Red Star Belgrade's executive board stepped down Monday amid pressure from fans and a growing financial crisis. This came after Club president Dobrivoje Tanasijevic quit last week when the 1991 European Cup winners revealed it owed around 23 million euros ($30 million) to creditors. Many players have not been paid for months. Last week, the […]
Nyarko could get Ghana Call-Up
Ghana coach Milovan Rajevac attended Saturday’s Fire-Columbus game to watch and meet with Patrick Nyarko, the Fire’s 23-year-old forward. “This was his first opportunity to see Patrick,” Fire technical director Frank Klopas said. “He wants to bring him in for friendlies to take a closer look. Obviously Patrick is very excited. The good thing about […]
Chicago Fire Partners with Club America
The Chicago Fire and Club America of Mexico announced a partnership on Monday that will help both organizations pursue shared objectives and business growth. Fire president Dave Greeley explained that both clubs, central to the history of their respective leagues, share a passion for the sport, their fans, and developing the game. "This collaboration with […]
The Fall of Klinsmann
[GERMANY] European club coaches get fired all the time, but Bayern Munich’s sacking of Juergen Klinsmann is of particular interest this side of the Atlantic because of his American connections. A California resident since his playing days ended in 1998 until he took the Bayern job last summer, Klinsmann brought two American assistant coaches to Munich, tried unsuccessfully to incorporate Landon Donovan into the Bayern squad, and was, in 2006, courted to coach the U.S. national team.
Salt Lake & Chicago on target most often
[MLS] After its 6-0 rout of New England on Saturday, Real Salt Lake leads the league in scoring. It is one of only two teams that is averaging at least two goals per game. Four teams are mustering one goal or less per match. For team-by-team scoring averages. …
Toronto draws big any day of the week
[MLS] Toronto drew 19,915 fans for last Wednesday’s 1-0 win over Chivas USA and 20,056 for 1-0 win over Kansas City on Sunday. Only league newcomers Seattle Sounders are drawing better, with an average of nearly 30,000 after 28,838 attended their fourth home game, a 2-0 win over San Jose on Saturday.
Ball boy strife in Argentina [VIDEO]
[OFF THE POST] Earlier this month, ball boys for Argentine club Gimnasia-La Plata were busted for hiding balls behind the substitutes’ benches to delay the game while the team was ahead 1-0 in the second half. Last weekend, a ball boy and a goalkeeper were sent off by the referee in Gimnasia-Jujuy vs. River Plate game after the keeper lashed out at the ball boy he believed was delaying the game.
What They’re Saying
“We’ve lost all the important games – in Hamburg, Berlin, Wolfsburg, at home to Schalke and against Leverkusen in the cup. We’ve reacted to this negative trend, and acted because we’re afraid of failing to hit our targets.”
— Bayern Munich general manager Uli Hoeness on why the club fired Coach Juergen Klinsmann with five games left in the Bundesliga season. Bayern is in third place, three points behind leader VfL Wolfsburg, and ahead of fourth-place Stuttgart and fifth-place Hamburg only thanks to goal difference. (fcbayern.de)
Concacaf cancels remainder of U-17 tournament
[MEXICO] In response to the concerns about the outbreak of swine flu in Mexico, Concacaf canceled the knockout phase of the Under-17 Championship in Tijuana to safeguard the health of players, officials and fans. In addition, the second leg of the Concacaf Champions League final between Atlante and Cruz Azul has been postponed from Wednesday to May 12.
More mature Mathis a key figure for RSL [VIDEO]
[MLS] Jason Kreis called the strike a “wonder goal,” and while it conjured up memories of a colorful, swashbuckling, occasionally troublesome goalscorer, that player no longer exists. Clint Mathis hammered a left-footed volley off a corner kick past New England keeper Brad Knighton during a record-setting 6-0 romp at Rio Tinto Stadium Saturday night.
Seductive Barcelona knows only one way to play
[UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE] Barcelona coach Josep Guardiola says Tuesday’s semifinal against Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League (TV: ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, live, 2:30 pm ET) is another chance for his players to show off their brand of attacking soccer.
Soccer on TV
Midweek action: European Champions League, Copa Libertadores, South American U-17 Championships and UEFA Cup. Catch the USL Game of the Week on Friday as the Cleveland City Stars meet the Rochester Rhinos. The weekend includes a full slate of MLS action and a WPS match between Washington and St. Louis. Look for Mexican league and other updates in Wednesday’s and Friday’s Soccer on TV.
RSL Flirts with Perfection Against the Revs
If the perfect soccer game exists, then Real Salt Lake experienced what it feels like on Saturday night against the New England Revolution at the Rio Tinto Stadium. Offense and defense dovetailed on Saturday night for the Utah side in a 6-0 victory. After threatening in the first half, RSL poured in six goals in […]
Prince Hails Italian Influence on English Game
At a recent speech in Italy, his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales claimed that England has been benefiting from Italian lessons in soccer. "One of the most recent examples of how the British have taken inspiration from Italy has come on the football pitch where Fabio Capello’s record with England shows this collaboration," the […]
Adebayor Likens Milan to Beyonce
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 […]
Celebrating Soccer’s Democratic Power in South Africa
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. […]
Ronaldo Strikes Twice More for Corninthians
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 […]
At 35, Giggs Wins PFA Award for First Time
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 […]
TFC Trying to Rebound Quickly From Carver’s Resignation
"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 […]
Bayern sacks Juergen Klinsmann
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 […]
Garber rankles Yankees, stands up to AC Milan
You’ve got to give MLS commissioner Don Garber some props: not many executives of a niche league can rankle or stand up to uber-organizations like AC Milan and the New York Yankees.
Gloomy outlook for Gladbach
[AMERICANS ABROAD] Borussia Moenchengladbach faced another relegation-threatened team and managed only a 1-1 tie, with Arminia Bielefeld, as Michael Bradley played the first 69 minutes for Gladbach. On the whole, it wasn’t an outstanding weekend for the U.S. foreign legion.
Real spanks Revs; D.C. United shines in last second [VIDEO]
[MLS NAMES & NUMBERS] Real Salt Lake had its best second half in club history. D.C. United made a spectacular comeback in New York. Los Angeles remains winless after tying with a late goal for the second straight game. Chicago came back against floundering defending champ Columbus to remain the league’s only undefeated team. Week 6 also saw the first coaching casualty of the season.
Barca falters, Man. United blitzes Spurs
[EUROPEAN RACES] Spain’s La Liga race came alive as leader Barcelona, which had not allowed a goal in seven straight games, had to rally for a 2-2 tie at Valencia, allowing Real Madrid, a 4-2 winner over Sevilla, to move to within four points with five games to play. The goals kept on coming in England, where first-place Manchester United rallied to blitz Tottenham, 5-2, with five goals in 22 minutes in the second half.
What They’re Saying
“When I mentioned the New York Yankees yesterday, my comments were part of a larger assertion that all businesses – even the most successful sports entities – are experiencing some impact from the economic downturn.”
— MLS Commissioner Don Garber after New York Yankees president Randy Levine got testy because Garber noted the empty seats at Yankee Stadium. Levine said, “Hey Don, worry about Beckham, not the Yankees. Even he wants out of your league.” (AP)
