Author Archives: Soccer America

Justin Breckan Tower Lakes, Ill. I am currently working on a paper for my class regarding youth soccer in the United States. Is there a place that I could go to to find out how many soccer players there are currenly playing under the age of 30? Mike Woitalla: Justin, your best source for that […]

D.C. United continued its busy day when it picked up former Tampa Bay forward Pete Marino and waived forward Michael Burke to create the roster spot. Earlier in the day, United traded midfielder John Maessner and three draft picks to Tampa Bay for former United forward Raul Diaz Arce. Marino reported to United Park on […]

It should have been the greatest day in the history of Bajan soccer. Barbados upset Cuba to advance to the semifinals of World Cup 2002 qualifying, where it will face the United States (see Page 6 of the June 5, 2000 issue of Soccer America Magazine), but Bajans are now wondering if theyÆll get a […]

18-year-old American phenom learns about much more than soccer in Germany Landon Donovan expected to get an education in Germany. He just thought it was going to be about soccer. And, to be sure, the 18-year-old Californian has refined his game during 15 months on Bayer Leverkusen’s books. He is, he informs, a much more […]

It was a perfect match. D.C. United desperately needed an out-and-out striker — and they got a local favorite at that. Tampa Bay needed draft picks for the future — and no longer needed the expendable Salvadoran. Despite reports that he’d never play for D.C. United again, Raul Diaz Arce is back at D.C. United, […]

U.S. women’s national team head coach April Heinrichs has named former U.S. goalkeeper David Vanole to her staff as goalkeeper coach while Jan Smisek and Janet Rayfield have been appointed to the women’s national staff coaches positions for Region IV and Region II, respectively. Smisek and Rayfield join Jeff Pill (Region I) and Dave Simeone […]

SOCCER AMERICA: How has the season been overall? CLAUDIO REYNA: It’s been a great season. Obviously, the team’s done so well in Scotland. We’re approaching the records for most goals and most wins in a season and a lot of people here have said this is the best Rangers team ever. So to be a […]

Nicole Coico Providence, R.I. I’m doing a school assignment and am wondering if you could e-mail me the official rules for outdoor soccer? Mike Woitalla: Nicole, if you go to www.fifa.com/ you will find FIFA’s rules of the game. You’ll see an icon to click on the left side of the home page. (If you […]

Soccer America MagazineÆs MLS Team of the Week from games played May 17-20. Goalkeeper Tony Meola (2) Kansas City Defenders Peter Vermes (2) Kansas City Nick Garcia (2) Kansas City Leo Cullen (1) Miami Midfielders Petter Villegas (1) MetroStars Carlos Valderrama (4) Tampa Bay Preki (1) Kansas City Kerry Zavagnin (1) Kansas City Forwards Mamadou […]

Attendance in Dallas has grown this season under Andy Swift, who replaced Billy Hicks as the Burn’s president and general manager. SOCCER AMERICA: What have you done to get the big crowds, including 20,417 vs. Los Angeles? ANDY SWIFT: We’re following the plans we laid out years ago, putting emphasis on our grassroots marketing effort […]

WUSA allocated 19 of its 20 founding players, who won the World Cup for the United States last summer, plus five U.S. pool players to its eight teams. The league hopes to start play next spring. Carla Overbeck won’t play in the league’s first season because she’s planning on having a baby after the Olympics. […]

MLS Commissioner Don Garber and Women’s United Soccer Association Chairman John S. Hendricks announced today that the two leagues have agreed to a comprehensive cooperation plan that provides for a coordination of marketing and promotion, scheduling, and stadia development. As a result of the agreement, MLS has opted not to file an application with U.S. […]

Don Garber – MLS Commissioner John Hendricks – WUSA Chairman Carla Overbeck – U.S. Women’s National Team captain Don Garber’s Opening Comments: “I’d like to thank everybody for joining John Hendricks and I today for what we believe is a landmark day for soccer in America. Since John and I first met, both he and […]

Saturday, May 27 (4:30 p.m.) Kansas City Wizards at Tampa Bay Mutiny (Telemundo) Season series: Kansas City leads 1-0 (Wizards lead 1-0 in aggregate goals); All-time regular-season series: Series tied 6-6 (Wizards lead 21-17 in aggregate goals). Key players out: Kansas City: none; Tampa Bay: none Referee: Reggie Rutty (1 Game, 2 Cautions, 1 Sendoff); […]

“I’m happier than a dog with two tails!” — Miami Head Coach Ray Hudson when asked by NBC 6 anchor Craig Minervini how he felt about being named head coach of the Miami Fusion. “Hey, I’m not 21 years old anymore. You’ve got to help out when Conteh blows through here.” — Kansas City D […]

After sitting on Rayo Vallecano’s bench, American goalkeeper may be leaving La Liga A large apartment building overlooks Rayo Vallecano’s training grounds at Teresa Rivero Stadium. During a recent training session, a man yelled from his window, loud enough for all to hear. “Kasey Keller, why are you not playing?” And the American goalkeeper only […]

U-20s abroad for two weeks U.S. under-20 men’s coach Wolfgang Suhnholz will lead his squad into Europe next week (June 2-11) to participate in the Enschede Tournament June 2-4 in Enschede, the Netherlands, and the Monthey Tournament June 7-11 in Monthey, Switzerland. The U-20s have amassed a 10-5-5 overall record in 2000 and are in […]

Ray Hudson inspired Miami to three straight wins and, today, inspired the Fusion to make him the head coach through the end of the season. Hudson replaced Ivo Wortmann, who was fired on May 8. Eric Eichmann, who joined the coaching staff with Hudson, will continue to serve as an assistant coach. “Ray has provided […]

The much-anticipated trade of Roy Myers finally took place, when Los Angeles swapped the Costa Rican midfielder for MetroStars midfielder Brian Kelly. The Galaxy now has a foreigner spot open for Mexican star Luis Hernandez, who was acquired by the league on May 16. Hernandez is expected to make his L.A. debut in the May […]

Year after year we run stories about young Americans who ventured to Germany for soccer glory. Most, not all, point out or complain about the intensity of the German lifestyle. So many rules. So much seriousness. It reminds me of a sign I saw on a beautiful field in Hamburg when I was a young […]

Dana Straalsund Richland, Wash. My coach and I got in an argument. I said a player cannot kick the ball if they are “down.” He says its OK. Please let me know! If I win I get a pizza! Mike Woitalla: Tell your coach bon appTtit and give him a pizza. As long as youÆre […]

Gerard Lagos factored in all four of his team’s goals in a 4-0 win by the Minnesota Thunder over Indiana to earn this weekÆs A-League Player of the Week Award. In the opener for both teams in Group 3 of U.S. Open Cup qualifying, the 30-year-old forward provided the game-winning assist on Morgan Zeba’s goal […]

When the groups were formed for the A-LeagueÆs new U.S. Open Cup qualifying format, some onlookers dubbed Group 6, with Hershey, Hampton Roads and Richmond, the “Group of Death.” But, with Richmond losing its dynamic duo of forwards Onandi Lowe and Gary Glasgow and Hampton Roads keeping virtually the same team that produced a 15-13 […]

D.C. draft pick Armstrong opts for Europe Stephen Armstrong, D.C. United’s second pick in the 2000 MLS SuperDraft and the 13th player selected overall in the draft, informed D.C. United and MLS today that he has chosen to pursue a professional career in Europe and will not be signing a contract with MLS. Armstrong had […]

Sat., June 3 USA vs. South Africa Washington, D.C. RFK Stadium 4 p.m. ET ABC Ticket information: 703-478-6600, 703-551-4340 Washington, D.C.; 410-729-1100 Sun., June 4 Ireland vs. Mexico Chicago Solider Field 4:30 p.m. CT Telemundo Ticket information:888-MLS-FIRE Tue., June 6 USA vs. Ireland Foxboro Stadium Foxboro, Massachusetts 8 p.m. ET ESPN Ticket information:877-GET-REVS Wed., June […]