Category: Section 2 Around the Net

Juergen Klinsmann, who had been unsuccessfully courted by U.S. Soccer to replace Bruce Arena in 2006, has been sacked from his first coaching job since guiding host Germany to third place of 2006 World Cup. Bayern Munich dismissed Klinsmann on Monday following the latest disappointing result — a 1-0 loss to Schalke 04. The loss […]

"We sat down with the coaches the other night after [John Carver] had handed in his resignation and it was difficult," said Mo Johnston, TFC's manager and director of soccer. "We weren't happy campers but it's started to sink in. It's started to settle in. … We need to put the era of John Carver […]

Manchester United stalwart Ryan Giggs has been voted the Professional Footballers' Association player of the year for the first time in his decorated career. "It's right up there with personal accolades, it's the best to have as it's voted by your fellow players,'' Giggs said at the London ceremony. "I've been fortunate to win a […]

Ronaldo scored a goal in each half to lead Corinthians to a 3-1 win over Santos in the first leg of the Sao Paulo state championship final on Sunday. The goals marked Ronaldo’s seventh and eighth goals in his last nine matches for Corninthians. “The most important thing today was the result,” said Ronaldo, who […]

As South Africa celebrates today's Freedom Day, commemorating the country's first non-racial democratic elections in 1994, the soccer industry should look back with pride at the sport's positive influence over the last 15 years. Contributing significantly to black empowerment, soccer has helped previously disadvantaged groups achieve status, riches and voice unimagined during the apartheid era. […]

Arsenal forward Emmanuel Adebayor has compared AC Milan's interest in him to interest from pop-icon Beyonce. "I am happy playing for this club and to be honest I am happy AC Milan, one of the legendary clubs in the world, was looking at me," Adebayor told ESPN. "For me that must be something special. It […]

A game that often depends on fortune, soccer involves lots of whacky superstitions. FIFA.com uncovers a selection of some of the most bizarre superstitions of coaches – past and present. Legendary Leeds United coach Don Revie would wear the same suit until the Yorkshire outfit lost, always took the same route to the dugout at […]

"I have not thought about David Beckham, but it would be disrespectful of me to say I would not be interested in him, were he to become available," Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp recently told the Evening Standard. Redknapp compared the potential recruitment of Beckham to signing Teddy Sheringham at Portsmouth, suggesting that the AC Milan/LA […]

Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fábregas and Hull City manager Phil Brown have been charged with improper conduct by the English FA over their actions at the end of Arsenal's FA Cup fifth-round win over Hull on 17 March. Fabregas, who did not play in the game, faces two charges of improper conduct. One concerns his behavior […]

To bolster their backline, D.C. United has acquired the rights to Avery John from the New England Revolution for a conditional draft pick in 2010 or 2011. The 34-year-old Avery played with the Revs for four seasons before leaving last year to join Miami FC of USL-1. The Trinidad & Tobago international appeared in both […]

Days after being named the head coach of the Iraqi national team, former U.S. coach Bora Milutinovic declared his ambitious goals with his new team. Although he has only six weeks to prepare his team for June’s Confederations Cup in South Africa, Milutinovic believes his team can win. “We are the champions of Asia,” said […]

“Inter announces that the contract with Adriano has been terminated by mutual consent, with effect from April 1, 2009,” a club statement said. Adriano, who has long been troubled by alcohol and personal problems, decided not to return to Italy at the start of the month following Brazil’s World Cup qualifiers. He said he had […]

“I truly believe that I am joining a club that has the potential, ambition and infrastructure to once again be a Premier League side,” Roy Keane said of the English League Championship’s Ipswich Town. “The club’s owner and chief executive impressed upon me their total focus on achieving this quest at the earliest opportunity and […]

Germany defender Arne Friedrich has been involved in a police sting after a thief attempted to bribe 5,000 euros ($6,475) from him for his Euro 2008 watch, it was reported on Wednesday. The 29-year-old Hertha Berlin captain had his engraved Euro 2008 watch stolen two months ago while he was working out in a fitness […]

Three Romanian referees were arrested Thursday. Police arrested two on charges that they took bribes in exchange for rigging matches in favor of Romanian club FC Arges in 2008. Another referee was accused of being paid to write a favorable report about FC Arges, anti-corruption prosecutors said. The three referees – Marcel Savaniu, Sorin Corpodean […]

Despite all the game’s green fields, soccer isn’t the world’s greenest global industry. On Earth Day, Goal.com provided some quick tips to help make your experience with the game a more environmentally friendly one. For example, try using a soccer ball from Fair Trade Sports, based in Bainbridge Island, Wash. The company ensures “fair wages […]

Former U.S. national team coach Bora Milutinovic has officially taken over as the head coach of the Iraqi national soccer team. Milutinovic signed his contract during a ceremony in Baghdad on Thursday, saying the lingering violence in Iraq did not deter him from accepting the post. Milutinovic has led five different teams to World Cup […]

“I’ve said from the beginning that we have a deep team and it was fun to get them on the field and let them show what they’re about, their character, the qualities of why we brought some of them here,” said third-year United coach Tom Soehn. “It’s probably one of the deepest teams I’ve coached. […]

“The Milan 2009 Homeless World Cup is set in one of the most soccer-passionate cities and nations in the world,” Mel Young, the tournament’s founder and president, said in a statement. “This is a phenomenal opportunity for Italy and the city of Milan to unite and show the world the true, awesome power of soccer […]

"I never seen a police officer like him," says Nixon Rivera, 13. "He’s nice. He cares about us." Rivera is one of the many Latino youths that Al Cruz, an officer with the Fairfax County Police Department, reaches through soccer. When off duty, Cruz coaches scores of at-risk youth in his Northern, Va., community. Most […]

Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell claims that he will give "serious consideration" to the newly proposed two-tier English Premier League that would include the Old Firm. Under the proposed structure, Scottish teams Celtic and Rangers would join the Championship, the second tier of the English Premier League, in 2013. "I think there is a very […]

Arsenal’s Andrei Arshavin got four G’s against Liverpool yesterday, but he couldn’t find any Z’s afterward, according to his mother Tatyana. "I spoke with him this morning, when it was only 7 [o’clock] in London," Tatyana told uefa.com. "He couldn’t get to sleep after such a tense battle where the pressure was very high. I […]

After winning the the Copa Libertadores last season, Ecuador’s Liga de Quito is on the verge of getting eliminated from the competition after a 2-0 away loss to Brazilian club Palmeiras on Tuesday. Liga still has a mathematical chance of qualifying for the tournament’s last 16, but its advancing depends on an unlikely combination of […]

On Sunday, the Chicago Red Stars hosted Sky Blue FC at Toyota Park in the last home opener of the young WPS season. WPS League Commissioner Tanya Antonucci, on hand for the game, expressed her pleasure with Chicago and the league: "Chicago's been great. It was a little surprising that WUSA didn't pick Chicago for […]

Chivas USA is tops while the Los Angeles Galaxy is rated rock bottom in MLSnet.com’s Power Rankings after Week 5. Winless defending champ Columbus rates better only than the Galaxy and FC Dallas. On the rise is Kansas City, which “came from two goals down in the 78th minute to earn a draw on the […]