David Beckham claimed that departed L.A. Galaxy coach Ruud Gullit was "comfortable with the players," but Landon Donovan was "less inclined to buy into that line of thinking," writes Grahame Jones. The forward spoke of being disrespected by Gullit, while acknowledging the difficulties for first-time foreign coaches of taking on a team in Major League […]
Author Archives: Soccer America
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Surf finishes 19th at Nike Manchester United Premier Cup
It took six games, but the San Diego Surf finally got a win at the 2008 Nike Manchester United Premier Cup in England.
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Disney all-stars headed to Chelsea tournament
The Disney Soccer Showcase under-16 all-stars, chosen from players competing at the 2007 Disney’s Soccer Showcase, are headed to England to play in Chelsea’s inaugural youth cup Aug. 22-25 against seven other youth teams.
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Well-known Arizona club Sereno’s officials suspended in forgery case
Two former members of the Phoenix area’s Sereno Soccer Club were suspended by the Arizona Youth Soccer Association following its investigation into what it concluded was the forgery of a player form that resulted in Sereno being kicked out of this year’s McGuire Cup finals.
Posted inYouth Soccer Reporter, Youth What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“It’s rare for a whole team of Sierra Leoneans to go abroad and come back. It goes to show what Sierra Leone can do when it puts its mind to it. We have managed to stick a feather in the cap for the country.”
— Kweku Lisk, legal adviser to Sierra Leone youth club, FC Johansen, the first African team to compete in the 27-year history of the Mittnorden Cup. Swedish Honorary Consul Arne Johansen vouched for the club, made up of underprivileged children, many of them orphaned during the country’s savage 1991-2002 civil war. His support prompted Sweden to lift its ban on on issuing visas to Sierra Leonean athletes. FC Johansen finished second in its age group. (Reuters)
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Fall Far West Regional League Entrants
While regional leagues have been part of the soccer scene in Regions I-III for several years, Region IV struggled to get a competition off the ground. But this fall Region IV has attracted many of the region’s top clubs that are competing in under-14 to under-18 boys and girls divisions over five weekends. For all the Fall Far West Regional League entrants …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Soccer Job Openings
[EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES] Soccer America provides the latest on employment opportunities for soccer-related positions. They also include college coaching opportunities, as well as opportunities in pro soccer, youth soccer, the soccer industry and television.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
USL’s Battery heads to Washington
The Charleston Battery will travel to Washington for its first U.S. Open Cup final on Sept. 3 after knocking off the Seattle Sounders on penalty kicks Tuesday in the tournament’s other semifinal at Blackbaud Stadium.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Golaço: Better than Ronaldinho?
[OLYMPICS/VIDEO] Cristiane might just do it better than Ronaldinho. The Brazilian forward scored all three goals in her country’s 3-1 victory over Nigeria Tuesday to win their group in the Olympic women’s soccer competition.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“I don’t plan to make any drastic changes. I don’t know how long I’m going to be here.”
— Cobi Jones, sounding like the interim coach that he is. Jones, who took over for Ruud Gullit, will lead the Los Angeles Galaxy for the first time in Thursday when it faces Chivas USA. (Los Angeles Daily News)
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Feilhaber to Denmark?
Danish club Aarhus is “very serious” about signing Derby County’s U.S. midfielder Benny Feilhaber, writes Steven Goff.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Torres A Target For New York
New York is targeting striker and “Panamanian prodigy” Gabriel Torres, reports Brian Lewis.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Young Player Wins Record Sum For Lost Career
A young Manchester United player whose career was ended by a leg-breaking tackle was awarded a record $8.6 million in damages by the U.K. High Court Monday. Ben Collett, now 23, had joined United’s youth academy aged nine, and at 18 was a member of the club’s 2003 FA Youth Cup-winning team. United manager […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Capello Unconcerned By Smokin’ Rooney
England coach Fabio Capello is not concerned about Wayne Rooney’s famous on-field temper, last aired against the United States in May at Wembley. Since Rooney married over the summer, he’s apparently going to be a much more settled man. Neither does Capello care if the Manchester United striker enjoys the odd cigarette. “I don’t […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Bayern’s Defense ‘As Soft As Quark Cream’
Bayern Munich coach Juergen Klinsmann made it clear after his appointment that he viewed the team as a long-term project, and that it could take years for his new policies to take effect. But neither fans nor team officials have that kind of patience, and already questions are being asked after Bayern’s first competitive game […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Shinawatra Skips Bail, Flees To Britain
The owner of Manchester City, the former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, has skipped bail with his wife and fled from Thailand to Britain, claiming that he could not expect a fair trial on corruption charges in his native country. His wife, Pojaman, was already sentenced to three years in prison two weeks ago for […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
L.A. Keeps Us Laughing
“The Los Angeles Galaxy looks more and more like a Saturday Night Live sketch every day,” writes Steve Davis in the aftermath of the sacking of GM Alexi Lalas, and the departure “for personal reasons” of coach Ruud Gullit. The new vacancies will create “ample room for the next round of material that will keep […]
Posted inSpecial Edition, Story
What They’re Saying
“The USA will be a very dangerous opponent for us because they are one of the top teams at this competition and also because they will be playing for their lives.”
— Nigeria striker Victor Obinna on Wednesday’s showdown with the USA in men’s soccer. The Americans could need a tie or win to advance despite their position in first place after two games. (FIFA.com)
Posted inSpecial Edition, Story
Postgame from Shenyang
[REACTION] U.S. coach Pia Sundhage said her team has come a long way from the disastrous first 15 minutes of the opening game against Norway. After struggling to beat Japan, the 4-0 win over New Zealand boosted the Americans’ confidence heading into the knockout round.
Posted inSpecial Edition, Story
Olympic Soccer TV Schedule
Group play in men’s soccer concludes Wednesday when the USA faces Nigeria. Women’s action continues Friday with four quarterfinal games: USA-Canada in Shanghai at 6 am ET, China-Japan, Germany-Sweden and Brazil-Norway. Complete soccer coverage is available on the NBC Olympic Soccer Channel and online at nbcolympics.com. Check with your television provider for the availability of the NBC Olympic Soccer Channel.
Posted inSpecial Edition, Story
Olympic Women’s Soccer Scoreboard
Trailing at halftime, Japan stormed back for five second-half goals and stunned Norway, 5-1, The result left the USA, Norway and Japan 1-2-3 in Group G and reshuffled the projected quarterfinal pairings. For all the results and goal scorers …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Women’s league adds second ’10 expansion team
[WPS] Women’s pro soccer will be returning to Atlanta in 2010 when an Women’s Professional Soccer expansion team will begin play.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Special Edition: U.S. Olympic soccer
MEMBERSHIP ALERT: A special edition will appear later Wednesday with coverage of the USA- Nigeria men’s match, so look for this e-newsletter from Soccer America’s editors. For fans not wishing to read our coverage until after they have watched the game, the subject line of these e-letters will begin “Special Olympic Edition.”
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Ruiz to face Americans in World Cup qualifier
[USA-GUATEMALA] Guatemala national team coach Ramon Maradiaga will welcome three foreign-based players — the Los Angeles Galaxy’s Carlos Ruiz, Jose Contreras of Argentina’s Arsenal and Gustavo Cabrera of Danish club Aarhus — who will join 16 player currently in training for the Aug. 20 World Cup 2010 qualifier against the USA at Guatemala City’s Mateo Flores Stadium. Recent Chicago Fire signing Marco Pappa could also get a call-up.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“There are two good people that for different reasons aren’t part of this organization today, and that’s a shame. The fact is, the players have to look deep inside themselves and understand they have to be responsible for some of this. Am I angry we find ourselves in the situation we find ourselves in? Yes. This is not a fun week. The Galaxy hasn’t made the playoffs for a couple years. Punting on this season is not acceptable. It starts Thursday.”
— Tim Leiweke, president of Los Angeles Galaxy owner AEG, after the announcement that General Manager Alexi Lalas was fired and Coach Ruud Gullit resigned on Monday. (AP)