsors the English Premier League, plans to review its worldwide sports deals, casting doubt upon its future backing of the league once the current contract runs out in 2010. The U.K.'s third largest bank has sponsored the league since 2001, with the latest three-year deal worth $99 million. "There will be a […]

St. Louis Pro Soccer Could Come By Way Of USL

While St. Louis waits to hear if it has secured an MLS franchise, another possibility for pro soccer in the city has emerged — a United Soccer Leagues team. Not only could it come a year sooner than the projected 2011 MLS start date, it would be 39 million bucks cheaper. Tony Glavin, a former […]

Player bets against own team