Author Archives: Soccer America

[MLS] According to various media reports, MLS’s D.C. United could get the new Washington, D.C., stadium it has been looking for if a plan by Mayor Adrian M. Fenty moves forward. Fenty met with the D.C. Council on Wednesday and reportedly proposed to build a $200 million soccer stadium in the Poplar Point area of D.C. and use public funds to pay for the bonds that would finance the project.

Soccer’s Money League

[MAKING A LIST] Real Madrid was the world’s largest revenue-generating club for the third successive season with income of $472 million in 2006-07, but three English Premier League moved up in the top five of the annual Deloitte Football Money League. Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal were 2-4-5 with Barcelona at No. 3. The EPL clubs should close the gap with Real Madrid this season thanks to the new EPL television deal. For the top 20 clubs in terms of 2006-07 income (excluding transfer fees) …

Ronaldo finished?

There are fears that Ronaldo, the three-time World Player of the Year and all-time World Cup leading scorer, may have played his last game. He was carried off in tears with a ruptured ligament in his left kneecap during AC Milan’s 1-1 tie against Livorno on Wednesday. Sports daily Gazzetta dello Sport reported that the 31-year-old Ronaldo may be out of action 9-12 months and the injury end his career.

Soccer America Daily, What They're Saying

What They’re Saying

“In an emergency, we’ll find someone to tie his laces for him.”

— Bayern Munich coach Ottmar Hitzfeld on goalie Michael Rensing, who is doubtful for Thursday’s UEFA Cup game at Aberdeen after injuring his back while bending to tie his shoelaces. Starting goalie Oliver Kahn was sent home with the flu, so Bayern’s only other option in goal is 41-year-old Bernd Dreher, who has only played two games in the last three seasons.

Galaxy Players Feel Gullit Effect

“Being a football manager is no fun at all,” L.A. Galaxy coach Ruud Gullit told ESPN in 2001. It’s such a stressful job, he said, that, “it’s not surprising that so many turn gray or have heart attacks.” The then out of work, Gullit said he enjoyed working with the players and implementing a style […]

‘International’ Round Given Cool Reception

The debate over an international 39th round of English Premier League matches rages on. The New York Times’ Jeffrey Marcus points out that the measure, introduced and unanimously approved of (in principle) by the league’s 20 teams last week, has thus far received what can only be described as a “cool” reception from Europe, Asia […]

Former Newcastle Coach Prepares for TFC Challenge

The Evening Chronicle has a story on the experienced John Carver, who assumes the role as Toronto FC coach after several assistant coaching stints with various clubs in England, including Newcastle United of the English Premiership, where he was assistant to Sir Bobby Robson, and Leeds United of the English League Championship (England’s second division). […]

Technical Directors Mean Progress

Steve Davis praises MLS clubs for their decision to incorporate technical directors into their managerial structure. As of right now, six of 14 MLS teams — Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, D.C., Kansas City and Columbus — have them, along with Seattle, which doesn’t even begin play until the 2009 MLS season. The Crew’s Brian […]

MLS Expansion: ‘It’s Definitely Philly’

Major League Soccer is nearing a deal with representatives to bring professional soccer to the Philadelphia region, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. “Several sources” tell the paper the talks have progressed past the “if” stage on to “how” and “when.” The team would play at a $115 million stadium built beside the Commodore Barry Bridge […]

Soccer America Daily, What They're Saying

What They’re Saying

“He looked like it was an ordinary everyday thing. He just said, ‘Get her some water. She’ll be OK.'”

— An eyewitness telling People about David Beckham‘s reaction when a party-goer at a pre-Grammy bash in Hollywood on Saturday fainted after he kissed her on her cheek. (Access Hollywood)

Soccer Job Openings

[EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES] Soccer America provides the latest on employment opportunities for soccer-related positions: college coaching opportunities, positions in the pros, youth soccer, the soccer industry, even television.

U.S. Soccer Development Academy

Zach Foxhoven scored four goals to lead the Colorado Rush past Washington Premier, 5-2, in U.S. Soccer Development Academy U-15/16 action. The Rush swept all four games in U-17/18 and U-15/16 play on its Pacific Northwest trip. For all the results and goal scorers …

MLS Offseason Player Moves

FC Dallas signed Brazilian Andre Rocha, who becomes the second player loaned to FCD from partner Atletico Paranaense of Brazil’s Serie A. The 23-year-old midfielder joins forward Ricardinho, who is entering his second season with FCD after being loaned by Atletico Paranaense in July 2007. Since joining Atletico Paranaense in 2005, Rocha has played in 47 games in all competitions, including nine appearances in the 2005 Copa Libertadores. For all the team-by-team offseason player moves …

MLS Preseason Results & Schedules

Ante Razov needed only four minutes to score his first goal of the 2008 preseason and it stood up for Chivas USA in a 1-0 win over the New York Red Bulls on Tuesday. Among the players New York tested is 34-year-old Colombian Diego Serna, who played for five MLS clubs over five years (2001-05). For all the preseason results and schedules …

Blatter Proposes Artificial Turf for 2010 WC

FIFA President Sepp Blatter on Tuesday issued a shocking proposal that the 2010 World Cup could be played on artificial turf. After witnessing the awful condition of the grass fields at the African Nations’ Cup in Ghana, Blatter said, “I think it’s now time in this region to think about artificial turf,” as many African […]

Milan Looking to Climb into Fourth

A resurgent AC Milan could climb into the fourth Champions League qualifying spot in Italy’s Serie A on Wednesday with a win at home to Livorno. The Rossoneri have won six of seven games in Serie A since the beginning of the year, and are now fifth in the table with a game in hand […]

How Egypt Beat the Odds

For all the talk about the brilliant individual stars of the Ivory Coast, Cameroon and Ghana, it was Egypt, a team whose players play mostly at home, that once again emerged victorious in Africa’s continental championship. En route to their second consecutive ACN triumph, the hard-working, tactically superior Egyptians brushed aside tournament favorite Ivory Coast, […]

When Earthquakes Collide

After a two-year absence, the Earthquakes have returned to Major League Soccer, but Ann Killion of the San Jose Mercury News points out that the team never really left: the former Quakes just moved to Houston, where they won back-to-back MLS titles in their first two seasons. Which means it will be an odd affair […]

Crew Needs a Local Owner

Philadelphia, St. Louis, Portland, Vancouver and Miami are all vying to secure the rights to a 15th MLS expansion club, and the Columbus Dispatch’s Bob Hunter points out that many citizens of Columbus are probably wondering what the big deal is. “This is unfortunate and understandable,” Hunter says, because the Crew has been terrible for […]

Noyola leads U.S. U-20 women past Chile

[YOUTH] The U.S. under-20 women’s national team opened play at the Four Nations Tournament in La Serena, Chile, with a 1-0 victory over England on a goal from midfielder Teresa Noyola.

Arsenal opens up five-point lead

[ENGLAND] Arsenal beat Blackburn Rovers on Monday to open a five-point lead over Manchester United with 12 games to play at the top of the Premier League after beating Blackburn Rovers, 2-0, at the Emirates Stadium.

USA to serve as Euro ’08 sparring partner

[DATEBOOK] The U.S. national team will play a pair of friendlies in Europe this spring, traveling to face Poland and Spain, which are preparing for the Euro ’08 finals.

Winter Transfer Moves

University of Central Florida freshman Matt Luzunaris became the third U.S.-based player to sign with an Austrian pro club this winter when he signed with second division SC Schwanenstadt. Luzunaris had trained with first division Rapid Vienna before accepting an offer from Schwanenstadt. The Houston Dynamo’s Nate Jaqua and Joseph Ngwenya moved to Rheindorf Altach and Austria Kaernten, respectively. For all the winter overseas transfers involving Americans …

Soccer America Daily, What They're Saying

What They’re Saying

“From our perspective, it’s business as usual. The board has decided not to look at this.”

— Hartwick men’s coach Ian McIntyre after the small New York school’s trustees tabled a proposal from President Richard P. Miller Jr. and Board Chairman Karl E. Mosch to transition its storied men’s soccer program from Division I to Division III by the 2009 season. (Oneonta Star)