Manchester City manager Mark Hughes believes his new $36 million signing, Joleon Lescott, is the best center back in the English Premier League, which also boasts English national team backs John Terry and Rio Ferdinand. "I'm delighted to welcome Joleon to the club," Hughes said. "It's been a long and difficult process but I feel […]
Author Archives: Soccer America
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Al Fahim Declares Portsmouth His
Arabian businessman Sulaiman Al Fahim claims to have taken complete ownership of Premier League club Portsmouth. The club installed Al Fahim as chairman on July 21 after he passed the league's new fit-and-proper-person test. But the club's chief executive Peter Storrie stalled Al Fahim's takeover by fronting a consortium that launched a separate bid for […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Soumare Got Transfer Wish Thanks To Coach Clash
Bakary Soumare is preparing to leave the Chicago Fire for French club Boulogne about three weeks after a physical altercation with head coach Denis Hamlett. Soumare said that he wishes that he could leave the Fire on different terms. "You don't like to leave in a situation like that, when it leaves a bad taste […]
Posted inSoccer America Classifieds, Story
Soccer America Classifieds
Welcome to Soccer America Classifieds, Soccer America’s email newsletter connecting soccer companies and organizations to Soccer America members each week. Soccer America Classifieds feature soccer classified advertisements on the latest soccer job openings, soccer products and soccer opportunities. Read Soccer America Classifieds each Wednesday.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
National team call-up completes Harris’ comeback
WOMEN’S NEWS … North Carolina keeper Ashlyn Harris‘ call-up to the U.S. national team is one of women’s soccer’s great feel-good stories.
Along with UCLA forward Lauren Cheney and Carolina teammate Tobin Heath, both 2008 Olympic gold-medalists, Harris was one of three collegians picked to attend the national team camp that will take place Sept. 21-Oct. 2 at the Home Depot Center.
Harris’ first call-up comes seven years after she burst on the international scene helping the USA win the inaugural Under-19 Women’s World Cup.
Harris was a starter for the USA at both the 2002 and 2004 U-19 world championships, playing every minute of all 12 games during those tournaments, but her college career suffered several setbacks.
She redshirted in 2005 after tearing her right anterior cruciate ligament during her first practice with the Heels.
While training in June 2006 she suffered what appeared to be another season-ending knee injury, but she recovered to come on as a reserve in all six of Carolina’s NCAA Tournament games — and made several saves — en route to its 2006 championship.
After splitting time with Anna Rodenbough in her first three seasons, Harris is for the first time UNC’s undisputed starter.
* The Mexican national team beat TCU, 4-1, Tuesday night before 2,089 fans in Ft. Worth. The Tri Femenil previously lost to South Carolina, 2-0, and beat Kennesaw State, 5-0.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“The key to the decision made by the boys and their families is that Hoffenheim constructed an outstanding path for their development as players. During their first year, they will be permitted to split time between Germany and Vancouver, where they will attend school and be trained to prepare for a full-time adjustment to Germany the following year.”
— Dan Segal, the agent to U.S. U-17 players Joseph-Claude Gyau and midfielder Charles Renken, describes their deal with German first division club Hoffenheim. (SoccerNet)
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Altidore strikes in first start for Hull
[AMERICANS ABROAD] Jozy Altidore, who got an assist in his English Premier League debut for Hull City on Saturday, scored on a long-range shot in Hull’s 3-1 win on Tuesday over third-tier Southend in the second round of the English League Cup.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Long-ago reefer sidelines ref
[OFF THE POST] When Peruvian referee Georges Buckley showed up in Chile to work a Copa Sudamericana game, he was taken into custody for a 1997 arrest in Chile for smoking marijuana in public as he was preparing to enter a concert, reports Reuters.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Soccer America Men’s Preseason All-Americans
[COLLEGE] Harvard’s Andre Akpan, a 2007 selection to Soccer America’s MVPs first team and 2008 pick to the MVPs second team, heads the Soccer America Men’s Preseason All-American team, as selected by its editors. For all the Preseason All-American selections …
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Costa Rica Sticking With Guns
Costa Rica announced its squad for World Cup qualifying games in September against Mexico and El Salvador. The Ticos are sticking with the same core of players that has lifted the team to the top of the Concacaf regional qualifying group despite losing 4-0 at Honduras in its last qualifier. The squad includes midfield fixtures […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Sneijder Rejects Move to Inter
Contrary to initial news reports, the Spanish newspaper Marca has claimed that Real Madrid's Dutch midfielder Wesley Sneijder never boarded the plane headed to Malpensa airport to conclude a deal with Inter Milan. Sneijder will now reportedly fight for his place, which looks insecure under coach Manuel Pellegrini. The club has stripped Sneijder of his […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Mexico’s Leading Scorer To Return Against D.C.
Toluca’s star forward Raul Mancilla has battled a left leg injury in the early season that has limited his playing time. But Mancilla could make his Concacaf Champions League debut against D.C. United on Wednesday (Fox Soccer Channel & Telefutura, 8 pm ET). After sitting out two games, Mancilla played 39 minutes over the weekend. […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Soumare Departs Fire for France
Bakary Soumare is set to leave the Chicago Fire for French League 1 club Boulogne. Soumare has agreed to a four-year contract, the club said on its Web site Monday. The 24-year-old Mali defender, who grew up in France before moving to New York in his teens, was named to the MLS’ Best IX last […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Look Who’s Tweeting Now
Chivas Guadalajara owner Jorge Vergara isn’t happy with the way his team has started the season, losing three out of four games. Vergara has expressed his discontent over his Twitter account after Chivas lost against Atlante in Cancun. “The history that Chivas has does not allow us to live the situation that the team is […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
MLS Not Interested In Buying USL
Nike is selling off some of its soccer empire. After inheriting United Soccer Leagues when it bought Umbro in 2007, Nike has decided that the league does not fit with its core business. But Nike is still searching for a buyer. Many argue that Major League Soccer would serve as the ideal owner of USL, […]
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
Cardinal is fine form at Hawaii
WOMEN’S NEWS … Stanford, ranked No. 2 in the Soccer America Women’s Top 25, looked great in its game late Sunday night at Hawaii, a 6-2 win. Juniors Kelley O’Hara and Christen Press both scored two goals.
Coach Paul Ratcliffe started two freshmen on the backline — Alina Garciamendez in the middle and Rachel Quon at right back — and Courtney Verloo had a goal and two assists in her collegiate debut off the bench.
Ratcliffe: “We were just happy to get six goals. But we need to keep working on a lot of things. In the back, we still have work to do. The midfield has work to do. But, offensively, we looked strong.”
* Here is the first Soccer America Women’s Team of the Week, led by Carolina’s Casey Nogueira.
* Several records were broken or tied over the weekend:
— Senior Jessica Okoroafo set a Purdue record when she scored the first goal in the 5-0 win over Ohio and had both goals in a 2-1 victory at Butler, giving her 14 game-winning goals, one more than Lauren Sesselmann had in her career (2001-05).
— Welshwoman Shan Jones tied the Middle Tennessee school record with four goals in an 11-1 victory over Alabama A&M.
Posted inSoccer on TV., Story
Soccer on TV
On Saturday, don’t miss the Southern California clasico as the Galaxy takes on Chivas USA. The Richmond Kickers host the Charlotte Eagles for the USL Second Division championship Saturday. Catch a full slate of European and Mexican matches throughout the weekend.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“We recently evaluated the opportunity to purchase the USL, but elected to not submit a bid for the league.”
— Dan Courtemanche, a senior vice president for marketing and communications at MLS. (New York Times)
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Soccer America Women’s Team of the Week
[COLLEGE] Casey Nogueira, the 2008 Soccer America Women’s Player of the Year who scored two goals in top-ranked North Carolina’s 7-2 win over No. 3 UCLA, is the Soccer America Women’s Player of the Week for games played Aug. 21-23. For the Soccer America Women’s Team of the Week …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Sportsmanship halfway [VIDEO]
[OFF THE POST] In Australia, South Melbourne’s Brazilian midfielder Fernando de Moraes did the sportsmanship thing after an opponent’s injury when he sent a throw-in to the Sunshine Georgies’ goalkeeper, who applauded the action. But then De Moraes chased down the throw, robbed the keeper, and stroked the ball into the net.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Kenny Cooper strikes again in Germany [VIDEO]
[AMERICANS ABROAD] Kenny Cooper scored his second German Division Second goal in his third appearance for 1860 Munich, which gave up the lead he provided in the 18th minute one minute later and went down 3-1 to Karlsruhe.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
The Playoff Race
[MLS] Which eight teams would qualify for the playoffs based on the current standings?
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Soccer America Men’s Preseason Top 25
[COLLEGE] North Carolina, the 2008 NCAA Division I runner-up, is ranked No. 1 in the Soccer America Men’s Preseason Top 25, as selected by its editors. The selection gives the ACC a clean sweep of the Soccer America preseason rankings. The Carolina women were also No. 1. The rest of the top five consists of Akron, St. John’s Indiana and Wake Forest. For the complete Soccer America Women’s Preseason Top 25 rankings …
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Man City Now Stocking Defenders
Manchester City hasn’t finished yet with its big-spending summer overhaul of players. The club confirmed that it reached an agreement with Everton to buy defender Joleon Lescott for $36 million. “The move is subject to the player agreeing personal terms and passing a medical,” reads Manchester City’s web site. Lescott has been a longtime target […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Gourcuff and Bordeaux Pick Up Where They Left Off
Bordeaux carried its momentum from last season over to this one. The team won the final 11 games of last season to clinch the league title on the final day. On Sunday, Bordeaux extended its record winning streak in the French league to 14 games with a 4-0 drubbing of Nice. Yoann Gourcuff scored twice […]