[MLS] 2009 player salary figures released by the MLS Players Union reveal that only seven players in MLS earn more than $500,000. Forty players make the minimum $34,000, and 12 more make the developmental minimum of $20,100, as of March 2. For more on who makes what in MLS. …
Category: Story
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Concacaf picks a record 13 different host cities
[2009 GOLD CUP] Concacaf will hold the 2009 Gold Cup in 13 different U.S. cities — a record for a continental championship and once less than the 14 different Spanish cities that hosted games for the 1982 World Cup, a record for an international championship hosted by a single country.
Posted inSoccer on TV., Story
Soccer on TV
The European Champions League, UEFA Cup and Copa Libertadores highlight the midweek. Look for Mexican League games and other updates in Wednesday’s and Friday’s Soccer on TV.
Posted inSoccer America Confidential, Story
Beckham Deal Pros and Cons
I don’t believe the financials, any of them, being bandied about in the wake of David Beckham‘s extended loan deal. But I never really believed he would, or could, earn $250 million during his original five-year MLS deal, either.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
2009 Gold Cup in Record 13 Venues
The 2009 edition of the Concacaf Gold Cup is set to be played in a record 13 different U.S. cities, kicking off at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., on July 3 and concluding with the championship on July 26 at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. The goal of the ambitious Coast-to-Coast plan, […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Vancouver Expects MLS Expansion Team
According to The Globe and Mail, “barring a last-minute snag, the owner of the Vancouver Whitecaps Football Club will be awarded a Major League Soccer expansion franchise by the end of this month,” reports Matthew Sekeres, citing two unnamed sources that have current team owner Greg Kerfoot in final negotiations with MLS Commissioner Don Garber. […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Paulson’s Politics Putting Portland Bid in Peril?
According to Portland TV station KGW, negotiations to bring an MLS team to the city “hit a snag” last week, with City Commissioner Randy Leonard claiming that Portland Timbers owner Merritt Paulson was “behaving poorly” and “stormed out” of a meetings between the two on Thursday. Paulson downplayed the reported conflict and insisted negotiations are […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Beckham Bankroll, Extra Friendly Seal Loan Deal
Although the agreement between AC Milan and the LA Galaxy that was announced on Saturday night wasn’t much different from original reports, there were a couple new twists, the first being that Beckham had to bankroll part of the deal to make it happen. According to the AP, “he and AC Milan are jointly paying […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
USL Teams “Just Wanted a Chance”
As the second division in a country that finds its professional soccer only second best in the continent, the USL-1 gets few chances to shine on the North American soccer scene. Until now, that is, as they placed a surprising two teams (one more than MLS) in the Concacaf Champions League quarterfinals, where the Puerto […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Beckham’s Interest In Own MLS Franchise
“I have an option to own a franchise as soon as I finish playing and I will start that immediately. It is something I’m really excited about.” David Beckham on his professional soccer afterlife and commitment to MLS by having a stake in one of its teams.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Ronaldo Gets a Goal
“I couldn’t contain my emotion. It was a great feeling. I feel that I can’t go wrong in these situations. When I’m in front of goal, finishing is what I know how to do best.” An ever-confident Ronaldo, who although not know for his aerial game, scored his first goal since knee surgery more than […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Jazic: Chivas USA ‘Blue Collar’
"I had a great time at the Galaxy but it's just a different atmosphere in the locker room [here]. Basically it's like a blue collar team. A lot of guys just bring their lunch pails and work hard at work, whereas in the Galaxy it's more ritzy. I've got lots of friends there, but I'm […]
Posted inSoccerTalk with Paul Gardner, Story
Big Sam Knows – You Don’t
A week or so ago Blackburn Rovers coach Sam Allardyce, sounding as genial and reasonable as ever, had a few things to say about his team’s upcoming game against Everton.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
International Weekend Results
Lyon’s 2-0 loss at Lille allowed Paris St. Germain to move to within one point of the lead in France. AZ extended its lead in the Netherlands to 11 points.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
USA struggles against Honduras
[CONCACAF UNDER-20 CHAMPIONSHIP] The USA had a chance to clinch Sunday to clinch a berth at the 2009 Under-20 World Cup in Egypt, but it was badly outplayed by Honduras and had to settle for a 0-0 tie that means it must earn at least a point against El Salvador on Tuesday to qualify unless Jamaica and Honduras tie.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Spectacular Kai goal sends USA into final
[ALGARVE CUP] The USA advanced to the final of the Algarve Cup for the seventh time in a row thanks to a 1-0 win over Iceland Friday on a spectacular goal by forward Natasha Kai in the last minute of regulation time.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Eddie Johnson & Carlos Bocanegra score [VIDEO]
[AMERICANS ABROAD] Eddie Johnson scored his first goal since moving from MLS to Britain in January of 2008. Landon Donovan nearly scored in the last game of his loan stint with Bayern Munich. Michael Bradley celebrated a big win with his last-place Bundesliga club. For a wrap-up of U.S. players in foreign leagues last weekend. …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Manchester United’s drive to five continues
[ENGLAND] Argentine Carlos Tevez scored twice in the first half as Manchester United remained alive in its bid for five championships this season with a 4-0 win over Fulham in the FA Cup quarterfinals. The win set up a meeting with Everton in the semifinals.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Barcelona extends lead over Real Madrid
[SPAIN] Talk of a Barcelona collapse might have been premature as its defense, which had allowed eight goals in its previous three games, contained Athletic Bilbao, and the Catalan club cruised to a 2-0 win that lifted its lead over Real Madrid to six points. Real Madrid’s string of 10 wins ended on Saturday when it was held to a 1-1 draw at home by Atletico.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Beckham ‘split-season’ is official
[MLS] Becks will be back in MLS this season, but only for a few months. Under terms of an agreement in the works for more than a week and officially announced Sunday, David Beckham will stay with AC Milan until the end of the Serie A season May 31 and return to the United States to finish the 2009 season with the Galaxy.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Real Salt Lake blasts D.C. United, 3-0
[MLS] In the opening game of the Carolina Challenge Cup Sunday, D.C. United lost two players to red cards, and Real Salt Lake took advantage.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Claudio Suarez signals Chivas USA departure
[MLS] Chivas USA lost a preseason scrimmage Saturday and may have also lost veteran defender Claudio Suarez to retirement.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Inter backs up Mourinho’s verbal attack
[ITALY] Days after Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho dissed its main rivals, the Nerazzurri came through with a a 2-0 win over Genoa that kept in in first place with a seven-point lead over second-place Juventus.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Ukrainian Voronin boosts Hertha
[GERMANY] Ukrainian striker Andrei Voronin, a bust at Liverpool, has rediscovered his form since returning on loan to the Bundesliga. He upped his total to 10 goals this season with a hat trick in leader Hertha Berlin’s 3-1 victory at Energie Cottbus that moved it four points ahead of Bayern Munich, Hamburg, Hoffenheim and Wolfsburg, all tied for second place.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
MLS Expansion Options Down to Final Four
With a nod to “American Idol,” USA Today’s Beau Dure details the MLS expansion team selection process that has become a “months-long saga in which contenders are slowly but steadily eliminated” and breaks down the final four city bids that remain eligible for teams in 2011. With the recent removal of a Miami bid, and […]