"I sent [Barack Obama] a message of congratulations and he sent me an e-mail saying he needs a lot from Brazil and he really wants to work with us. When Obama is a little calmer, without that pressure, I’ll go by to have a cup of coffee with him, like I did with Kennedy, with […]
Category: Story
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
A David Beckham ‘Time Share’?
The latest rumor spinning out from the revolving doors of David Beckham contract negotiations is that AC Milan and the LA Galaxy might end up hashing out a "unique agreement" that would entail the two teams sharing the 33-year-old midfielder's rights across the next 15 months. According to reports from SkySports.com, the "time share" would […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Seattle Success Showing Up Other MLS Support?
While the recent announcement that the expansion Seattle Sounders FC has sold some 20,000 season tickets marks an “unprecedented” success and seems like a huge shot in the arm for the league, it also serves to cast a spotlight on just how few MLS teams regularly draw those kinds of crowds. As Goal.com’s Kyle McCarthy […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
ManU to Make Move for Munich’s Ribery If Ronaldo Runs to Real
According to German newspaper Bild, Bayern Munich midfielder Franck Ribery‘s agent Alain Migliaccio has claimed that ”if Manchester United sells Cristiano Ronaldo, Sir Alex Ferguson would like to cover that transfer with Ribery’s signing,” adding to other recent rumors that Ribery was headed to La Liga leader Barcelona. Under contract with Munich until 2011, the […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Pro Leagues To Experiment With Extra Refs
Soccer rule-makers the International Football Association Board (IFBA) this weekend agreed to test in several professional leagues a plan from UEFA President Michel Platini that includes employing additional referee assistants to better monitor goal lines. “The Italian Cup will be the first guinea pig and the French FA has also offered to trial the scheme, […]
Posted inSoccerTalk with Paul Gardner, Story
75 Years of Youth Soccer in New York
They had a little bash out at Franklin Square on Friday. Franklin Square, that’s just outside New York City, the beginnings of Nassau County. An area I don’t visit too often.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Seattle fields new faces
[MLS] With a guest player, one making his first appearance for the team, and another recently waived by an MLS rival, Seattle tied CED Rosario, 1-1, in a 70-minute game played in Buenos Aires Saturday.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Early goals carry Quakes past Rapids
[MLS PRESEASON] They aren’t likely to set any scoring records, but the Earthquakes – who netted a league-lowest 32 goals last year – are hitting the net consistently in preseason while retaining a solid defensive record.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Concacaf rivals not so friendly in ‘friendly’
[MLS PRESEASON] The Canadian and American representatives still alive in the Concacaf Champions’ League merged their schedules to play a testy, 70-minute preseason game on Saturday, with the MLS Houston Dynamo beating USL-1 Montreal, 3-2, before about 2,000 fans in Robertson Stadium.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Bradley scores for Gladbach [VIDEO]
[AMERICANS ABROAD] Michael Bradley scored his third Bundesliga goal of the season in a losing effort that keeps Borussia M’Gladbach in last place. Landon Donovan‘s fifth appearance a sub failed to spark Bayern Munich and he got harsh reviews from the German press. Maurice Edu made his first Scottish Premier League appearance since September. For a wrapup of Americans abroad. …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Another Barcelona collapse imminent?
[SPAIN] Barcelona’s lead over Real Madrid, which was 12 points two weeks ago, is down to four points after Atletico Madrid twice came from behind and beat Barca, 4-3, on Sunday.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Inter tie is golden for Mourinho
[ITALY] Inter Milan twice rallied from two goals down but had to settle for a 3-3 tie with Roma that left the Serie A leader seven points in front of Juventus with 12 games to play. David Beckham played an ineffective 68 minutes as AC Milan fell.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Fergie downplays Manchester United’s bid for five
[ENGLAND] Third-string goalie Ben Foster was the hero as Manchester United beat defending champion Tottenham Hotspur, 4-1, on penalties Sunday to win the English League Cup, its second trophy of the season.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Hertha regains Bundesliga lead
[GERMANY] Hertha Berlin went back on top in the Bundesliga with a 2-1 win over Borussia Moenchengladbach on Saturday and held the top spot when last week’s leader, Hamburg, fell at home to Wolfsburg, 3-1. Meanwhile, Bayern Munich’s troubles continued when it slipped to fifth place following its 0-0 tie at Werder Bremen.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
De Bontin to step down as Monaco president
[AMERICANS ABROAD] The ranks of American executives at major European clubs were reduced with Friday’s announcement by AS Monaco that its French-American president, Jerome de Bontin, was heading home for family reasons less than a year after taking the post.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
International Weekend Scores
Rangers and Celtic remained tied at the top of Scotland’s Premier League, while Anderlecht and Standard Liege and Porto and Benfica are both separated by two points in Belgium and Portugal, respectively. For all the results and standings of Europe’s major leagues and Mexico …
Posted inSoccer America Magazine, Story
Backline: Matkovich ‘s Double-Duty Coaching
“Guys who want to please you compared to guys who want to make a living” is how Mike Matkovich describes the general difference between youth and pro players.
Posted inSoccer America Magazine, Story
College Women: Recruiting Success Is All The Rage
It is a Thursday evening in early February, and the Pleasanton Marriott in the San Francisco Bay Area suburb of Pleasanton is a study in contrasts. The parking lot is full, but the hotel restaurant is empty and only a handful of folks are sitting at the lobby bar. It's only when you stroll down […]
Posted inSoccer America Magazine, Story
College Men: Zips Head Men’s Elite Eight
Recruiting in men’s college soccer is a fluid process. Players can change their plans on whether to enter college or go pro. Foreign players are often signed at the last minute. With that in mind, here’s how the top men’s recruiting classes ranked in mid-February:
Posted inSoccer America Confidential, Story
Get in the game
Fans in Toronto, Washington, D.C., San Jose, Chicago and Columbus and a few other MLS cities are proving one tenet of the league that too many critics ignore; as good as soccer on TV can be, it is a sport that is best experienced live with a team to root and cheer and live and die for.
Posted inSoccer America Magazine, Story
U.S. Soccer: World Cup Chief Bidder Interview
Former television executive David Downs is spearheading the U.S. efforts to land either the 2018 or 2022 World Cup.
Posted inSoccer America Magazine, Story
USA-Mexico Game: New Year, Same Story
The frigid conditions of eight years past didn’t materialize this time at Crew Stadium, yet the Americans still beat Mexico, 2-0. Opening the Hexagonal with a valuable three points provided a few glimpses as to how the team may develop as it prepares for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™.
Posted inSoccer America Magazine, Story
Youth Beat: The Camp Economy’s Wide Reach
Soccer camps are a big part of the nation’s multi-billion dollar summer camp business and impact several levels of the American game.
Posted inSoccer America Magazine, Story
MLS: Expansion Benchmarks Are High
MLS’s remarkable run of success with its expansion teams will be put to a test when two new teams join.
Posted inSoccer America Magazine, Story
MLS: Sounders Mania – Back To The Northwest
In picking Seattle to be its 15th team, MLS hopes to repeat its fabulous luck with a 13th team in Toronto. Both are major international cities with diverse populations, a downtown stadium well serviced by public transport, strong ownership groups steeped in professional sports and robust season-ticket sales.