Manchester City board member and self-proclaimed Argentina aficianado Dr. Sulaiman Al-Fahim continues his quest to bring overnight success to the long-struggling EPL side, this time setting his sights on Barcelona’s 21-year-old midfield maestro Lionel Messi, as well as Diego Maradona in what would equate to a General Manager role. “I do not know if Maradona […]
Author Archives: Soccer America
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Brazil’s Ronaldo Returns To Action
Playing in his first professional match in Brazil since 1994, Ronaldo returned to the field in the 68th minute of an opening round Brazilian Cup clash with Itumbiara, helping Corinthians hold on to a 2-0 win and advance in the tournament. It was Ronaldo’s game since undergoing surgery after a knee injury suffered with AC […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
U.S. U-20s Aim for 7th World Cup Trip
The Thomas Rongen-coached U.S. U-20 men’s national team will be trying to secure its seventh consecutive FIFA U-20 World Cup appearance when it kicks off the eight-team CONCACAF qualifying tournament in Trinidad & Tobago with a group match vs. Jamaica on Friday. The USA will go on to face Group A opponents Honduras on March […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“Steven’s a player of high energy and enthusiasm and that’s how we expect him to play.”
— Newcastle coach Chris Hughton condones his defender Steven Taylor throwing an elbow at Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo during a 2-1 Man U win. (AFP)
Posted inYouth Soccer Reporter, Youth What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“Nothing like that should ever happen to any kid. I just think there are a lot of leagues out there, and it’s not just soccer, that need to be brought under control.”
— Pawtucket (R.I.) resident Jeff Southworth on the need to intervene in youth sports disputes. His daughter quit her soccer team after police were called when her coach came to Southworth’s house and they clashed over league matters, including whether he could videotape games. (AP)
“I can’t imagine anyone being for it. I just don’t think they want anyone at that level getting involved in our sports.”
— Ken Conte, president of North Providence East Little League, on a bill pending in Rhode Island that would create a seven-member council appointed by the state senate to settle disputes in youth sports leagues.
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
U.S. Youth Soccer ODP Boys ’91 International Tournament Rosters
U.S. Youth Soccer ODP boys ’91 regional teams will compete in Costa Rica March 9-13 against the Costa Rica national youth team, as well as youth teams from Alajuela, Brujas and Heredia. For complete rosters …
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Richmond Kickers name complex Ukrop Park
The Richmond Kickers Youth Soccer Club will call their new 34.5-acre sports complex, slated to open in June 2009, Ukrop Park, in honor of the Ukrop family, which donated to the project and owns a store adjacent to the site.
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Eastside the story of Washington championships
Eastside FC cleaned up at last weekend’s Washington Youth Soccer state championship, capturing the U-18 and U-17 boys state titles and the U-16 and U-15 boys titles in the Challenge Cup divisions. For all the winners …
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Top-ranked girls team upset in thriller
Featuring 12 players headed to Division I college programs, Pleasanton (Calif.) Foothill High School was one of the most heralded teams to ever come out of Northern California. The Falcons, who had given up only five goals in their first 21 games, were the heavy favorites to win California’s North Coast Section 3A championship but lost to San Ramon Valley, 4-3, after giving up all four goals in the last 15 minutes of regulation and overtime.
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Younger players rising in ranks
The second year of play in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy has seen an influx of younger players into the U-15/16 programs, which has in turn expanded the player pool for the U-15 boys national team.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Argentine Playmaker Happy in the Heartland
"It was my decision for some time to have an experience outside my country, so when I had this conflict with my former club, I saw this opportunity. The United States has always been a place I have been interested in and when Kansas City approached me, it became an easy decision. There were other […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Schmeichel’s Secret to Success Between ManU Pipes
“When you look at a potential United keeper you need to ask yourself: Is he technically good enough? Is he brave enough? Is he mentally tough enough? Is he organized and confident enough? [Edwin] Van der Sar answers all these questions positively. I played against him at international level and he always impressed me, but […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Trying Times Can’t Turn Back Women’s Soccer in Turkey
“Soccer is seen as a man’s game in Turkey. We’ve had men come to watch our practices and yell at our players: ‘What are you doing here? You should be at home, cooking!’ It’s going to take time to change this.” Nupert Ozbar, one of the few accredited female soccer coaches in Turkey, and the […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Terrorist Cricket Attack Prompts World Cup Crisis Talks
A Tuesday terrorist attack on the Sri Lanka cricket team in Pakistan that resulted in eight deaths and seven others wounded has led FIFA General Secretary Jerome Valcke to call a “crisis evaluation committee” meeting next Tuesday, March 10 in Johannesburg to “discuss taking security to a maximum level” for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Ronaldo to Make Debut with Corinthians
Brazilian living legend Ronaldo is set to make his debut for new team Corinthians when they meet Itumbiara on Wednesday, with the striker expected to come on in the second half of their Brazilian Cup match. Ronaldo’s return was originally slated for Sunday when they face nemesis Palmeiras, but the three-time World Player of the […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Local Marketing Effort Lagging for 2010 World Cup
Acknowledging a lack of large-scale interest and ticket sales on a local level to this point for the 2010 World Cup, South African government officials are calling for more funds and a much-increased marketing effort to promote both the marquee tournament as well as the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup coming in June, according to ESPN […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Ottawa Expansion Options: MLS or Third CFL Squad
Ottawa city officials are playing both sides on the issue of accepting a new team to their sports landscape, weighing expansion offers and stadium proposals from both Major League Soccer and the Canadian Football League, who are attempting to establish a team in Ottawa after two previous teams failed to catch on. Despite the Rough […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Miami Misses Out on MLS Expansion
"On life support in recent weeks," Miami's expansion bid to rejoin MLS in 2010 died on Tuesday when the league, FC Barcelona, and investor Marcelo Claure jointly announced they pulled the plug on the proposed expansion franchise because the timing wasn't right and the economic climate too tenuous," writes the Miami Herald's Michelle Kaufman. After […]
Posted inSoccer on TV., Story
Soccer on TV
On Saturday, Landon Donovan hopes for playing time with Bayern Munich as they host Hanover while Clint Dempsey and Fulham square off against Manchester United in England’s FA Cup.
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 inSoccer America Daily, Story
Too Many Cooks
[OFF THE POST] Brazilian club Barueri’s experiment with three head coaches came to an end when it fired Toninho Moura, Diego Cerri and Luis Carlos Goiano, who had been given equal status as co-coaches.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“I find it very unfair what is happening at the moment. I have to ask myself, are we threatened with relegation? We can still meet all out targets. In the Champions League we have even exceeded our targets. Despite all this the coach is constantly being questioned. I really do not know what Juergen needs to do to stop this. We stand by Juergen Klinsmann.”
— Bayern Munich Uli Hoeness supports Coach Juergen Klinsmann after Bayern won just once in its last five Bundesliga games. On Wednesday, in the German Cup quarterfinals, Bayern faces Bayer Leverkusen in the second-to-last game of Landon Donovan‘s loan stint. (Reuters)
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
WPS Preseason Schedule
Women’s Professional Soccer’s seven teams have begun preseason work in preparation of the league’s inaugural season, which begins March 29. The Boston Breakers will open the preseason Friday when they face the University of Connecticut in a scrimmage in Storrs, Conn. For all the preseason matches …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
‘Oooooooooh: PIZZA!’ [VIDEO]
[OFF THE POST] Jeroen Verhoeven has conceded 59 goals in 24 games for last-place Dutch club FC Volendam, whose foes fans have been having a go at the goalkeeper’s girth with an “Oooooooooh: PIZZA!” whenever he takes a goal kick.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
De La Hoya, Dynamo Seek High Profile Hispanic Player
“We’d like to have a player with name recognition, a high-caliber Hispanic player, preferably Mexican. We’re working on that. I don’t know when we will be able to do that, but hopefully sooner rather than later. When the time comes, we’ll sit down with the front office and coach [Dominic] Kinnear and make a decision.” […]