Author Archives: Soccer America

“I’m not nearly self-confident enough to say I knew what I was doing. But if you’ve been around pro sports long enough you can quickly pick up when someone has a fire in their stomach which can lead to success in their profession.” Real Salt Lake owner Dave Checketts looks back on his appointment early […]

“[New York Coach Juan Carlos Osorio] took over a team that’s been losing. Then you have one of your Designated Players retiring, then arguably the best young player in this country was sold to Europe. Then toward the end of the year you have two guys suspended for performance-enhancing substances. So it hasn’t been easy.” […]

“I don’t even know if he’ll be able to play for us. I mean the first goal is for him to get fit and in the best shape possible. But I don’t know if he’ll play, that’s another thing completely.” AC Milan’s Dutch midfielder Clarence Seedorf adds himself to the list of doubters about David […]

Cristiano Ronaldo’s representatives are ready to begin talks with Manchester United over a new contract, even though he penned a five-year deal last year for $179,000 a week, reports Andy Hunter. United, however, want to wait until the end of this season before resuming talks. Ronaldo, 23, is 19 months into the five-year contract, and […]

London police are to investigate the incident that saw Chelsea striker Didier Drogba throw a coin back into the crowd during his team’s League Cup defeat at home to Burnley Wednesday. Drogba, who apologized for his behavior after the match, threw an object back into the section of Burnley supporters behind the goal moments after […]

Soccer’s world governing body FIFA is reviewing its plan to hold a dual tender for hosting rights to the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, Matt Scott reports. A quarter of the 24 members on FIFA’s powerful executive committee last month questioned the plan. They said that, with the vote set for March 2011, deciding the […]

Argentine media reported Wednesday that Diego Maradona may quit as Argentina coach over his choice of an assistant, after just one week in charge. Maradona is due to make his coaching debut in Glasgow next week in a friendly against Scotland. The reports said Maradona has run into a deadlock with Argentina soccer federation President […]

Eric Wynalda’s been uncharacteristically quiet of late, but he spoke to Andrea Canales about Landon Donovan’s current training stint with Bayern Munich and a possible long-term move to Europe. “This is a gut check to see how much heart you have,” Wynalda said. “It’s not how much skill you have. It’s a test. My only […]

“Neither AEG nor anyone affiliated with the organization are in negotiations or are contemplating the purchase of Newcastle United Football Club,” read a statement from Anschutz Entertainment Group.

The United States dropped three places to No. 27 on the latest FIFA world rankings. Those are the ratings everyone says are meaningless until their country climbs 20 places or reaches the top 10.

“Football is characterized by its room for human error. Many would argue it’s a trait that is integral to the game itself but the [Respect] campaign has so far only appeared to increase tensions between referees and managers.” Dan Bryant on the English FA’s increasingly derided campaign for players and managers to respect referees.

“It has never been more difficult to find buyers. It’s no longer a question of price negotiation — it’s, ‘Should we?’ People are wondering if now is the time to spend.” Everton owner Keith Harris admits he’s having a hard time finding a buyer for the club.

“Our philosophy is different from other clubs of Europe who go into Asia for making money. Our slogan is to create friends and have long-lasting commitments.” Bayern Munich President Karl-Heinz Rummenigge in West Bengal Wednesday, announcing the club’s first soccer academy outside Germany.

Assurances from soccer’s world governing body FIFA that a united British team at the 2012 Olympics will not threaten the independence of the four individual nations — Wales, Scotland, England and Northern Ireland — are not softening the Scottish FA’s opposition to the concept. “We await with interest the outcome of FIFA’s deliberations next month […]

Sigi Schmid, the 55-year-old Columbus Crew boss who has been deservedly crowned MLS Coach of the Year, probably “watches more televised soccer than any other person in America,” according to Shawn Mitchell. “Sundays are for European games and MLS highlights from the weekend,” writes Mitchell. “Mondays are dedicated to watching recordings of the upcoming opponent. […]

The Chicago Fire was concerned that defender Bakary Soumare would be unable to make the transition from the college game to Major League Soccer, writes Nick Firchau, but those doubts were banished long before Soumare, 23, was nominated for this season’s Defensive Player of the Year award. “‘We always had the idea that he would […]

The spokesman for England’s professional soccer players has spoken out against tough new doping rules for the Premier League, claiming that they will constitute an invasion of privacy. The English FA has signed up to the World Anti-Doping Association code, and from July next year a pool of up to 30 players must be available […]

It took Japanese side Gamba Osaka less than 15 minutes to kill off Adelaide United in the second leg of the Asian Champions League final Wednesday. After winning the first leg 3-0 two weeks ago in Osaka, Brazilian forward Lucas struck twice in the opening quarter of an hour to finish the series at 5-0 […]