Category: Story

[EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES] Soccer America provides the latest on employment opportunities for soccer-related positions. They include college coaching opportunities, as well as opportunities in pro soccer, youth soccer, the soccer industry and television.

[OFF THE POST/OLYMPICS] The United States Men’s Olympic team will face a Nigerian team short on hair when the countries meet in Beijing on August 13. Samson Siasia, coach of Nigeria’s U-23 Olympic team, has issued a mandate to all of his players: cut your hair or get lost.

[REF WATCH] Referee Matt Stoneman found himself in a difficult situation when he allowed a controversial goal in a Pacific Premiership soccer match in New Zealand.

[TRANSFER TALK] The Cristiano Ronaldo transfer saga has been going on since Manchester United’s Champions League victory on May 21, and 10 weeks later it remains unresolved. Now the uncertainty over the winger’s transfer is affecting the Real Madrid players, who have grown frustrated with the ubiquity of the Ronaldo rumors.

Donna Shalala, who served eight years as the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services under President Clinton and is currently the President of the University of Miami, is the third Independent Director named to the U.S. Soccer Federation’s Board of Directors. The three Independent Director positions were created at U.S. Soccer’s 2006 Annual General Meeting when the organization’s Board of Directors was reduced from 40 to 15.

[SUPERLIGA] For one night, at least, the two-time defending MLS Cup winner looked the part, and as a consequence, Houston has reached the SuperLiga final. Defender Bobby Boswell tucked away a flicked-on corner kick and Corey Ashe headed in a late clinching goal to carry the Dynamo past Pachuca, winner of the inaugural SuperLiga last year, 2-0, at Robertson Stadium. Houston will meet either New England or Atlante, which contest the other semifinal Wednesday night at Gillette Stadium (TV: Telefutura, 8 pm ET), in the final next week.

The U.S. U-18 boys national team opens a four-game tour of Uruguay and Paraguay against Uruguay on Thursday in Montevideo. U.S. coach Dave Sarachan named 18 players for the trip, including three players named to the 2008 U-15/16 Development Academy all-conference teams: Paul Islas (Cal Odyssey), Latif Alashe (Vardar) and Harrison Petts (champion Carmel United). For the complete roster …

U.S. U-17 boys national team coach Wilmer Cabrera has taken 24 players on a 16-day tour of Central America. The team will travel to Panama, Guatemala and Honduras, where it will play two games apiece against youth national teams. The majority of players spent the spring in the U.S. Soccer residency program in Bradenton, Fla. For the complete roster …

[TRANSFER TALK] Liverpool has captured the signature of Robbie Keane from Tottenham Hotspur. The Ireland captain signed a four-year deal with the Anfield club, while the two sides agreed to a $38 million transfer fee that could rise to $40.5 million, depending on performance-related clauses. In an unprecedented gesture, Liverpool also will throw in money directed to a Tottenham charity to appease Spurs management for the manner in which the deal was struck.

[VIDEO] South Korea goalkeeper Jung Sung-Ryeong scored a long-distance goal in a U-23 friendly against the Ivory Coast.

[OFF THE POST] After failing to establish himself in the Romanian league, 24-year-old Adrian Patulea traveled to England in hopes of earning a contract with a professional team. Patulea asked coaches at several different clubs to give him a trial but they refused, citing complications with his work forms. Frustrated, the Romanian striker decided to take drastic measures to be noticed by Lincoln City coach Peter Jackson

[CRIME & PUNISHMENT] Southampton winger Nathan Dyer has been ordered to commit 60 hours of community service by the Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court. The 20-year-old was charged along with teammate Bradley Wright-Phillips and three other men for committing burglary at a Southsea nightlub. Dyer, whose salary works out to $10,000 a week, pled guilty to stealing three cell phones and $300 worth of cash from purses in the club’s coatroom.